Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Checklist: Summer in the City

A lot of my friends who lived and interned in the city made "to do lists" as the last few weeks of the summer wound down. It's a great idea, especially since for so many of them this may be the only time they're really living in New York. I meant to do this last summer but I never wrote it down and before I knew it I was packing up my tiny apartment and heading back to Athens for one last football season (oh yea, and one last year of college. details, details...).

Since I've moved here permanently, I feel like I don't really have an excuse to make one of these check lists. I have no pressing deadline of when I'm leaving, so I can do all of these fun activities whenever I want, right?

Wrong. In a few months (weeks?) it will start to get cold, and this Florida girl will be hibernating in her warm apartment for the few hours a day she's awake but not working. Sooo I've decided to make my own version of the checklist, I'll call it the "things I want to do before it gets too cold to move" list. Since I'm one of those people that has to write things down and check them off to ensure that they actually get done, I figured my blog would be a good place to keep my list safe and sound. Here goes, suggestions are welcome...
  1. Go to the Highline Park. Am I the only person in all of Manhattan who hasn't been yet? I think so. This needs to happen ASAP.


  2. Explore Central Park. Of course I've been to Central Park, but I usually go straight to my normal spot so I think I need to branch out. And also under this category, I can tentatively put "eat at Tavern on the Green." Tentatively because I first need to fit it into my monthly budget. I have been in at night for a party, but I need to go eat a meal there. Or maybe just get a mimosa and call it a day.
  3. Get into Gramercy Park. While I'm on a roll with parks, I figured I should throw it in there. It should be noted that this is more of a life goal, and if I had the opportunity to get into Gramercy Park in the middle of a blizzard I'd leap at it.


  4. Go to the Top of the Rock and/or Observatory Deck at the Empire State Building. I'll probably go with the latter since I now work in the Empire State Building and I think it's cheaper. Anyway, I want to go to one of these places and see the amazing panoramic view of the city just because I never have. And it will probably be more enjoyable in warm weather. Most things are.
  5. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (and ideally get pizza at Grimaldi's).
  6. Walk along the Hudson River (I think this can be accomplished in conjunction with #1).
  7. Go to the Chelsea Piers (see above).
  8. Go to the Frying Pan. A bar and restaurant on an old sunken ship, what's not to love?
  9. Go to The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Astoria. I keep hearing great things about this place as a fun daytime activity on the weekends & they apparently have a great beer selection. Also it would be my first time in Queens (if you don't count switching trains at Jamaica Station).
I thing I'm going to leave it at this for now, although I know I'm missing things. Any suggestions?

3 comments:

  1. 4 - I think it's like $30 for the Empire State Building. I can't remember exactly, but I went with my friends last year at midnight. It is absolutely breathtaking at night though. If you're going to be looking out from the 59th floor every day anyway, I'd skip out on doing it during the day!

    5 - I did this for the first time on Saturday. It is so refreshing and so pretty. In case you don't get a chance to go any time soon.... I took a lot of pictures that need to be posted haha.

    6 - My sister lives along Riverside, and there's a nice little running path. Maybe do your run there?

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  2. I've done 1, 2, 6, and 7...I go to Chelsea Piers and walk on the Hudson almost every night. You can hit the Highline on the way!

    I'm excited to do the Brooklyn Bridge together tomorrow night!!!

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  3. Wendy, I had no idea you could even go to the top of the Empire State Building at night! That's definitely what I'll opt for, the view from the office is already pretty incredible during the day. There should be a discounted ticket price for the Observatory if you work in the building...

    Elle, thanks for helping me kick off the checklist!! :)

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