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.”

Raphael Steinberg has worked as a landscape gardener for over 20 years.  He has worked for many clients with particularly small outdoor areas, which is often the case in NYC.  As such, has become quite the expert in the design and maintenance of miniature gardens.

Today, based in Rishon LeTzion, Israel, Steinberg’s expertise and focus are on the creative element in designing and building gardens. Since he is a fan of ponds, he will encourage his clients – where practical – to install one.  “In Israel there is talk of water shortages so people’s natural inclinations steer away from having a pond.  But what they do not realize is that ponds do not take up that much water and that waterfalls use recycled water.  This means there is very little waste.  Further, the tranquility this kind of landscaping achieves is tremendous.”

One aspect of Steinberg’s work is finding the balance between the creation of a functional garden while beautifying it.  “This can be challenging to say the least, especially when there is a space limitation,” Steinberg explains.  “However, I really enjoy it as I believe that the outdoors is so important and can have such potential to be a huge part of a relaxing day.”

Raphael Steinberg has found that during the coronavirus crisis and lockdown, he has taken on more clients and his current clients have expanded their needs and desires.  “It makes sense really,” he explains.  “If you think about it, with people spending so much more time at home, they want the best possible environment so home improvement is more commonplace.  Add to that the difficulty in having any kind of outdoor activities and they seek to transform their garden into a Zen place of being and they seem to love my creative and imaginative ideas. It’s the perfect, healthy escape.”

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.

New Yorkers and Big Apple tourists are all impacted by COVID-19. But not even the raging pandemic can put New York City’s culture to rest. Check out this list for those looking for some good, old-fashioned New York fun to enjoy from the safety and coziness of your own home.

The Metropolitan Opera is offering live audio streams of most performances. Some of Broadway’s best musicals are available for viewing on stage but at home. Netflix, AmazonPrime, BroadwayHD, and others are offering classics like Rent, Cats, and Kiss Me, Kate. Check provider websites for full listings.

While you may not be able to go out and enjoy the city, there is nothing stopping you from enjoying binge-worthy television based in NY. Check out Gossip Girl, New York Minute, Set it Up, and Friends from College. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is empowering, hilarious, and glamorous in all of its old-style New York glory. Muppets Take Manhattan is a good choice for a family-friendly film.

No matter how you get your New York fix these days, keep yourself New York ready- and healthy- for when you can finally get back to all your favorite spots.

New Yorkers really like celebrating the New Year, as many times in as many ways as possible. That’s only one of the reasons the two-weeks of merriment for the Lunar New Year are such an exciting time.

The gala welcome for the Year of the Rat, first of the zodiac animals believed to summon wealth, began on January 25, 2020, and will run through February 9, 2020.

Parades, concerts, presentations, and extraordinary firework displays are scheduled throughout New York City. The city’s several Chinatowns and numerous enclaves of Asian communities eagerly share the rich cultural experience with tourists and well-wishers. Among the fetes are longstanding favorites such as Lower Manhattan’s 21st annual Chinatown parade. New additions to the revelry include the first-ever Asian comedy festival and unique mixings of arts and science at the Lewis Latimer House Museum.

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.

Whether you are a die-hard New Yorker or “just” a New York enthusiast, you can now get your NY-fix when you are in the United Kingdom.

Manahatta, a New York-inspired cocktail bar is opening in York on November 8.

The venue, like its namesake, will have many unique Instagrammable features, from neon signs and peacock blue booths. Stacked burgers like the ‘Godfather,’ a stack of beef, fried chicken, pancetta, pulled pork and Monterey Jack Cheese, is sure to please. The Beyond Brooklyn is a veggie option, with pulled BBQ jack fruit, vegan cheese, and spicy chipotle. Prosecco, Aperol Spritz, Bloody Marys, beer, and unique NY cocktails are all available.

An in-house DJ will fill Manhatta with NY-style music, including tunes played by various ensembles in NYC subways.

A private dining room on the top mezzanine, and other areas available for private hire, provide more intimate spaces to enjoy a taste of New York when visiting York.

For most New York City families, visiting a landfill is not on the top of the to-do list. But the Freshkills Park is a public park and wildlife habitat the whole family can enjoy.

Once the world’s largest landfill, Freshkills has been gradually transitioning from a trash-dump into a nature-gem in Staten Island.  At 2,200 acres, Freshkills Park is nearly triple the size of Central Park and the largest park to be developed in New York City in over 100 years. It is built on what was once the largest landfill in the world (Fresh Kills Landfill ceased operations in 2001). Now the landscape is being engineered with layers of soil and infrastructure, making it a most unexpected place for wildlife, recreation, science, education, and art.

For obvious safety reasons, the landfill is covered by different layers of geomaterials to stabilize landfilled waste, separate the waste from the environment and park visitors, and prevent the release of landfill gas to the atmosphere.

As the park is being built in phases, with the entire expanse set to open to the public in a few years, free tours and events provide early access for learning and exploration of more than 700 acres and eight miles of trails. Family activities include cycling (bring your own bike or borrow one there), guided walks with groups like New York City Audubon and the Urban Park Rangers, kite flying, kayaking, wind chime design, and upcycled art. This is a great activity even if you don’t live nearby: Free shuttle buses transport visitors to and from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.