September 2020: The Monthly Round-Up

How is it September 2020 already?

Does anyone else feel like this year is speeding by? (Maybe that’s not such a bad thing, considering how epically trying this year has been for many of us!)

But, I admit, I’m still longing for more beach days and warm summer nights.

When it comes to summer versus fall, I definitely fall (pun intended!) into the summer camp. I am not one of those people who is dying to have pumpkin spice everything and throw on my cable-knit sweaters.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that! (Well maybe the whole pumpkin spice in everything has gone a bit too far…)

But since I’m a beach girl at heart, summer will always be my favorite season.

However, it is indeed September 2020, so it’s time for another monthly round-up.

Even though this year is quite different from others, and September is not ushering in that usual ‘back to school, back to work’ mentality that normally hits NYC right about now, there are still plenty of ways we can enjoy this month and try to bring some normalcy to it.

So keep reading for my recommendations about how you can celebrate the month of September, whether that means exploring outdoors, safely checking out new restaurants and bars (an industry that desperately needs our support), getting back into the kitchen with some new recipes, or curling up on the couch with a good book or Netflix series.

And if you are a parent or a teacher, my heart goes out to you. It seems like there is no easy answer for how to get through this school this year with COVID-19, so whatever you end up having to do, hang in there!

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The Monthly Round-Up: September 2020

Travel…

I am lucky that I got to travel this summer, safely, by car.  My friend and I went on a road trip to Maine. (Check out my post for tips about traveling to Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic.) We spent a week exploring some of the charming coastal towns there and absolutely loved it!

My husband and I also spent a weekend in Livingston Manor, in the Western Catskills. What a cute town!

Plus, we discovered and stayed in accommodations that are ideally suited for travel during COVID-19. Antrim Streamside is a resort that is all private cabins and cottages nestled on acres of gorgeous countryside. (Although after staying there, I’d gladly check-in again, pandemic or no pandemic.)

If you are dreaming about taking a road trip this fall, I highly recommend both of these destinations, plus a bunch of other places that I write about in a round-up of easy weekend road trips from NYC.

Or Staycation?

After a busy summer, my husband and I plan to stay put for September. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do some exploring closer to home!

We’ve been going to Rockaway Beach for years now and were so excited when the boutique Rockaway Hotel opened. With a chic, beachy vibe, a pool, 4 eateries, plus 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and Jamaica Bay from the rooftop bar & restaurant, it’s a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

We have already made a reservation for dinner at sunset on the rooftop, and we can’t wait to check in later this fall for a ‘staycation’. (There’s something so decadent about checking into a hotel room for the night in your own city, don’t you agree?)

And if you still plan to fit in a few more beach days this month, (I know I plan to!) make sure you read this post: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Rockaway Beach during COVID-19

If you live in NYC or the surrounding area, another great staycation idea is to take a day trip and explore the outdoor sculpture garden, Storm King Art Center in Cornwall, NY. With acres of grounds to cover, it’s a fun, outdoor activity where you won’t have to worry about social distancing because the grounds are so vast.

Storm King is about 70 miles from the city. You can either drive or you take the Metro-North Train to Beacon and then jump in a taxi or Uber from there.

Currently, reserved tickets are required for all visitors. Tickets are sold out for September, but they will release the next block of tickets on Wednesday, September 16^th at noon. These tickets will be for scheduled visits through October 12^th.

Out and About in NYC

There is also plenty to do and see in NYC, this September.

Take a stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park for some of the best views of Manhattan.

Or jump on the ferry to Governor’s Island for a picnic or a bike ride. Please note that you must reserve ferry tickets in advance and face coverings are required on the ferry and the island.

There’s also Community Spread, a new, outdoor art exhibit in Manhattan that almost functions as a scavenger hunt. Created by the Brooklyn based artist, RAE, the mixed material artworks are placed in unassuming crevices and corners of the city. You can find them by downloading the artist’s app, RAE BK, starting at midnight on September 11th.

If eating is more your speed, I’m happy to announce that Smorgasburg in Prospect Park is back for September! Because of COVID-19, all food orders are to-go only and the vendors are setting up shop at the Lefrak Center.

And have you heard about Kora, the new, online Filipino bakery in Queens? It already has a waitlist that’s 800 people long for their Filipino doughnuts. (They make about 275 weekly.) If you’re interested, head to Kora’s Instagram account and look out for the weekly drop of a Google order form which takes place every Monday at 3 pm.

For the Couch Potatoes

I will admit, when the pandemic first struck, I was having trouble reading. Normally, I’m an avid reader and get through 25+ books a year, but with the constant negative news cycle, I was too anxious and stressed out to focus on reading a book.

Thankfully, I drastically cut back on my news consumption and my reading is back on track.

September 2020 looks like a great month for reading because there are quite a few good books coming out that I want to share with you.

David Chang’s new memoir, Eat a Peach looks compelling.

I loved Emma Kline’s book The Girls, so I’m excited to read her new release of short stories, Daddy: Stories.

Monogamy by Sue Miller is also on my list.

If you’re in the mood for a thriller that given how 2020 has been unfolding, doesn’t seem that far-fetched, read Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam.

If watching TV is more your speed, (hey, I don’t judge!) I highly recommend the Netflix series, Dark.

Yes, it’s in German. And I know, it’s third and final season came out a couple of months ago, so this isn’t a ‘hot off the presses’ recommendation. But with all of the TV-watching I’ve been doing since the pandemic began, this suspenseful series is the only one that I still think about. So much so, I plan to watch it again this fall.

If you’re looking for lighter fare to watch, tune into another Netflix series, Away with Hilary Swank. It’s about mankind’s first mission to Mars. Is it a bit sappy? Yeah. But does it tug at your heartstrings in just the right way? Yep.

Get Back in the Kitchen

Once the colder weather hits, I see myself spending a lot of time in the kitchen again, cooking.

Thankfully, two of my favorite culinary figures, Ina Garten and Yotam Ottolenghi, are releasing new cookbooks this fall.

Gartner’s Modern Comfort Food (because who couldn’t use more of that right now!) and Ottolenghi’s Flavor both come out in early October. I can’t wait to try recipes from both of these books!

Some More Things I Want to Share

As promised, I will now be featuring a few black-owned businesses in every monthly round-up that I publish on the blog. It’s one of the ways I am trying to do more to support POC.

First up, is the McBride Sisters, who own the largest African American wine company in the United States. Not only do they have incredible wines hailing from New Zealand and the central coast of California. They also have an unbelievable story of sisters who grew up continents apart, not knowing about each other, but both with a passion for wine. When they finally met, they were able to unite their parallel lives and passions to create their highly successful business.

Next is Stella & Haas jewelry. I love their necklaces and bracelets (the earrings are cool too but I don’t have pierced ears!) and everything is at a very affordable price point.

Nothing says cozy fall like a scented candle. And Harlem Candle Co.’s candles are a beauty to behold (as well as smell). When you finish burning through one of these babies, you’ll want to hold onto the glass votive it came in. My current favorite is the 22k gold nightclub map of Harlem “Savoy” luxury candle.

Are You Ready to Enjoy September 2020?

What do you think of the monthly round-up?

I hope this post encourages you to enjoy September 2020 in some shape or form.

I know we are all tired from this pandemic and the constant doom and gloom of the news cycle. That’s why it’s more important than ever to do things that bring you joy. I hope this list has given you the inspiration to do just that!

And just a civic reminder for all of you about how important it is to vote in the upcoming presidential election in the United States this November. You can register to vote here and if you want to know more about mail-in ballots in your state, click here.