summer vacation, two ways.

Tomorrow is the first official day of summer. I’m getting my annual itch to play hooky, kick off my shoes, and run around barefoot.

Whether or not you’ve got an actual summer vacation in the works, here’s a little encouragement to take extra advantage of warm weather, and long days, and, yes, pink wine season. In other words, here’s to luxuriating in every bit of summertime that you can, when you can, even if you’re doing it in the midst of totally average work week. 

Where to start? Take a page from the book of childhood summers:

Eat berries, two ways:
+ Straight from the fridge, on the cool kitchen floor, in your undies.
+ Cozied under a blanket of drop biscuits.

Play outside, two ways:
+ Practice the Japanese medicine of shirin-yoku. In other words, take a long walk in the woods.
+ Get yourself to Storm King to frolic amidst the sculptures.

Go swimming, two ways:
+ Head to a pool, or a river, or the ocean. Do a cannonball.
+ Indulge in a special bathing suit. 

Feel the wind in your hair, two ways:
+ Take free rides on the Staten Island Ferry. Wave to the Statue of Liberty.
+ Take a fancy sail on the Hudson. (BYO cornichons.)

Tackle your summer reading list, two ways:
+ Dust off your library card (or sign up for a new one). Better still, read on the train.
+ Head to your local indie bookstore. Leave with a fresh stack to finish before the summer’s end.

Enjoy a s’more, two ways:
+ Hunt for the perfect fallen twig. Turn it into a roasting stick. Gloat to your family members that yours is the best. 
+ Get yourself a set of fancy skewers. Miss out on some of the fun, but don’t risk losing your ‘mallow.

Watch the sunset, two ways:
+ Sneak up to a nearby rooftop. Bring along a glass of chilled rosé.
+ Head to a slightly more sanctioned spot and take in the views from up there (plus pizza).