There is something so serene and complete about the fall season. There are many quotes about the time, but one that truly articulates what is going on comes from The Bear of Small Brain, Winnie the Pooh, who, in Pooh’s Grand Adventure said:
“It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!”
Indeed, a time for so much. So what are the best things to do in New York? First, for those who want to really get the best view of Fall foliage, you really can’t beat The Catskills. Hiking in Kaaterskill Falls is a wonderful way of spending some autumn days, truly one of New York’s most outstanding testaments to the beauty of nature.
Then there are the hikes in Allegany State Park which spans a huge 65,000 acres, comprising the north’s Red House Area and the south’s Quaker Area. Cycling is fun there too and for those who don’t mind getting a bit wet, there are lots of water sporting opportunities (canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and more).
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden reopened to visitors in August 2020. In September, Adrian Benepe, the former commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, came in as the Garden’s new president and chief executive.
The newly refurbished Brooklyn Botanic Garden still includes all the taxonomic detail and vibrant floral displays. The 52 acres of plant life are randomly categorized, with insects, birds, and a constantly-changing floral setup scattered throughout. The new Robert W. Wilson Overlook is constructed on a 1.25-acre slope of land that was left unkempt and deserted for too long. The slope was discovered in the 20th century when digging began on the adjacent Brooklyn Museum. The path also doubles as a ramp for disabled visitors.
While the Garden is open to visitors, the robust scholastic activities for children and adults are only available virtually. Children can register to have plants sent to their homes and gardening enthusiasts can consult with Botanical staff online.
The New York City Marathon got underway on Oct. 17, 2020. This year, much like many other aspects of life in the City, the traditional route was forsaken for a virtual form. Runners were encouraged to register for any 26.2-mile route of their choosing and complete it within two weeks.
The New York Road Runners, the umbrella organization responsible for the annual marathon, reported that more than 28,000 runners from 130 countries and all 50 states signed up for the modified race this year. Close to 21% of those registered were based in New York’s metropolitan region.
Sunday, November 1, would have been the 50th anniversary of the New York City Marathon. While runners didn’t traverse the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, where the run usually gets underway, they could still run through the track down Fourth Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, across the Queensboro Bridge, and through Manhattan and the Bronx to the “finish line” in Central Park.
There were no street closures, supportive crowds, or aid tents, but many fans of the marathon did put up encouraging signs to show their support.
New York City’s Department of Transportation published a tender for “expressions of interest” for a pilot initiative which would bring electric scooters to the Big Apple. The initial plan is to introduce the scooters in all the boroughs except Manhattan in May 2021.
So far, big names in urban transportation have shown interest in the program. Bird, Lime, Voi, and Lyft have all taken steps to participate in the bidding process.
“We applaud the City and Commissioner Trottenberg for taking this crucial next step in making New York a global leader in environmental travel, micromobility, equitable transportation, and street safety.”
Maurice Henderson, Bird’s director of government partnerships
If there is one thing that the coronavirus pandemic has taught us, it is that things change constantly.
Over the last few weeks, we have learned about the cancellation of the live Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the closure of Century 21, and the removal of many states from New York’s mandated quarantine- list. Indoor concert and comedy spaces remain closed, but protocols have been set in place for indoor dining.
And now, for the first time since March, New York is introducing a new tourism initiative designed to recharge the city’s economy, stimulate local travel, and bring back the appeal of the Big Apple.
All In NYC: Neighborhood Getaways offers more than 200 deals and specials in hotels, museums, eateries, parks, and facilities across the five boroughs. Aimed primarily at New Yorkers looking for fun staycation opportunities at reasonable prices, All in NYC is the city’s most robust and varied tourism platform ever.
Social distancing, health recommendations, and safety protocols are observed at all sites.
All around the world, for nearly a decade tourism, has expanded consistently and grown faster than the global gross domestic product. It only took one microscopic virus to destroy the entire travel industry: 121 million people in tourism jobs are unemployed, $3.4 trillion have been lost. With the reopening of schools in September 2020, and a general movement to begin planning a post-corona reality, many in the industry are looking for ways to make travel smarter, greener, and better.
Sustainable tourism, which seeks to offset the social and environmental impacts of travel used to be the goal. Now the focus is on regenerative travel—a visitor’s aim to leave a place better than it was before.
Six nonprofit organizations, including the Center for Responsible Travel and Sustainable Travel International, have formed an umbrella coalition, the Future of Tourism, offering benchmark suggestions for regenerative travelers. The recommendations include favoring local businesses over international chains, staying at resorts that source foods from local farmers, and participating in immersive community-based programs like beach clean-ups, school volunteering, etc. Neither sustainable nor regenerative travel solve the carbon emission problem; people will still need to get to these destinations, presumably by air. But the newly formed coalition encourages tourists to opt for boat, train, bike or foot excursions when exploring a new venue.
The fact that businesses are eager to reopen is understandable. The fact that the clientele is returning is a sign that New Yorkers are equally eager to resume some sense of normalcy.
Since March, eateries have only been allowed to offer takeout and delivery services. Now, as the city is poised to gradually reopen, some business owners have taken matters into their own hands. Throughout New York City, restaurants and bars have taken over the now nearly empty sidewalks. Recently proposed legislation will have the city identify sidewalks, streets, and plazas for table service so restaurants can meet capacity and social distancing regulations. The process of acquiring permits for these spaces will be streamlined.
Already, some restaurant owners are allowing diners to linger for an extra round or two and serving food through doors and windows. In the city’s hippest areas, patrons are congregating outside bars- with no seating- being served by masked bartenders passing drinks out the door.
Clothing stores have also taken to the outdoors, setting up racks outside. Touchless browsing is now the standard for shoppers; masks (and in some cases gloves) will be required in most indoor shops.
The temperature in New York is slowly rising and the sun is shining more as the days are getting longer. Despite all the corona-chaos, which has slowed the dizzying pace of New York City, Spring is most definitely in the air. The grasses are green, the flowers are blooming, and now we have the opportunity to enjoy it. Here are a few tips for having a safe New York City picnic this spring.
Location, Location, Location
Pick a spot that is not heavily visited and far from foot trafficked paths. Central Park has a lot of different areas and spaces. A full list of picnic parks is available here, but make sure to check each website to determine opening hours. Also consider putting your blanket down in a neighborhood park. If you are still not ready to venture outside, you can have a virtual picnic with friends by pulling up some an outdoor environment, like an aquarium webcam or a video tour of a national park and playing some nature sounds.
Time it Right
Everyone is looking to get outdoors after weeks of being cloistered at home. To avoid crowds, schedule an early morning breakfast picnic, or an after-dinner picnic party for dessert.
Be Selfish
Like all good potluck meals, picnics are fun because of the sharing. But now, more than ever, double-dipping and communal bowls should be avoided. Build a menu that focuses on individual servings. Pre-pack finger foods for each picnicker; slice and wrap any baked goods before heading out.
Plan to Play
Nobody should be touching public park equipment during this time; balls and frisbees pass through too many hands to be safe. That is why it is important to plan some entertainment for the kids. Apps like Heads Up!, a guessing game, and Midpoint, a word-association game offer fun activities for all ages. You can also go with classics like charades or I Spy.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The corona lockdown has been very good for the environment, reducing pollution and hazardous toxins. Do your part to keep that momentum going. If at all possible, consider using real dishes and cutlery. If you must go with disposable, opt for biodegradable products instead of plastics. Obviously, clear all waste to a garbage can and make sure you leave your picnic site clean for future visitors.
Koalas are not just in New York’s zoos anymore. More than a few plush koalas have been affixed to landmarks across the borough as part of a cute campaign encouraging locals and tourists to donate to WIRES, the Australian wildlife rescue effort.
stuffed koalas across NYC and London
These fuzzy, flat-nosed creatures were placed by the New York office of Melbourne media outfit Cummins & Partners (as KoalasofNYC) in places like the Brooklyn Bridge, Tribeca, Central Park fences and benches, Soho, subway platforms, light poles, and fire stations. Each koala has a QR code printed on a tag that directs people to the fundraising page and reminds curious bypassers about the environmental and wildlife crisis in the wake of the 2019-20 brushfires. Koalas were also placed around London for the same purpose.
Vacationing in New York City is always fun. But sometimes the real-life chores like laundry and groceries can confound even the most seasoned traveler.
The laundry is customer and community focused, with regular open-to-the-public events held in the bright, airy, well decorated venue. Upstairs, in the mezzanine, the Clean Café offers an enticing café menu. With an outdoor sitting area in the garden, customers can catch some quiet outdoor time while waiting for the rinse cycle to end. The food is prepared by a nutritionist- chef and the coffee is roasted by Caffe Vita, a roaster committed to working with farmers practicing sustainable agriculture. Celsious washers and dryers feature energy-efficient technology.
