Labor Day is upon us, which also means that the end of summer is near. For many of us, summer in NYC can prove to be a complicated time as there's an endless stream of things to do, rooftop drinks to be had and a contagious energy that you can't find anywhere else in the world, all while the sweltering heat, swarm of lantern flies and crowded subways make you beg for the chilly nights and balmy mornings of fall. No matter what summer in New York City means to you, we can all agree that making the most of these last few weeks of sunshine and sweat is a necessary right for every New Yorker, so we've compiled a list of 19 things you can do in NYC before summer comes to an end:
1. Take a Boat Cruise | Honorable Willy Wall - Manhattan Yacht Club
There's no doubt that summer is the best time to find yourself catching the breeze of the Hudson + East Rivers and there are dozens of boat tours, sailing charters and booze cruises to choose from. We're big fans of taking a $20 weekday boat trip to the floating Manhattan Yacht Club, The Honorable Willy Wall, which offers unparalleled views of the city, great drinks, and of course, BYOF (food).
2. Rooftop Drinks
Most NYC rooftop bars stay open year round, but there's no denying that they're much more fun during the summer months, especially at sunset. Westlight is one of our favorites and is easily accompanied with a trip to the drive-in-movie (see #10) - another end of summer must.
3. King Pleasure Basquiat Exhibit
The end of summer is sure to bring some rainy days and end of season storms with it, and when it does, fans of Jean-Michel Basquiat and art admirers should find themselves at the King Pleasure exhibit which was recently extended through October. The exhibit is located near a couple of other NYC favorites - Frying Pan, The High Line, and The McKittrick Hotel to name a few - making a full day itinerary an easy feat.
4. Dior + Balenciaga: The Kings of Couture and Their Legacies Exhibit
Similarly, for fans of fashion, the FREE Dior + Balenciaga exhibit at The Museum at FIT is open through November 6th.
5. Coney Island
What is summer without Coney Island? With the newly opened Coney Island ferry line from Pier 11, there's no better time to visit
6. Baseball Game
There's nothing more "New York" than buzzily singing "New York, New York" after the Yankees win a home game and the best (or, let's be honest, cheapest) time to be a bleacher creature is at the end of summer. We're not Mets fans here but we're sure the same applies.
7. Attend a Concert at Rooftop at Pier 17
What more could you want than to attend a rooftop concert of your favorite artist overlooking twinkling city lights and the Brooklyn Bridge on a warm (but not too warm Summer night)? The Rooftop at Pier 17 hosts an idyllic setting for their summer concert series and has some fantastic artists closing out the summer - we'll be heading there ourselves next week!
8. Summer Concert Series at Central Park
The only thing better than a rooftop concert is a free one and there's still time to request tickets to attend Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series in Central Park.
9. Grab an Ice Cream Cone
New York City is a food capital of the world and in summer, it often feels like it's the ice cream capital as well with a Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck on every corner. Seize the opportunity to indulge yourself in one last ice cream cone before summer ends. For our Hoboken + Jersey City friends, you already know that Torico is calling your name.
10. Outdoor Movie
There's no shortage of opportunity to enjoy an outdoor movie in and around New York City and it's the perfect way to kick off an end-of-summer date night.
11. Governors Island
Take the ferry to Governors Island to enjoy their beach bar, Gitano, go for a bike ride, enjoy the spa, or just explore the island.
12. Explore Food + Flea Markets
Some of the cities best food and flea markets are best enjoyed in the summer months - try hitting Smorgasburg, Time Out Market, Grand Bazaar, + more.
13. Beach Bar
Who doesn't love a beach bar? Be sure to visit some of the area's best (like Watermark and Surf City) before summer ends.
14. Met Fashion Costume Institute
Time is running out to visit this year's fashion exhibits (In America: An Anthology of Fashion and In America: A Lexicon of Fashion) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The exhibits will run until September 5th. Bonus points if you visit during Date Night at the Met which runs Friday + Saturday nights through September.
15. Stroll the Gardens
New York has many lovely gardens + parks to explore and most flowers will still be in bloom through early Fall. Check out Brooklyn Botanical Gardens or the New York Botanical Gardens for starters.
16. Get Active + Get Outside
There are sooo many ways to get active + outside in NYC and you'll regret not doing more of it when the winter slushy streets roll around. Try doing a walking architecture tour of your neighborhood, biking the Westside Highway, or doing Yoga (like at the top of the Edge).
17. Rent a Party Bus
What better way to ring out the end of another great summer than on a party bus, like Glinda the Good Bus, with your friends? Or consider taking a bus tour to a winery or brewery!
18. Brooklyn Mirage
The Brooklyn Mirage is a venue unlike any other and fit for a feral end to your summer.
19. Boogie on Down at DiscOasis
The last day to take part in the roller disco takeover of Central Park's Wollman Rink is October 2nd!
However you decide to close our your summer, be sure to put a little disco in the details! Let us know what fun end of summer finds you explore + follow us on Pinterest @itsdiscofrank for all details on our upcoming fall plans + itineraries.
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