New York City is not typically the first thing in a person's mind when they think "summer destinations." Tourists, more often than not, associate the city with snowy winters and the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.
But if you live here, you know that summer in NYC is pretty freaking dope.
The city quite literally comes alive, and there's no shortage of amazing adventures to take advantage of.
And while much of the time you'll be tempted to remain indoors within the safe, comforting embrace of your AC unit, but even the sweltering heat can't keep you from the city for long.
Read on to discover (or rather, be reminded), of all the reasons NYC is the absolute best place to live in the summer.
1. Music festivals
SummerStage, Governors Ball, Panorama - these are just a few of the incredible outdoor music festivals going down in NYC this summer.
Your favorite artists all culminate here because it's simply the heartbeat of the music scene, and everyone wants to see and be seen here.
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Make sure to check out our all-new Culture vertical (YAS) for our coverage of Gov Ball - yeah, we'll be there. And we're SUPER PSYCHED.
2. Outdoor theatre
Tons of theatre companies take their productions to the great outdoors in the summer. They run the risk of rained out performances and sweltering heats, but it's totally worth it for the experience.
One of the best outdoor performance opportunities in NYC is courtesy of The Public Theater, which offers free Shakespeare performances in Central Park every summer. Getting tickets might not be the easiest process, but it's certainly possible.
3. Your friends will want to visit you
It's pretty easy to convince your friends to come to you (rather than the other way around) once you tell them about all the baller stuff going on in the city during the summertime.
How can anyone pass that up? Send them some pics of Central Park in all its summery glory, or tell them you can score some free outdoor Shakespeare tix, and they'll be hopping on the next train/bus/plane for a weekend adventure.
Of course, if you don't know where to take your friends, you'll need to familiarize yourself with Magnises.
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Magnises is an inclusive community that delivers exclusive experiences, designed to enhance your network and unlock all the city has to offer. It doesn’t just open doors – it brings you in through the kitchen, showing you a side of the city that you’ve always been told you are going to have to wait to see.
Apply for a Magnises membership and become that dependable friend that knows what's really goin' down in NYC.
4. Food festivals
New York City is saturated with all kinds of deliciousness all year round, but in the summertime, it goes to a whole other level.
Between food trucks lining the streets and outdoor food fests like Smorgasburg and Madison Square Eats, you can barely turn your head without spotting yet another spot that you've just got to try.
And you should. You should try all the things.
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5. Rooftops
WE LOVE ROOF. WE NEED MORE ROOF.
Rooftops are where it's at in the summertime. Rooftop bars, rooftop restaurants, the rooftop of your building that you somehow coerced your landlord into letting you onto. Really, any roof will do.
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The views of the city are simply breathtaking, and it's a refreshing change of pace from the vantage points we've grown accustomed to in our daily lives.
6. Beaches
Yes, the terms "New York City" and "beaches" might feel weird in your mouth together, but it's true: the city has beaches.
And no, we're just just talking about those mysterious puddles that form on street corners when it rains and wash up all kinds of worrisome sludge.
We're talking about real beaches; ones with sand and everything.
There's simply no better way to spend a Saturday in the summertime than an escape to Rockaway Beach or Coney Island with your friends.
7. Secrets
In the summer we're a lot more open to the idea of getting ourselves a bit lost and discovering something new.
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Whether it's delicious restaurants with hidden gardens, outdoor patios that prove to be a welcome escape from the rest of the city, or even an incredible Chinese speakeasy in The Village, we're a lot more keen on discovery when we're not on the edge of freezing to death.
8. Seasonal cocktails
Okay, so prosecco popsicles are dope, but fresh cocktails that pack a punch are where it's at. Lumos is the place where it's at.
Baijiu is packin' the punch with crazy strong 60% ABV. It can be infused fairly easily which means that you can create drinks like Lumos‘ “Spring of the East” with Baijiu-infused rosemary, yuzu, grapefruit/campari bitter, rice wine, and pamplemousse rose.
Or, you could go another spectrum and have a spicier cocktail with the “Goji;” goji-infused Baijiu, mezcal, pink grapefruit, lime, agave, and orange bitters.
Want something sweeter? Try the “Red River” with Baijiu, vodka fair, watermelon, tarragon, combier, pink peppercorn, lime, and agave. Check out Lumos.
Check out 11 Incredible Things to Do in Manhattan This Summer.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]