Warmer weather always gets my mind going. Perhaps in winter I’m too busy nearly sprinting from place to place, wrapping myself in as many layers as is practical, and cursing the air temperatures to think much about anything else. But in the spring and summer, I find my mind continuously racing through the present, past, and future. Warm weather makes me a planner.
In my ongoing quest to fill up on life, I can’t help but feel excitement about all that summer has to offer. My favorite riesling on my rooftop, picnics in the park, flea markets galore, summer theater, sidewalk dining, and most importantly: the beach.
April showers are nearly behind us, and as I have happily survived another killer allergy season with barely a sniffle to show for it, I’m read to dive, full speed ahead, into four months of busy living.
I’m starting up a summer to-do list, just to be sure I don’t miss a thing.
of course, taking advantage of summer produce will be a given. peaches, cherries, eggplant, heirloom tomatoes, arugula: cannot wait.
- Get psyched (and get tickets) for summer theater festivals. Plus Shakespeare in the Park, as always.
- Find ways to pretend I’m back enjoying summertime in Prague.
- Have a few farmer’s-market-inspired picnics in the park, complete with local wine and lots of laying with good books and/or good friends in the sun.
- Enjoy long nights out, because it isn’t too cold to wander from place to place.
- Ice. Cream.
- Eat a lot of brunches, preferably outdoors.
- Weekend flea markets.
- Get to yoga classes as often as my wallet allows. Right now I’ve got a 2-week pass waiting for my Bikram month to end at YogaWorks. If anyone knows of any affordable ways this girl can continue moving from podcasts to the studio, please share!
- Tea and ballet, because I’m classy like that. Also, pizza and beer, because I can let the classiness go.
- NYC basics, like Yankees games and Coney Island.
- Take some weekend trips. I have friends that need visiting in Northampton, DC, and Colorado – for starters.
- Go wine tasting.
- Plan and host a killer NYC bachelorette party and a classic Connecticut shower for my dearest engaged friend. [Ideas are welcome.]
- Rent bikes again, and try not to crash into anything.
- Go to the beach as often as possible. Anyone want to help out with beach access?
I think that’s enough listing and linking for one day. My mantra this summer is simple: just live and live and live. Who’s with me?
What’s on your summer to-do list?
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I’ve been compiling my summer to do list too! It’s a great finals procrastination tool. I’m also all about LIVING this summer… this semester has been awfully stagnant for me in a number of ways so I am very much looking forward to “beginning [life] over again with the summer,” to quote one f. scott fitzgerald. Here’s what is on my to-do list…
1. yoga at my studio near home- my yoga “mothership so to speak”
2. runs and walks with family in the woods around the pond
3. lots of eating alfresco on the porch
4. a trip to wyoming in july to visit my BFF
5. a family history project- photographing and recording oral history from older relatives.
6. get a goddamn hair cut! my split ends are driving me nuts.
Those are so awesome ideas! In fact, I’m going to steal a few for my own list. Gotta love living right outside of NYC. Shakespeare in the Park for sure – I went to a Shakespeare production in Riverside Park at the end of last summer – It was awesome! I also want to hit up a few Yankee and Mets games, the new park opening at Coney Island, take some nice walks to the library to read the paper for free. And just enjoy not wearing every item of clothing I own at once to be warm =)
Nicole G
Your list sounds wonderful! Farmer’s markets, tea, and yoga are all on my list. What is that delicious-looking meal you posted? I have a weakness for asparagus and sweet potatoes :).
Have a lovely day!
xox
So many great festivals are in DC during the summer — folklife festival, film fest, jazz fest, embassy open houses… Plus farmers’ markets, picnics, sitting on a blanket under the stars, hiking, a Nationals game…
I plan on spending lots of time outdoors at the beach and by the river, visiting New England wineries, sitting on my deck every night that it is nice out, and building our nightly dinners around seasonal, local ingredients.
Those are all terrific ideas for enjoying a NYC summer. I highly recommend the Fort Greene flea market if you haven’t checked it out already. It’s huge, there are great food vendors, and it’s also walking distance from Red Bamboo a.k.a the best vegan restaurant around (in m opinion.)
My summer will consist of countless lake outings, BBQ’s, San Francisco traipsing (Summer, by the way, was were Mark Twain said he spent his coldest winter), camping, and job hunting. Er, that last one is a little out of place, but in order to live and live and live…I have to support myself. :)
totally want to hit up the brooklyn flea, northern spy and a wine tour on the loveliness that is long island. i like your thinkin’.
on my to-do list:
-williamsburg. i know, i know, but there are some fabulous new restaurants and bars that have opened recently that i must check out. and there’s always brooklyn bowl, which is a good time.
-catskills hang time. i miss my parent’s house and the surrounding towns (new paltz especially).
-weekend in rhinebeck. i love that place.
-skydiving. yes, girl on crutches is dreaming of jumping out of a plane. don’t ask.
-hiking in maine/ new hampshire. it’s pretty there.
hmmm there’s more but this list should keep me busy for awhile!
Please please please tell me whats on that sweet potato! Your summer to do is quiet the lovely thing! So excited for you…I must make one myself as well :)
Maggie
You have me on the edge of my seat… summer’s just around the corner, right? I want to take long walks (I try to limit use of public transportation as much as possible in the summer… I love being outside, and the subway is sweltering!), lounge outside, practice yoga in the park… so many things to be excited for.
Mandiee and Maggie,
It’s nothing fancy! Just kale, asparagus, a baked sweet potato, a poached egg, and tahini sauce.
Ah, I pine for the days when summer was…a time you could be outside lol. I’ll be trapped in the AC for the next few months. What is on that sweet potato?