what to do in nyc: jones beach

again, yes, technically jones beach is just out of the city. but for new yorkers who need a quick-day-escape this is a fantastic (and very inexpensive option).

to get there: from Penn Station take the Long Island Rail Road from Babylon to Freeport (a round trip ticket is 15 dollars). from Freeport get on the MTA bus headed to Jones Beach. the bus is the cost of a subway ride and if you have your unlimited metro-card (which i'm sure you've figured out by now that you should) then it's no added cost. all together it takes about 1. 5 hours to get there from when you leave Penn Station (shorter if you don't have wait to long for the bus).

to do there: soak up the rays, bob in the waves, and get a big ol' scoop of some Friendly's ice cream (mint chocolate chip for me, please). 

the beach is really quite beautiful and while (like Coney Island) it feels a bit past it's prime and makes you long for the simplicity of years gone by, it is nonetheless a welcome-adventure. 

an easy day trip, i might not suggest this for visitors to the city, but rather for the hardened resident looking for an escape. 

plus, it's a perfect excuse to pull out that wide-brimmed hat you've had tucked in the back of your closet for two years. 

and don't forget your spf (70 for me please). uva/uvb. i may not be the tannest of them all. but i'll laugh when at 40 i have barely a wrinkle on my face. and more importantly, skin cancer can be prevented...so, why wouldn't you arm yourself against it?

the perfect body initiative. day nine.

Why is your body perfect?

Every time I look at my belly and see a layer of fat...still...I think of my little baby that I had 6 months ago...and then I love it! I placed him for adoption and miss him like crazy, but my tummy reminds me of the miracle that he is! Such a miracle! Also- my hands- HUGE- but so capable!

Lucy

...and love it!

i just have to say that lucy's story is so unbelievably

inspiring. you must read this.

what to do in nyc: dumbo

okay, okay, so technically it's in brooklyn. well...i guess some of it's in manhattan too, but the dumbo i'm gonna talk about is across the bridge in the borough that is quickly becoming (well, actually, has been for a while) the place to be. 

dumbo stands for? down under the manhattan bridge overpass

to get there: from the 42nd street station take the A train (it's an express train--meaning it won't stop at every stop, but will get you there faster) to High Street. exit and orient yourself towards a large green park, walk through the park, veering to the left,  passing under a stone overpass and just head towards the water. eventually you'll run into brooklyn bridge park (an ideal picnic location) and home to many fun things in the summer--including, free movie showings on thursday nights.

or: get off the A at Chambers (home to city hall) and walk across the bridge. the views are amazing (though said to be more dramatic if you walk from brooklyn to manhattan). 

things to do:

1. Grimaldi's: uber-famous pizza parlor that you'll have to wait in line outside just to get into. i personally think the pizza is a wee-bit overrated, but it's an experience for sure, i've done it before (twice) and i'm sure i'll do it again.

2. Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory: across the street from Grimaldi's the two go hand-in-hand. chances are you'll have to wait in line again, but it's refreshing and lovely to sit out on fulton-landing and take in the view. 

3. Five Front: it was here that my friend erica had her first date with a boy named chris. this past february they tied the knot and brought it full circle by celebrating at this delightfully charming restaurant. the food is good, the decor is homey and welcoming and it's a perfect place for a date, for sure. in fact, just talking about it now makes me want to go back. soon, very soon. 

the big appeal for me? cobble-stone streets and to-die-for views

right now i'm really into cheap things to do. and what's better than a picnic? i bought myself a 3 dollar piece of spinach pizza and a bottle of perrier and plopped down on the lawn to soak in the views. my friend carolyn came along . we listened to regina's new album as it played through carolyn's overturned headphones (albeit, very softly). and diana even came along for the ride. the only thing missing was our friend taza. she needs to come back to nyc for a visit soon. very, very soon. but i digress. 

that verizon building is a blight on the skyline. but what can you do?

we indulged in sweet treats from the ice cream factory. carolyn's familiar looking right? yup, you know her from taza's blog. told you so. and yes, she really is that beautiful. we did in fact all go to college together. 

"ice cream is the new health food": i need this sign for my kitchen. period. 

all in all it was a really fun, refreshing, and quite cheap outing. the cost of a subway ride (you gotta get the unlimited) and maybe, like 10 dollars in food. not bad. not bat at all. 

DUMBO previw

Carolyn (of taza-blog fame {you'll recognize her when you see her}) and I headed to DUMBO (neighborhood in Brooklyn) last night to enjoy the area, food, and bring you more ideas of things to do here in the city.

We had such a blast. I will post more later. But for now... I'm of to the beach.

So enjoy the sneak-peak-preview:

what to do in nyc: seek out a classic "only in the city" moment

many times street performers are more of a bother than anything else. 

but then, every once-in-a-while, you come across someone or something that takes your breath away and you think... i wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now, because this is perfect.

yesterday, waiting for the e train  at 53rd and lexington, i heard opera that gave me chills in the best possible way. and i don't even like opera.

and it was one of those, only in new york moments which can be found just often enough if you keep your eyes open. 

ps: when he finished, the entire station erupted in applause. yup, me too. it was that good.