58 really specific things to do in NYC this summer

A summer bucket list, of sorts.

Jul 26, 2026

Apparently there are about 58 days left until summer ends on September 22, which is actually kind of a long time? Here I was thinking summer was about to be over in two weeks. The end of July can feel like it’s the end, but it’s not. So here are 58 things to do. Not all of them are NYC-specific, so hope you enjoy, no matter where you are in the world.

But first, a little reminder from someone in the neighborhood.

Get caught in the rain on a really hot day.
Make sure you have a pair of linen pants you want to wear every single day, like these that my friend greeted me with when I got caught in the rain while walking to her apartment and I loved them so much that I needed to order my own pair.
Catch up with your friend after work over a scoop of ice cream.
Speaking of ice cream, go to Brooklyn Farmacy for the coffee and mint chip flavors, or Gentile for any flavor or Culture if you’re in a yogurt mood instead.
Throw on a cute mini skirt.
Wear eyeshadow, even if you haven’t worn done that in a long time.
Read East of Eden, finally.
And read Eric Rohmer’s one and only novel, Élisabeth.
Order the sungold and sweet corn tagliatelle pasta from Lonnies.
Watch Before Sunrise at Metrograph on Monday July 27 at 3:45 (I wish I could).
Book a haircut (this one’s a reminder for me).
Go to Heaps in Park Slope for a cookies and cookie dough scoop.
Stay up late! Go dance! Go walk around!
Say hi to your neighbors and ask them how their summer is going. I recently found out that one of my dear neighbors passed away a few weeks ago. He was in his 80s and was born and raised in the neighborhood. We said hi and waved to each other every single morning for the last two years, rain or shine. I miss his presence.
Go to The Met on a Friday night for date night.
And then go to JG Melon after because it’s a beautiful way to end the evening.
Eat dinner at Ramen Ishida on a hot day.
Wear something pink.
Order the fries from Pastis because they are perfect and McDonald’s-esque.
Get a basketball. I played H-O-R-S-E like three times on vacation earlier this summer and now I own a basketball.
Make a creamy smoothie at home.
Watch Purple Noon (1960). I’ve never seen (or read) The Talented Mr. Ripley but this Italian film is the first adaption of the novel. It is beautiful and perfect and magical and so summer.
Get a pair of comfy sandals you can walk 20,000 steps in.
Be proactive and buy a coat for the winter.
Go to Soft Hours Tea House for an ice tea and sip, sit back, and enjoy.
Get your annual skin screening on the calendar for the fall/winter.
Fall in love with the F.Miller lip balm in Hibiscus for lush and moisturized and just-red-enough lips.
Acquire a white tee you’re obsessed with (mine is the Plain Jane New York tee).
Make freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning.
Go up to Central Park after work to walk around or have a picnic.
Clean out your closet and finally get rid of the Plasticana clogs that you’ve been holding on to for years and have never worn because they’re just too big and you need to accept it (and yes, they sold within minutes).
Spend a Saturday morning at the Fort Greene farmers market and come across this incredible jewelry designer.
Enjoy a luscious Negroni (if you’re into that) at Saraghina Caffè on a Wednesday evening.
Go to Tumbao to see the most beautiful curation of clothing and jewelry from Latin American designers.
Make a homemade salsa every Sunday so you have something delicious to put on your breakfast tacos all week.
Watch the sunset at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
Stay indoors all day in the A/C because sometimes it’s just too hot to be out there.
Slather on body butter after your shower.
Bring tiramisu as a gift when you get invited to someone’s place.
Daydream about painting your kitchen and then go ahead and order paint samples.
Play Kubb at the park, maybe even for the first time ever.
Go see The Odyssey. Or a play. Or a ballet. Anything new.
Look at all the tiny furniture at Tiny Doll House.
Start a mini home project, like upgrading your curtains or hanging a shelf or finally getting rid of your boob light.
Set an afternoon to check in on your goals for Q3 (Grace Clarke’s annual plan forever).
Spend lots of time on Facebook Marketplace until you finally find the perfect nightstand.
Have a slice of chocolate pecan pie with a friend at Four & Twenty Blackbirds.
Make a jug of aqua de jamaica to have in your fridge.
Completely rearrange one of your rooms.
Walk down Atlantic Avenue and stop by all of the shops.
Eat barbecue in Red Hook and get the brisket and ribs and cornbread and mac and cheese.
Go to The Met Cloisters because you’ve lived in New York City for 9 years and still haven’t been.
Request some time off on a random weekday so you can do all of your favorite things without having to deal with crowds.
Make a list of the things you want to improve in your space.
Take a figure drawing class at Drawing New York on a Friday evening.
Go on a really, really long walk instead of taking the train. Like one of those 1-hour+ long walks.
Take a delicious nap in the afternoon and wake up feeling disoriented but refreshed.
Enjoy all of summer’s pleasures !!!