Sweat, Spritzes & Subway Stories: Summer in the City
An unfiltered look at what it means to sweat, connect, and create in a sun-drenched Manhattan
Summer has arrived. In some places, it kicked off a few weeks ago. Here in New York, it flirted with us until just this past week. The scorching sun, sticky humidity, and random rainfall have finally graced New Yorkers. And if this past week’s heat wave is any indication of what to expect this summer, we’re in for quite the season.
While many are lucky enough to escape the smells and sounds of the city for Positano, Mykonos, or the Hamptons, those spending summer locally bond over park tanning sessions, Aperol Spritzes at brunch, and late nights dancing on rooftops as city lights reflect off their sweaty faces.
Most conversations with friends or new acquaintances in the city begin with, “What are you doing this summer?” Usually, I too find myself on a beach somewhere across the Atlantic. But this year, I’ll be staying put - reading, writing, wandering the streets of the Lower East Side, West Village, and Central Park with my camera in hand, and taking advantage of dinner reservations that are otherwise impossible to snag.
I think everyone should experience New York in the summer. There’s an electric pulse that radiates throughout the city unlike any other time of year. The West Side Highway and park loops are filled with chiseled runners training for the NYC Marathon just five months away, or simply flashing their superior physiques with acceptable justification. The city’s all-black uniform suddenly gives way to floral prints, pastel linens and athleisure; it becomes perfectly acceptable to roam the streets in booty shorts, a crop top, or a sports bra.
Subway rides are filled with businessmen in sweat-stained shirts and perspiring strangers packed shoulder to shoulder, praying the air conditioning holds out until their stop. On weekends, subway cars are overtaken by beachgoers lugging coolers and umbrellas, ravers in barely-there festival wear, and interns frantically checking if they’re on the right train. Everyone suffers through the heat together; it’s a shared experience that reminds us, regardless of background, age, socioeconomic status, or social circle, we’re all human and humbled by the heat.
Downtown Manhattan bustles with overflowing bars, every other drink a cold beer or Aperol Spritz. You might find yourself sharing a bottle of rosé with friends over French fries and oysters by the water or at a trendy new spot in Williamsburg. Or maybe you’re nestled into a shady patch of grass with a book and a blanket, claiming your own little slice of nature amid the city’s dense heat. You might even end up at a rooftop party by day and dancing well into the night, doubling your caloric burn rate for the season.
The music scene in summer is endless. Whether you’re into jazz, EDM, indie rock, classical, or anything in between, every corner of the city offers up creative musicians and crowds ready to sing, dance, and soak in the sounds of the season. It’s a time for creation, new beginnings, and excitement. Summer love ensues, new friendships flourish, and the confidence to dive into a new hobby is just one of the many perks the longer days bring to locals.
New Yorkers bond over their shared experience of enduring the muggy city heat, as summer Fridays transform the workweek into a string of events celebrating the solstice. It’s a season that infuses the city with enough energy and exhilaration to carry it through the crisp winter. And come June, it begins all over again.
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If you do find yourself in New York this city, here’s my summer hit list:
Brunch Spots
Nature Escapes
Music Venues
Bars