My NYC Top 10 this Summer (‘25)
Coffee: Gotham Coffee Roasters
Broadway: Maquerade
Bakery: Hani’s Bakery and Cafe
Something New: Historical Tour of the NY Flower District
Lunch I keep repeating: Sullivan Street Bakery
Exercise: Liftonice
Art: Minerva’s Spring Studio
Skill: Barista Class at ProCreate Brooklyn
A New Weekend Breakfast Option: Planet Taco
NY Summer Classic: The US OPEN Fan Week
Coffee: Gotham Coffee Roasters
A small Chelsea spot with fantastic coffee. The service can be hit or miss; however, the coffee is consistently excellent. Cute red seats and a good amount of seating considering its size.
Broadway: Masquerade
I wasn’t a huge Phantom of the Opera fan, but this immersive show is genuinely fantastic. I’m so impressed by the talent, the set design, and the whole experience. Truly such a unique way to experience this show - don’t miss it.
Bakery: Hani’s Bakery and Cafe
The reviews on this one can be hit or miss, but the rice pudding…go just for the rice pudding. It’s not too sweet, has fresh fruit at the bottom, and the perfect texture. When you look at all of the cakes and typical bakery items, rice pudding seems like a bit of a boring choice, but I promise, it’s worth it.
Something New: Historical Tour of the NY Flower District
I’ve purchased flowers at the New York Flower District a handful of times throughout my time in New York but always felt I didn’t fully get it and was getting ripped off by the vendors. A private tour of the NY Flower District was the perfect solution to this. A great history of how the flower market came to be as well as an insider’s walk through of the street. I literally asked every question i had about how to best understand and shop in the flower market and left feeling very confident and comfortable with some trusted vendors to return to. A short, unexpected, but incredibly worthwhile experience that now pays dividends in the form of beautiful flowers at home.
Lunch I keep repeating: Sullivan Street Bakery
I never managed to settle on a regular order at Sullivan Street Bakery until this summer. The Avocado + Egg Sandwich has become my twice-a-week lunch, and it’s perfect. The bread is as good as you’d expect, and the avocado–egg balance is spot on. One tip: hot sauce is non-negotiable. I take my sandwich home and add it myself, but it makes all the difference.
Exercise: Liftonic
Trying out the NY Group Class circuit again, Liftonic has been such a fun one to return to. Dark room, loud music, repetitive exercises (in a good way), and all in sync to music. As a Pilates Instructor/Personal Trainer it’s been hard to find places in the city that have good training and Liftonic has been a great solution.
Art: Minerva’s Spring Studio
Minerva’s Studio predates me, but it’s become one of my favorite discoveries. Live figure drawing in an old Chinatown building with no frills, no phones, just art.
I don’t have much of an art background, but I bought some charcoal and decided to give it a shot. I signed up for the “beginner” class, assuming it would be instructional. It was not. The model walked out, struck a pose, and off we went. Zero guidance.
Surprisingly, that was the best part. Being forced to figure it out on my own let me settle into a groove, and by the end of the three hours I felt more relaxed, more focused, and oddly liberated. It’s now a weekly ritual.
Skill: Barista Class at ProCreate Brooklyn
My daily oat cappuccino had me curious about what was happening on the other side of the espresso machine. A 101 Barista class at ProCreate answered a lot of those questions and made me actually feel comfortable pulling a shot. You end up drinking a lot of coffee, but if you’ve ever wanted to see what it’s like on the barista side, it’s a really fun way to spend a few hours.
A New Weekend Breakfast Option: Planet Taco
I finally tried the Planet Taco breakfast menu and THEY HAVE TOFU! Not only do they have it, they actually do it really well.
After watching a Binging with Babish video on the best breakfast burritos in NYC, I traveled to Bed Stuy and Inwood to try the top two spots and left underwhelmed. I’d basically given up on finding a proper West Coast–style burrito here. But Planet Taco is the underrated winner. The Tofu + Potato Breakfast Burrito nailed it, and I’m pretty sure the classic egg version is just as good.
NY Summer Classic: The US OPEN Fan Week
After 10 years in NYC I finally made it to US Open Fan Week. Free grounds access, top players practicing casually, tons of brand activations and freebies. It’s a great time.
A note: there’s almost no shade, so bring an umbrella if you’re coming in the middle of the day. I ended up hiding behind random poles just to escape the sun. Two hours was enough for me, but it’s definitely worth doing at least once and don’t leave without a Honey Deuce.