15 THINGS TO DO IN NEW YORK CITY IN SPRING

Hello April! Who else is excited for warmer weather months?! Spring in New York City is pretty euphoric. New Yorkers slowly start to come out of hibernation from Winter once we get that first glimpse of warmer weather. Think days spent at Central Park, bike rides, rooftops, dining on patios and more. And just like any season, there is always a ton of things to do around the city. I’ve rounded up the best ‘15 Things to do This Spring in NYC’. So whether you live here or you’re planning to visit in the coming months, I hope you find this list helpful!

1. Macy’s Flower Show - FREE and open to the public from March 24th-April 7th

2. Stroll through Central Park - The park comes to life during Spring months and there’s nothing better than seeing the blooms up close in person. You can even take a walking tour to see the Cherry Blossoms.

3. Hudson Yards - This newly developed area recently opened to the public. High end shops, restaurants, public garden and a NEW landmark called the Vessel. You can climb all 154 flights of stairs to see unique city views from each landing. It’s FREE to access, however you do have to reserve tickets to enter the Vessel.

4. Cherry Blossom Festival - April 27th-28th at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. This event is known to sell out, make sure to reserve tickets ASAP.

5. Bryant Park - Stroll the park, grab coffee and find a seat amongst all the tulips in bloom.

6. Yankees Game - Spring baseball season is underway. Go Uptown to the Bronx to see the Yankees in action.

7. Dine from a rooftop - Eataly in Flatiron has a new Spring inspired rooftop garden including a new seasonal menu and cocktails.

8. Drink from a rooftop - Rooftop Season is one of the best perks of living in the city. Grab a cocktail with a view at one of these popular spots: Refinery, 230 Fifth, The Roof, Cantina & PHD Terrace

9. Smorgasbug - The infamous outdoor food market is expanding into the Financial District this Spring. It opens to the public on April 12th and every Friday thereafter through October. Hours: 11:30am-7pm

10. Brooklyn Bridge - Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is a MUST during warmer months. Best way to see the Manhattan skyline. And makes for the perfect Instagram photo.

11. Food Truck Fest - Saturday April 13th. Located at Grand Bazaar Market on the Upper Westside. There will be 15 gourmet food truck vendors along with other local vendors.

12. Frida Kahlo Exhibit - A new exhibit located at the Brooklyn Museum. It’s the largest US exhibit of her personal items, clothing and art. Definitely recommend purchasing tickets in advance, several dates are SOLD OUT already. Exhibit runs through May 12th.

13. Dine al fresco - Many restaurants in the city open their cafe for dining outside in April/May. A few of my favorite spots include The Mermaid Inn, Cookshop, Boat Basin Cafe and Tavern on the Green.

14. NY Beer Fest - The 2nd annual Beer fest will be located at Citi Field in Queens and feature dozens of craft breweries.

15. Explore a new neighborhood. There’s nothing better than walking amongst the tree lined streets of the city and seeing the Spring blooms everywhere.
    
    

Central Park UWS

Macy's Flower Show 2019

Bryant Park

Battery Park

What are you looking forward to doing this Spring? Comment below.

XO, Rae

5 OUTDOOR THINGS TO DO IN NYC THIS SUMMER

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, it's the unofficial start to Summer. And that means it's time to soak up some SUN and take advantage of these long Summer days. Although New York City is known for being a concrete jungle, the city has a lot to offer when it comes to life outdoors. So, I'm sharing five things to do outdoors this Summer in NYC.

1. Bryant Park

There are an array of parks all over Manhattan, but this one is worth braving the crowds for. Bryant Park hosts a ton of events during the Summer months. You can take a FREE Yoga class in the park, watch a movie on the lawn, preview a Broadway Show & even attend an all you can eat ice cream festival. This is the perfect place to gather with friends and enjoy all that Summer has to offer.

Located: between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues., New York, NY 10018

2. Grand Bazaar Market

This outdoor market is located on the Upper Westside and is OPEN every Sunday from 10am-5:30pm. Being NYC's largest curated flea market with 100+ vendors, you can expect to find everything from clothing, jewelry, antiques to local food vendors. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and support local artists. 

Located: 100 West 77th St., NY, NY 10024 (at Columbus Avenue)

3. Rooftop Bars

Summer wouldn't be complete without a visit to a rooftop bar. Whether you're going for the breathtaking skyline views, the Instagramable cocktails or just to cool off from the heat, there is something for everyone. Click here for a list of some of the best rooftops in the city. Cheers to Summer!

Pictured: Loopy Doopy Rooftop / Prosecco & Ice Pop Cocktails

Located: 102 North End Avenue, New York, NY 10282

4. Boat Basin Cafe

This is one of the best kept secrets (in my opinion) on the Upper Westside. In a somewhat hidden location, Boat Basin Cafe sits right on the edge of Riverside Park overlooking the Hudson River. It's laid back atmosphere is accompanied by casual dining, frozen drinks, beer on tap and waterfront views. This is one of my favorite places to bring my Georgia friends when they come to visit, because they never expect to see a place like this in the middle of the city.

Located: W 79th St, New York, NY 10024 

5. Madison Square Eats

One of the best parts of Summer is dining al fresco. And Urbanspace has several pop-up food markets all around the city including Madison Square Eats that hosts 20+ vendors of local NYC restaurants. It's the perfect place to grab lunch on the go or meet friends after work. Seasonal ONLY May/JUNE. Open Daily 11am-9pm

Located: Worth Square, Flatiron District New York, NY 10010

ALSO RECOMMENDED:  THINGS TO DO IN THE SUMMER IN NEW YORK 

XO, Rae 

THINGS TO DO IN THE SUMMER IN NEW YORK

Summertime sadness is quickly approaching. We will soon have to say goodbye to those tan lines. But before you pack up your swimsuits and replace them with sweaters, there is still time to enjoy some amazing things in the city. Being that this is my first Summer in New York City, I wanted to take advantage of everything that the city has to offer. The good thing is that there is a ton to do. But it often makes it hard to choose, so I compiled a list of my most favorite. 

THE HIGH LINE

The High Line is an elevated public park that is actually built on an old freight rail line located in the Meat Packing district. It's kinda of like an adult playground with lots seating and luscious landscape. There is even a splash pad to cool off your feet that you can walk through along a section of the park. Great for reading a book or just relaxing and bathing in the sun. Often you can find events, public art and food and drink vendors along the High Line. Also, a plus is that Chelsea Market is near by. Chelsea Market is an indoor food hall including a mix of different restaurants, pop up shops and local artists. Perfect way to spend a Summer afternoon and cool off indoors.

JONES BEACH

Summer would not be complete without a trip to the beach. Jones Beach is located on the south shore of Long Island. The beach includes a boardwalk where you can grab a bite or shop at one of the local vendors.  I love this beach because it’s easy to get to (via train & uber), it’s clean and not crowded.

THE MET ROOFTOP BAR

On Friday and Saturday's from 5pm-8pm  The Met Museum rooftop turns into a social hour with signature cocktails, martinis and light snacks. Access is granted with a purchased Museum ticket. Luckily, The Met is pay as you wish. There is no other rooftop bar that will give you access to such breathtaking panoramic views of the NYC skyline. It’s the perfect spot to meet up with friends or bring out of guests. You can explore the art exhibits inside and then sip cocktails with a view afterwards on the rooftop.

BROADWAY IN THE PARK

Every Thursday from 12:30pm-1:30pm July-August you have a chance to see a sneak peak of on and off Broadway shows courtesy of Broadway In Bryant Park. There is often FREE Giveaways and if you arrive early you can catch the warm up performances. Seats fill up quickly and are first come first serve. 

ICE CREAM SPOTS

A favorite of mine is BIG GAY ICE CREAM, an ice cream shop all about unicorns and funky ice cream combinations. And Mister Softee,  is a local favorite ice cream truck that you can find driving all over Manhattan.

MoMA

Thanks to UNIQLO every FRIDAY, MoMA is FREE from 4pm-8pm. 

Free admission includes special exhibits also. Get there early because the line tends to wrap around the building. And be prepared to be in a crowd of art lovers. Great way to spend an evening with a friend or a date while you gaze away at art. 

What are your favorite things to do in the city during Summer?

XO, Rae

BRYANT PARK: ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE CITY

On Sunday, I met up with my friend Sarah for lunch who happened to be in the city for the weekend. Sarah and I met while working in Atlanta together and she now lives in upstate New York. So, when she mentioned she would be coming into the city, we immediately made plans to meet up. Always great to see an old friend and catch up! 

After lunch I did some shopping and took a walk through Bryant Park, which is easily becoming one of my favorite places in the city. Bryant park is iconic for so many reasons. Mostly for hosting Fashion Week in the past years. But one thing I love about the park, is that it always takes on a new feel according to the season. And now that it's SUMMER time, it's the perfect place to hang out. Along with tables and chairs that border the lawn to sit and have lunch or just take in the sites, there is also food trucks and outdoor games available. Not to mention, the park also has some amazing views of nearby skyscrapers. I can't wait to hang out in the park more and take advantage of all things to do nearby.

What is your FAVORITE place in the city?

XO, Rae