It smells like summer. This isn't always good, but it isn't always bad either. The other day, as I took a lukewarm shower, there was something about the smell that made me remember my first summer in the city. I live in a different apartment, use different products to wash my body and hair, but there was something so familiar about the smell and it made me nostalgic and I started to remember all these reasons why I love the city. This smell wasn't around during the winter, I promise. On the not so awesome side, I do walk through China Town everyday and hot fish markets are not a smell you would wish to bottle and use as perfume. By midday the ice they keep the fish on starts to melt and run onto the sidewalk and into the street and then the smell just spreads everywhere. Yikes! Oh, and don't even get me started on garbage day...a whole building worth of garbage bags piled up in front of the building, sitting out in the sun all day...woof!
 |
| Chinese Fish Market. This man was seconds away from shooing me off... |
 |
| Garbage bags for days... |
Everywhere I go it looks like summer. The streets are full of people, tourists and locals. The restaurants open their outdoor seating, the street vendors are out selling on every corner. Bikes weave in and out of traffic and the new Citibike program has probably tripled the amount of riders you dodge while you cross the street. This city is alive, everywhere I go I feel it breathing. Wanna hear a summer trend I don't find to be easy on the eyes? Short shorts. Now I am not talking shorts above the knee, or even mid thigh. I'm talking shorts so short I can see your bum cheeks. Now don't go thinking that city slickers only reserve that trend to the ladies. I've seen a few dudes try and pull it off too. I'm down with summer fashion, I just don't want you to wear jean undies out of the house. Thanks.
 |
| Citibike station across from the Federal Courthouse |
 |
| Our super touristy bike ride through Central Park |
I haven't stopped feeling summer since the first day it reached 80 degrees. That first day I started sweating when I did my morning workout and didn't stop sweating until, well, never. I'm not constantly sweating profusely but if I'm not actually sweating I am just damp. If it isn't hot and humid it's rainy and humid. The plus side? I never have to use lotion. The down side? I always have tacos.
I am constantly having to fight my desire to fully taste summer. But I assure you that it definitely tastes like summer. Not only does all the fruit seem to be perfectly ripe and delicious these past few weeks but the street vendors are relentless in their effort to sell you tasty summer goodies...and they rarely cost you more than a few bucks. A few of my faves include (but are not limited to):
-Melt Bakery - Homemade cookie and ice cream sandwiches that I honestly crave daily
-Italian Ice Carts - For only a dollar you get a cup full of a sorbet-like icy treat that comes in many flavors
-Mango Carts - A $2 bag of mango drizzled with chili sauce? Sign me up everytime!
-La Newyorkina - These Mexican ices and paletas are the definition of summer! The flavors are divine and I always love supporting local business.
-Mr. Softee Truck - Although it's not my first choice I can't deny the fact that this is a New York tradition that I indulge in every so often. It's soft serve at it's finest. You want it dipped in chocolate, cherry, sprinkles, nuts or just a plain twist? These guys have you covered!
 |
| Melt Bakery / Highline Park |
 |
| If you could hear the song this guy plays on repeat...it never stops! |
Last but not least, I hear the sounds of summer before I even get out of bed. I can tell what kind of day it is going to be even before my alarm sounds. Birds chirping = a lovely day. Humming of the A/C = that means it's already over 80 degrees and it's only 7:00 am, it's gonna be a hot one! Rain drops = at some point in the day, probably right as I go outside and my umbrella breaks, it is going to rain buckets right on my head. Almost all hours of the day outside you hear music bumping, horns honking, sirens blaring and the song from the ice cream truck on repeat. The clanking of dominoes is a sound unique to our neighborhood. Groups of men set up card tables and folding chairs on the sidewalk and for hours smoke Cuban cigars, strategize and argue in Spanish. It's crazy because I know its Spanish and I know I should understand it but it's speedy and sloppy. Any letter that gets in the way of spitting the word out more quickly gets dropped and creates some secret language only dominoe players know. The sounds in this city really never sleep during the summer.
 |
| The Hudson River and GW Bridge |
 |
| Tag |
 |
| An unexpected downpour |
 |
| Coming in from the Staten Island Ferry |
The Lovin' Spoonful gets my musical shout out for this post
This is the song played by the ice cream trucks.
This version offers lyrics, the trucks sound more like
vintage music boxes. You know, the kind your wind
and the ballerina twirls?
