Summer In the City

Some may disagree, but to me, summer is the best time to be in NYC. As long as you can put up with the occasional high temperatures and humidity, you’ll find that the city has so much to offer. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I spent the entire month of July in New York. Since the acting season is slow in LA over the summer, I thought it would be the perfect time to head to NYC for auditions, meet with brands and PR agencies for my site, and ultimately enjoy the summer in the city. I was so right!

Living in New York has many upsides, but after moving to LA over a year ago, I can honestly say that I forgot what humidity feels like. When I arrived I decided to rock my wavy hair look, and after three hours in the heat and humidity, my waves looked like a sad frizzy mess! The Los Angeles Farmers Markets and grocery stores have spoiled me; while I was in NYC I did a little grocery shopping and had some serious sticker shock. I genuinely forgot how expensive everything is! But despite the sweat and high food prices, I really enjoyed my time back in the Big Apple.

Over the years I’ve made many contacts on the East Coast, and it was wonderful to be able to reconnect with people whom I had not seen in years. I was grateful to be able to stay with friends all over the city, so I spent time in neighborhoods I’d rarely frequented before. From Washington Heights, Harlem, Upper West Side, down to West Chelsea, I got pretty familiar with the West Side of Manhattan. It has terrific views of the Hudson, and it’s a lot more convenient to get around as opposed to the East Side of town. There is so much construction and so many new developments popping up around NYC, it will be interesting to see when it is all completed (whenever that may be).

I packed a lot of clothes for this trip—maybe a few too many (and honestly, I should have known better). While roaming around the city I like to be comfortable but chic, and this outfit from The Shoe Box is just that! I styled this flowy, off-the-shoulder dress from their Flatiron location with some chic snakeskin slingback heels, which are a great option for the evening. However, during the day I preferred a comfortable sandal that I could walk around in all day. My bag is Gigi New York. The brand recently gifted me one of their clutches, and I fell in love. They have a variety of affordable styles, and if you order from their website, they can personalize the bag with your initials. #needit

As I mentioned before, NYC has so much going on during the summer, it can be hard to keep to track. If you are traveling to NYC this summer here are few things to do to make sure you get the most out of your trip. Additionally, you can check out a full list of activities on the TimeOut New York website.

Things to do in NYC this Summer:

Visit the Cloisters. I went for the first time this trip, and it was so beautiful and peaceful.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. We used to do this every summer when we lived in the Fidi. Keep in mind that the best views are on the walk back.
Kayak for free in the Hudson River. I’ve never had the chance to do this, but it looks like a lot of fun!
Have a picnic in Central Park. Sounds cliché, but it was one of the first things I did when I moved to the city and I still remember that afternoon.
Catch a concert series. There is music all around the city during the summer, and a lot of these shows are free. Find a show in your neighborhood here.
Visit the Rosé Mansion. This may be my biggest regret, missing out on the Rosé Mansion. Each room is Rosé-themed and your admission includes eight tastes of different varieties.