How to Find Joy in Summer

It's "three showers a day" season — and some places and things I've been enjoying.

Jul 24, 2024

This past week, my 14-year-old sister came to visit me, and we spent five days walking around in the New York City heat wave (also, global warming). I was there, with my handheld mini fan and Evian face mist, somewhere on Mulberry Street, at my seventh souvenir shop as she shopped for trinkets and keychains to give to her friends.

It was a delusional heat, like one of those days when the humidity makes it feel like it’s over 100° and you’re desperate and overstimulated and you just want to know what cool weather feels like again. I truly don't even know how we managed to walk 20K steps every day on those days, but we did it, with lots of smoothies and pizza slices along the way. <3

I realize this is now my eighth summer in New York, which is an insane thought. Last Friday, I went to a Q&A event at MoMA PS1 for their summer music series, Warm Up, and the panelists were talking about what defines an NYC summer.

My first summer in New York City was in 2017. I was doing an internship at an advertising agency in Columbus Circle, with a gorgeous view of Central Park. It was the summer of waiting in line at Glossier, going to every possible experiential brand pop-up event (like the Bumble Hive), “shopping” at a bodega made entirely out of felt, eating soft serve at Milk Bar, and listening to Flower Boy on repeat. Since then, so much changed in my life, but at the same time, there are a few key things that will always define summer in New York City, no matter what year it is.

Me in July 2017 minutes before getting caught in the rain at Central Park <3

I like to hate on summer sometimes. It’s uncomfortably hot and gives me headaches. I still don't feel comfortable wearing strappy tanks and tube tops. Sometimes sunglasses stress me out because I can’t see life in “full color.” And I simply cannot get into flip-flops — I’ve tried my whole life, and I just can’t.

But I can’t argue with the fact that summer has its own moments!

A photo I took for Follow the Neon, an IG account I used to have with my friend lol

Small Pleasures of Summer

Going on late-night ice cream runs and having your ice cream almost immediately start trickling down your hand cause it’s so hot outside (I’ve been going to Brooklyn Farmacy every week and I also love Pasta Louise Cafe because every week, there’s a new flavor)
Having those songs that you know you’re going to listen to in the future and think “wow, that song reminds me of summer in [insert year here]”
Coming home from a long, hot day of walking around and immediately getting into the shower and switching into comfy clothes and maybe also ordering a pizza (my new go-to is from Layla Jones)
Blueberries and tomatoes and corn from the farmers' market and making refreshing salads and thinking about how much you love summer produce and how much you’re going to miss it when it’s gone
Wearing linen sets and little basket bags and putting your hair up with a cute scrunchie and walking around in your cute summer shoes
People watching— it’s extra contagious in the summertime when everyone is out and about and laughing and smiling and enjoying their beverages outside and talking about their vacations to Italy and kids are out of school and dogs are panting with their tongues out and we’re all just happy to be experiencing summer together (aside from the awful B.O. smell in the trains though, just wear the aluminum deodorant even if it’s just for the summer!!!)