because there’s more to life than Sheep’s Meadow
I’ve lived in a few cities in my life and I must say, from an accessibility standpoint, New York has it pretty great. In Baltimore, the public transit was harrowing; in Boston, you’re dependent on cars/your life is in the mercy of others who somehow still have a license; in Chicago, neighborhoods are less connected and it requires substantially more effort to be social. This being said, you would think that you asked someone to take a Segway to Cabo or travel to Syria via single person sail boat after proposing they leave the cushy comfort of the three block radius of their apartment for a dire pilgrimage to a Narnia of a neighborhood a whopping 25 minute subway away.
Governor’s Island is one of my favorite spots in New York City, as it has a killer history and an arguably better view. So if you can brave a 15 minute ferry, here are a few things to tempt you out of your cradle and into the big world.
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Date: June 24
For one glorious day of shameless and instagramable extravagance, 12,000 revelers-dressed in nothing but pink and white, will descend onto Governor’s Island like a plague of locusts from a Lily Pulitzer nightmare for this rosé-themed fest. The most taxing activity you face during the day will be filling your stemless glasses with still, sparkling and champagne rosé selections, all while you’re nestled on your rosé-hued designer blanket.
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Dates: June 10-11, Aug 26-27
One of Governor’s Island’s most loved summer traditions, the Jazz Age Lawn Party allows the common New Yorker to step onto the ferry, and back in time, with thousands of others dressed to the 1920’s nines and enjoy music from the Dreamland Orchestra, learn the Charleston and sip on Prohibition-era cocktails…sans back-alley hooch.
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Date: September 9
Governor’s island is participating again in the French-inspired and super bougie outdoor dining event, Diner en Blanc. The affair is similar in that guests must don all-white attire, bring their own lavish table decorations as well as food and drink; the event provides the setting, the tables, the chairs, and entertainment – your genius inspires the rest.
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Dates: Everyday
In addition to the hammocks, slides, and playgrounds, Governor’s Island is introducing three new experiences that make for an out-of-the-normal afternoon.
First, the Flywire Zip Line allows two people to zip down a 300-foot-long cable side by side and hit up to 21 mph. The aerial attraction has a 35-foot peak at its starting point. Second, a giant maze of nearly 3,600 square feet challenges sense of direction and problem solving skills, instilling an additional element of competition in racing the parallel group to exit as quickly as possible. Third, there is a wall climbing challenge, where one can scale a choice of three unique 25-foot walls with a self-guiding belay system.