While official tourism data suggest a bleak summer, some brave visitors are making their way to the Big Apple. After months of being cooped up indoors, cooking countless meals, tourists are eager to experience new tastes and culinary favorites.

New York City’s Broadway and the museum scenes might be closed, but the sidewalk and rooftop dining options are booming.

There are also open street fairs, verdant parks, breathtaking architecture on every block, bridges, ferries, and bike-riding trails throughout all the five boroughs. If you can get to New York safely, and don’t come from a state requiring quarantine upon your arrival, a fun, food-filled, relatively affordable vacation is still possible.

Good news for New York City’s beach lovers: all eight of the public sandy ocean fronts will be open for swimming as of July 1.

The city’s 14 miles of beaches have been closed since March to curb the spread of coronavirus. Swimming hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with lifeguards on duty. Social distancing precautions will be put in place and NYC Parks Ambassadors will distribute face masks to those who arrive at the beach without.

“New Yorkers have worked hard to fight back this virus and to put us back on the path to a safe reopening,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This summer is still unlike any in our history, but now, we will all have the opportunity to cool off and swim at our cherished beaches.”

The city that never sleeps is currently taking a nap. All the things that make New York City the vibrant, exciting, and enchanting place that it is have modified their programming and reaching customers despite the current restrictions. There are plenty of the city’s finest haunts and jaunts available to enjoy virtually.

Social distancing, school lockdowns, and stay at home orders have made the days of the week virtually indistinguishable. Rosé Mansion makes sure you launch your weekend off right by offering virtual happy hours every week! They even have customized Zoom Backgrounds so you can feel like you are in your favorite mansion room. No happy hour is complete without a glass of wine, and Rose’ Mansion has got you covered. They will deliver a 6 or 12 pack of wine—produced by small businesses—right to your door. And while down your drink you can feel good about giving to charity too: 100% of the money from the online sales go toward paying the staff and reopening the bar.

If you are missing the sounds and beats of New York, you can check out the Music for the Soul of NYC’s Health + Hospitals Heroes. This new series brings inspiration and comfort to the 43,000 staff at NYC’s 11 public hospitals and their patients. It is providing paid work for musicians and features professional NYC musicians performing songs requested by health workers and patients at NYC public hospitals. Music for the Soul is livestreamed on NYC Health + Hospital’s Facebook page every day from noon-1pm.

Thought Gallery is live-streaming hundreds of talks, lectures, performances, and cultural events to enjoy. If you like to curl up with a good book, The New York Public Library is offering access to more than 300,000 FREE e-books and e-audio books during this crisis. 

With government-imposed lockdowns and a huge disruption to routine and normalcy, a bit of online therapy can seem like a great way of escapism during the COVID-19 global pandemic.  Buying new clothing or getting that not-quite-necessary-but-slightly-coveted kitchen appliance can bring tremendous joy during this hard time.  

According to a study published in North Star Psych , some bad moods can be relieved from unplanned shopping.  The mood improvement impacts can last significantly longer than after the purchase has been made.

There is another advantage of engaging in some retail therapy now.  A lot of sites are offering great deals to lure consumers in.   According to a financial consultant with the Brunswick Group, Siobhan Gorman, it is not a bad time to get a video/book subscription now as deals are being offered with as much as 70% off. People are more inclined to make purchases like that which are good for those stuck at home.

Overspending however, can cause financial strain.  During this time – particularly when unemployment is higher and job security is threatened – one needs to be more cautious about engaging in retail therapy.  According to Manhattan’s Source Financial Advisors CEO, Michelle Smith, one really needs to “adopt a spending mindset of ‘I can buy this … OR, not this …. AND that.  This way you treat yourself but not to everything. This makes you choose, think, save money, but also affords some immediate gratification.’”  

Whether or not one does decide to engage in some retail therapy, it should be conducted online as much as possible during these times.

In late March, New York City Governor Andrew M. Cuomo ordered all nonessential businesses in New York to close. With little notice or time to prepare, most businesses felt they needed to convey some kind of message to their customers. Some are handwritten expressions of gratitude. Others are hastily typed messages of resolve, affixed to shuttered storefronts with industrial tape. And others evoke a tone of humor or inspiration.

It is still unclear what New York City will look like on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, but the current tour of the Big Apple’s businesses shows a kind of determination and grit that has always served them well. It is not the kind of tour anyone expects to enjoy. But walking along New York’s streets at this time offers a glimmer of hope that is the city’s strength. Collectively, all of these “closed” signs give voice to New York’s unbreakable spirit.

The 9th annual Savor the Bronx restaurant week is running through Jan. 17 2020. The Bronx is a fun place to visit even when it is not restaurant week. Now it is well worth a trip to taste some of the Italian, Asian, Latin American, and Caribbean cuisines on offer.

45 eateries in the Bronx, representing the borough’s cultural and culinary diversity, are offering discounts and specials.

New York is at the forefront of healthcare. Many world-class hospitals and medical research centers are located in New York.

Weill Cornell Medicine is one example of a NY medical institution that makes medical research a priority. The institution helps researchers secure funding, often by turning to philanthropists. For example, Dr. Darius Paduch is a urologist whose research was funded by the Paul Ostling Foundation. The contributions of Paul Ostling, a business leader and former Global Chief Operating Officer at Ernst & Young, helped make his research possible.

The research center at Weill Cornell Medicine focuses on several areas of medicine including neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases and cancer research. Weill Cornell Medicine houses facilities that support physical and intellectual advances in medical research.

This combination of medical excellence, dedication and generosity are key factors that contribute to the advancement of medical care in New York.

Laughing Lotus is a yoga center with a twist. Opened in 2000 by partners Dana Flynn and Jasmine Tarkeshi; the Laughing Lotus is dedicated to “inspire devotion, and to celebrate community and spiritual life.”

It all began at a rooftop playground in New York City in the summer of 1999, a year after Dana and Jasmine met and realized their shared love for music, art, dance, transformation and yoga. Soon after Laughing Lotus was born. There are now two centers, one in San Francisco, and the other, right here in New York City.

One class known as Laughing Lotus’ signature experience is the Friday night jam, which was begun back in 2000 and designed for rebels and those who seek the truth. The jam begins at 10pm and continues until midnight, during which time the participants will experience deep fluid asana set to live music or DJ’s. To attain a true spiritual high the music includes phat beats and ancient, traditional mantras.

As the Laughing Lotus says, “All rebels are welcome.”

Located at 59 West 19th Street at Sixth Avenue. Call 212-414-2903 for more information.

Do you love to dance? Have you ever thought about taking dance lessons? New York is literally overflowing with possibilities for anyone interested in getting into shape while also having an absolutely fantastic time.

Steven Hughes

One such place is “Stepping Out Studios, ” whose stated mission is to “introduce and spread the joy of partner dancing far and wide.” Stepping Out began in 1985, and has always been on the forefront of introducing the latest dance styles to New Yorkers; being the first to bring Argentine Tango and West Coast Swing to the Eastern Coast of the US. They have also played a key role in the exciting revival of Latin, Swing and Country Western dancing which has taken New York by storm over the last decade.

The latest development at Stepping Out has been the addition of Steven Hughes to the studio as the new managing director. Hughes has over 20 years of experience as a business owner, theater director, choreographer, producer as well as a certified professional dance instructor.

Stepping Out offers a lot more than just dance lessons. In addition to both private and group lessons, Stepping Out can provide wedding planning, corporate programs, teacher training programs and lots more. Check it out and come down and dance!

Skin cancer is a concept that everyone has heard of, and possibly, even learned about. Everyone has heard of the risks involved with tanning and sun exposure, but people don’t often take these warnings to heart.

Teenagers are especially a problem. As the media, fashion and clothing lines put golden tans on a pedestal, more and more teens begin to leave the sunscreen at home. It is not difficult to comprehend why warnings of such a seemingly far-fetched condition do not really have an impact on adolescents, or even young adults. What’s important to understand, however, is that your child, sibling or friend is truly putting his or her self at risk. Sun damage and skin conditions often begin at a young age, though they are not usually apparent until later in life. By following some basic safety rules, teenagers can ensure that their bodies remain healthy and beautiful even as they grow older.

Programs like Teen Screen work towards this goal. Supported by the National Melanoma Awareness Project and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, Teen Screen has branches in California, Illinios, Florida and Pennsylvania. Teen Screen’s original program focused on high school athletic teams, providing lectures and informative meetings on the topic of skin cancer, as well as working to incorporate sunscreen as part of team equipment. Now, Teen Screen has broadened its scope to include other outdoor activities such as outdoor clubs, marching bands and field trips. Its presentations now include children, day camps, junior life guards, scouts and children’s sports.