This week was all about beaches – simply because it is too hot to do anything else! New York is suffering from / enjoying a heatwave – the perspective depends on who you ask, I guess, but I might be the only one who’d say this is enjoyable, and admittedly, it has been a little too hot even for my taste.
Working two jobs at the moment means I didn’t have much time to explore this week, but I managed to visit three different beaches: the small beach in Red Hook, just a short drive from where I’m staying, which is the perfect place to let my pup cool off in the water for a while, and Riis Beach in the Rockaways, where I’d been wanting to go for a long time (I’ve been to the Rockaways before, but only to another part of the beach there).
And my beachy highlight this week: Fire Island! This 32-mile-long, ¼-mile wide strip of sand (the longest of four barrier islands that protect the South Shore of Long Island from the Atlantic Ocean) had been on my travel wish list for the past two summers, but somehow I never made it out there (it takes about 2.5 hours incl car & ferry ride to get there from NYC).
By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls
Long Island Gay Travel Resources
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And just like that, two months in Europe are over and I am finding myself back in New York. As always, it felt like I had never left and I picked up right where I had left off when I said Au Revoir to New York in early June. I can’t tell you how good it feels to be back in what is undoubtedly the greatest city in the world, and I started August off with a trip to Governors Island.
What was supposed to be a beachy afternoon turned into more of an entertainment trip when the beach bar I was hoping to sip a cold beverage in was closed, but we caught a compelling show by the Polish theater group PEREGRINUS instead, which involved acting, dancing of the fantastic performers, and even participating myself. The Manhattan skyline formed a picture-perfect backdrop to the performance (which got us excited for the NYC Fringe Festival later this month!) and to a relaxing day in the sun – much needed after the lackluster summer in Germany.
When I arrived in New York last week, I was told that I had brought summer with me. Apparently, it had been cold and rainy most of the spring until the weekend of my arrival – and hearing this made me feel reassured again about having spent all of May in Austin (in case you haven’t noticed yet – I’ve got a major case of FOMO and ‘scarifying’ a month in New York for four weeks in Austin wasn’t an easy decision for me to make!).
To be honest, I was considering extending my stay in Austin for another three weeks (yes, I loved it that much – more on that to come next week) but then my travel plans were changed by circumstances beyond my control (more on that soon).
And that’s why I ended up spending only eight days in my adopted home. Knowing that my time in New York would be short and sweet, the goal was to make the most of it. This meant: make sure to have a decent New York bagel (check), have a pizza at Roberta’s (check, and it was so worth nearly missing my flight for it)!
We’re already super stoked about this year’s NYC Gay Pride. The world’s biggest LGBTI festival takes place next month, from 19-26 June, with this year’s theme being ‘Equality Needs You.’ Managing Director Chris Frederick says the theme ‘serves as a reminder of the continuing fight for full equality and the effect a single individual can have on their world.’
Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company, adds: ‘Whether it’s in the West Village – the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement – Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, the East Village, Williamsburg or Jackson Heights, we encourage visitors and residents to participate in the iconic and vibrant Pride events taking place throughout New York City this June and July.’
Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company, adds: ‘Whether it’s in the West Village – the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement – Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, the East Village, Williamsburg or Jackson Heights, we encourage visitors and residents to participate in the iconic and vibrant Pride events taking place throughout New York City this June and July.’
Here, we look at seven parties, events and activities not to be missed from this year’s jam-packed lineup…
Bordered by the Hudson River on the west and St Nicholas Park in the east, New York City’s Hamilton Heights is said to experience a boost in popularity with buyers and renters. It’s quiet Uptown – so quiet, in fact, you’re sometimes able to forget Hamilton Heights is indeed part of Manhattan.
Far away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown, buildings made from concrete, glass and steel are far and few in between, despite a continuous influx of new renters and buyers. Old Brownstones and a fair number of landmark buildings – counting them all seems near impossible – line the streets instead, standing reminiscent of the area’s rich history.
Founding father Alexander Hamilton made the leafy-green hills of Uptown Manhattan his family’s home in 1802, moving into a mansion he called the Grange, after a family estate in Scotland.
Guys, I am freaking out! Only one more Polaroid from New York and I’ll be on my way to South America. I am torn between excitement and misery – on the one hand, I am drooling over pictures of pristine Caribbean beaches as I’ve finally started to plan my trip in more detail (I hope by the time the next Polaroid rolls around I know where I’ll rest my head when I arrive in Colombia in less than two weeks!), but on the other hand I am devastated about leaving New York.. as always!
However, since it’s getting quite chilly now, I feel like it’s a good time to leave, and to know that when I get back, I won’t need my winter coat and boots anymore.
As for the last week and what I’ve been up to.. I was happy that several friends who had left NYC for the Holidays were returning from their trips, making sure I wouldn’t turn into a crazy cat lady (I am looking after four cats at the moment..) by getting me out of the house more often again.