• Home
  • About
  • Etiquette
  • Entertaining
  • Lifestyle
    • Finding My Jeffrey
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Manners & Manhattans

Finding My Jeffrey: Summer Date Ideas

in Finding My Jeffrey, Lifestyle on 06/07/19

Dating in the Northeast is so much more fun when it’s warmer out during the summer months. Today will be a NYC-centric post – I’m sharing my favorite summer date ideas in and around the city.

gal about town, dresses, womens fashion, date night outfit, dates, nyc, pink florals, purple florals, girl about town, going out, dates

Photo by Ruthie Darling

I know I had promised this post awhile ago – things have been crazy busy, but it’s finally here.

Picnic in the Park

One of my favorite things to do in the summer, whether it’s with a date or just with friends, is to picnic in Central Park or elsewhere. Pack towels, a basket full of goodies, and several cans of Sagaponack-based Wolffer Vineyards’ rose cider and you’ll definitely have a fun time. I enjoy making the trek from Brooklyn to Central Park. Nothing says summer in NYC to me like a day in Central Park.

Funny story – I remember having a second date picnic in the park one summer; however, it was near dusk, and we were told we needed to leave the park. We didn’t move that quickly and when we finally got to it, we could not find an open entrance. We ended up having to jump a fence. I’m 5’1 so this was quite a difficult feat. The skirt of my summer dress ended up getting caught on the fence as I was just about over. Suffice it to say, my date saw more of me than I expected on a second meeting.

The Whitney Museum and Walk on the Highline

While museum dates can sometimes be awkward – especially if it’s a first date and there’s some particularly weird art around, I think the “new” Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District is a wonderful summer date idea. The museum is open late on Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s great if you work later hours. However, I think the best time to go is around the time the sun is setting. The Whitney has tons of outdoor balconies with fantastic views of the city. It’s particularly stunning to see the sunset reflected on all of the modern buildings in the area. After, you can take a stroll on the Highline which is usually filled with different vendors during the summer (think wine, ice cream, and other treats). If you’d like to have dinner in the area, I recommend farm-to-table restaurant, Cookshop; or if you want to be fancy, Del Posto (you should probably have a reservation though).

Drinks, Conversation, and People Watching

This one may be standard, but it’s my favorite one on the list. I love spending a hot summer evening having drinks, people watching, and chatting all night. Here are three of my favorite places:

Weather Up (Brooklyn location): I was first introduced to Weather Up when I lived in downtown Manhattan and visited their Tribeca location (which is also great). When I moved to Brooklyn, I was happy to learn they have another location pretty close to my new apartment. What’s more, they have outdoor space in the back. Their cocktails are also fantastic. It’s so much fun to grab a cocktail and sit outside in their backyard. By the way, I find that New Yorkers are obsessed with outdoor space – probably because it’s hard to come by for ourselves in the city. Another plus – this place never gets too loud so it’s perfect for conversation.

Maison Premiere: This Williamsburg spot is known for its New Orleans cuisine and has been on a number of “best” lists. I like getting oysters and a cocktail.

Terroir: If you love wine, you have to visit Terroir in Tribeca. I find whenever I go here, the staff makes wine very approachable and they’re always happy to give recommendations. I learned here that boxed wine isn’t always terrible (they usually have one on the happy hour special menu during the week). Their Italian-leaning snacks are also great. I love this place as a date spot because it’s casual, but still nice.

Dia:Beacon

If you’re looking to escape the city for a bit, but not travel too far. A trip to Beacon, NY is a fun, little romantic getaway which can easily be done as a day trip. It takes a little over 2 hours on public transit to get there depending where you’re coming from (you can also drive and get there in less time). Beacon, NY is a quaint, artsy town in the Hudson Valley which is known for cute little shops and restaurants and mainly for the Dia:Beacon art museum which houses modern and contemporary works from among others Dan Flavin and Gerhard Richter. When I visited a few summers ago, I also had a leisurely lunch at the restaurant at the Roundhouse Hotel which overlooks a small waterfall. It was the perfect afternoon and little escape from the grind (and oppressive heat) of city life.

You could also extend this trip over a long weekend and perhaps squeeze in some other spots in the Hudson Valley. Some suggestions include the Storm King Art Center which is known for its outdoor art installations or a visit to Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown (which is still on my bucket list). If you’re planning to do this, I would recommend renting a car.

What’s your favorite date spot in your respective cities? I’d love to know.

By the way, if you’ve missed the first two posts in the Finding My Jeffrey lifestyle series, be sure to check them out here and here.

Also find me on Instagram @mannersandmanhattans #livewellmodernly

You may also like:

  • cocktail dress, dress up, dress, womens fashion, dating, new york, new york girl, new york woman, dating adventures, west village, dating in new york
    Introducing "Finding My Jeffrey" - A Peek Into My Adventures Dating in NYC
  • spring dresses, womens fashion, date night outfit, outfit of the day, purple dress, floral dress, new york city
    Finding My Jeffrey: So, Is This Like, My Punishment For Being A Decent Person?
  • summer, favorite things, home decor, drinks, beauty
    Objects of Desire: Summer Solstice Edition

8 Comments

« Easy Entertaining: The Campari Spritz
Easy Entertaining: Summer Dinner Party Menu »

Comments

  1. Barry AL says

    06/07/2019 at 8:03 am

    Great post. Gave me a lot of ideas on how to enjoy the summer months in NYC. Thanks Jenna

    Reply
    • mannersandmanhattans says

      07/07/2019 at 2:53 pm

      Glad you enjoyed the suggestions!

      Reply
  2. Lauren says

    06/07/2019 at 8:16 am

    Great ideas Jenna!!

    Reply
    • mannersandmanhattans says

      07/07/2019 at 2:53 pm

      Thank you so much, Lauren!

      Reply
  3. Rebecca says

    06/07/2019 at 11:53 am

    Central Park is one of my favorite things about NYC! Funny story about having to jump the fence. Haha.

    Reply
    • mannersandmanhattans says

      07/07/2019 at 2:53 pm

      Mine too! Yes, I learned that long dresses don’t go well with jumping fences. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Tasia ~ TwoSugarBugs says

    06/08/2019 at 12:44 pm

    NYC is on my wish list and this read makes me want to jump on a plane immediately!! I definitely know who to ask for suggestions when I finally make my way there. 😉
    Sadly, date nights are very few and far between since adding the SugarBugs to our lives, but in Seattle I always enjoy dates around Kerry Park on Queen Anne. You get gorgeous views of the city and the water.

    Reply
    • mannersandmanhattans says

      07/07/2019 at 2:52 pm

      I hope you come visit one day, Tasia! Always love giving suggestions too!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello!

Manners & Manhattans is a lifestyle blog founded by Jenna, a New Yorker in her early thirties. With a particular focus on home entertaining, food, and good manners Jenna is hoping to help her readers #livewellmodernly. She approaches well worn topics with a dose of playfulness, practicality, and style. In her spare time, she loves hosting dinner and cocktail parties and checking out music and art in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Read More…

Subscribe

We will never spam you

The latest on Instagram

I’m a super nerd who likes making resolutions an I’m a super nerd who likes making resolutions and goals at the beginning of the new year. Here are some of my hosting resolutions this year:⁣
⁣
• Be more present with my guests. I have a tendency to want to clean up and make everything perfect when guests are over. This takes me away from being fully present in conversations with my guests and I really want to change that this year.⁣
⁣
• To add onto the above - be less of a perfectionist.⁣
⁣
• Have more impromptu, smaller gatherings at my apartment.⁣
Happy New Year, all! Been thinking a lot about my Happy New Year, all! Been thinking a lot about my little space here on the Internet. I started my feed and blog in 2018 after moving to a job which allowed me more work-life balance to explore my creativity again. ⁣⁣⁣
•⁣⁣⁣
I intended this to be all about modern manners & home entertaining. I don’t really talk about manners too much on here anymore (although I still think they’re important, for the record). Further, I’ve learned that the most important parts of hosting to me are the people, food/drinks I’m sharing with them, and creating a warm atmosphere. I used to be super concerned with everything being perfect and curated to the Nth degree; however, after hosting tons of parties at my apartment between 2018 and now, I’ve realized that no one really gives a f*** about the kind of plates you have, a table scape, or even if you just ordered pizza and opened up a bottle of wine rather than cooking. ⁣⁣⁣
•⁣⁣⁣
If I’m being completely honest, the name of my blog feels a little too precious for me now and for me, doesn’t resonate as much as it once did. I’m not sure what you guys can expect from this platform in the new year - maybe a name change, definitely more of my baking adventures, maybe more of a lifestyle vibe. I haven’t really decided or figured it out yet. ⁣⁣⁣
•⁣⁣⁣
Admittedly this platform has also taken a backseat to other work/projects that I’ve been more interested in lately. I guess a reminder to all of us that it’s ok to try new things, change, and shift priorities. As the saying goes - when you’re through changing, you’re through. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Wishing everyone the best for 2020 and beyond!
📸 by @laurelcreative
As many of you have probably heard me mention befo As many of you have probably heard me mention before, I love podcasts and listen to them while cooking, baking, and getting ready in the morning. Here are a list of some of my favorites from 2019. Some are old standbys and some are new to me. ⁣
⁣
(1) The Daily from  @nytimes - I listen to this podcast everyday while doing my makeup before work. Basically 20-30 minutes on timely topics in politics and culture;⁣
⁣
(2) @howibuiltthisnpr - I love listening to founders on how they started and grew their companies. I find the ones who had some failures or a rocky start most interesting. My favorite episodes were on Bonobos, Whole Foods, and Glossier;⁣
⁣
(3) @presssendpodcast from Chinae Alexander - This is a new favorite from social entrepreneur, Chinae Alexander. She and her guest of the week give advice to listeners who write in with questions about everything from how to find a job you like to dealing with difficult family at the holidays;⁣
⁣
(4) @uuppod - super funny podcast on modern dating and relationships;⁣
⁣
(5) Heavyweight from @gimletmedia - the theme of this podcast centers on moments that people wish they could change or understand better. Some of these moments seem amusing and even trivial (to the outsider listening); others are serious and touching. I especially love the host’s dry and sarcastic sense of humor which is injected into the episodes no matter what the subject matter is that week; and to me, adds levity to a podcast that focuses on confronting the ghosts of one’s past (no matter how big or small). ⁣
⁣
I told myself I’d limit this list to 5 - but a few others worth checking out are Where Do We Begin with Esther Perel, Girlboss Radio, and Fresh Air with the always wonderful, Terry Gross. ⁣
⁣
Do you have any favorites?
Sharing another delicious #cookie that we love to Sharing another delicious #cookie that we love to bake every year. Pignoli cookies - have you ever tried one?⁣
⁣
What is everyone up to for the holiday season? I’ll be sticking around town, seeing family and friends, and planning for 2020. ⁣
⁣
I’ve been busy with other projects outside of the blog so if you’ve noticed you see less of me on here lately, that’s why.  As I set my intentions and goals for the new year, I’ve been thinking of maybe rebranding this platform to tilt to more #lifestyle content than just parties, food, and baking. But right now 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️. ⁣
⁣
On that note, happy #saturday, friends!
Understated holiday looks that feature metallics a Understated holiday looks that feature metallics are totally my vibe. Call me the grinch, but for my apartment,  I’m not big on anything that screams holiday too loudly. I try as best as I can to match my holiday decor to my everyday decor. #typeapersonality
Every year, my mom and I bake tons of cookies - it Every year, my mom and I bake tons of cookies - it’s a tradition I always look forward to each holiday season. ⁣
⁣
We do everything from simple spritz sugar cookies to labor intensive rainbow cookies (which if I’m keeping it 💯 - most of us have only had purchased from an Italian bakery bc they are that labor intensive). One of our favorites to make is a Mexican wedding cake - it’s made with lots of confectionary sugar, butter, and chopped pecans. They are heaven and I always eat too many. ⁣
⁣
Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or treat?
Happy Friday! What treats are you indulging in thi Happy Friday! What treats are you indulging in this weekend?
What are some things you do to de-stress during th What are some things you do to de-stress during the busy #holiday season? I make sure to exercise at least 4-5x per week and listen to interesting podcasts while doing my skincare routine.
Happy #december! I hope everyone had a wonderful T Happy #december! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’ve teamed up with some talented ladies to bring you inspiration for #HeadOutWithUs. This month our theme is “Winter” so head on over to stories and let’s go shopping!⁣
.⁣
.⁣
Make sure to also check out the other #contentcreators pages to shop with them & see what they’ve put together:⁣
⁣
@PixelsAndPop⁣
@pop_of_gold⁣
@OhHowCharming⁣
@CafeEveryDaySunday⁣
@rustychicdecor ⁣
@joyinthecommonplace⁣
@minteventdesign⁣
@thepartydarling⁣
@bellagreydesigns⁣
@honeybrookcraftycreations⁣
•⠀⠀⁣
⁣
I’m sharing a boozy #hotchocolate #recipe which will also be posted on my #blog. ⁣
⁣
Be sure to join in on the fun & share a photo inspired by this month’s theme on your feed or stories with hashtag #HOWUWinter for a chance to be featured in one of the co-hosts account’s stories. It can be anything related to the Winter Season from style, DIY, party to home decor. We love seeing your inspiration as much as we love to share ours!
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

Categories

  • Entertaining
  • Etiquette
  • Finding My Jeffrey
  • Lifestyle

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018

Recent Posts

  • Boozy Hot Chocolate
  • Boho Friendsgiving Blog Hop
  • Fall Party Playlist
  • Easy Entertaining: No Churn Ricotta & Honey Roasted Fig Ice Cream
  • What I’ve Been Listening To Lately

Tag CLoud

amazon barware beauty beauty services brunch cocktail party cocktails coffee shops dating decor delivery dessert dining out dinner party drink recipes drinks easy entertaining easy recipe emily post entertaining etiquette favorite things food hair holiday home entertaining hostess hostess gifts how to lifestyle manners music nails nail salon objects of desire parties prosecco recipes restaurants spa spring summer tipping wine wine tasting

Copyright © 2021 · glam theme by Restored 316

© 2021 Manners & Manhattans
  • Privacy & Disclosure Policy
  • Copyright Notice