Memorial Day and Labor Day seem strange holidays to signal the "beginning" and "end" of summer to Americans (the mourning of lost soldiers and the rights of American workers?), but I do love the spirit with which we embrace them. Three-day weekends are a unifying gift to society, opening the door to trips out of the city, an extra day to laze, an extra day of partying, one more day to break the rules. In NY, three consecutive days off tends to empty the city of its residents and fill the place right up again with imports. This weekend coincides with Fleet Week, as well, adding to the "Who are these people?"-ness of the mix. Most extended weekends, unless firmly requested off months in advanc

Head resting on arms against the window of an Amtrak train, I know the exact song I want to hear. Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" is simple, pure Petty. White t-shirt and blue jeans. Maybe a song he wrote for his daughter, maybe for a teenage love. It is the song to accompany the emotions rushing through me as we cross the Illinois border into Wisconsin. I am staring out at a green no other green can imitate. Alternating fields with black swaths of earth, ready for a crop that will complete its entire life cycle before September harvest. Hibernating farm equipment sleeps in piles along dormant fields. Wind turbines rotate lazily on the edge of a far hill. A single car on a country road waits patie

As it is midway through May and barely cracking 60 degrees, with 20mph winds to boot, I thought I'd take this week to share some of my favorite Remedies. If Summer Fever is the mood of endlessly grey days of winter or a rough stretch of rain, clouds and general anti-summer, Remedies are the bag of tricks you pull out to pick you up more quickly and cheaply than a move across the country. (It ain't all sunburns and endless waves in CA right now either.) Remedies come in three varieties: Free!, Cheap and Treat Yo Self. The following are my Free! Remedies. BOOTY SHAKE (AKA TACO MUSIC) Working at the taco shack, days were both defined and saved by the playlists that shook the walls. Thanks to Ma

After six and half days of the gloomiest skies in New York's history, I saw the ☼ promise on Monday's forecast and pinned my hopes on an inaugural visit to the beach. Because of the contagious nature of New York's moods- 8 million people suffering or swooning from the same climatic swings- some of my nearest, dearest and most inspiring were doing the same. Within ten minutes of disembarking the B53, even before setting eyes on my beloved sea, I see two of the most inspiring women I know walking towards me off the boardwalk and knew the day was kismet. Khara Ledonne, locket painter, magic maker and aspiring seafarer, and Heather Feather, star gazer, underwater life explorer and ace storytell

Upon moving back to "the city" following my hallowed Summer of Rockaway, I promised myself I would find a way to keep swimming and summer in my daily life. Fortunately for me, New York has a rich history of public pools (check this article out, if only for the sick vintage photographs). I soon found myself living within walking distance of the unexpectedly majestic Metropolitan Pool smack in the middle of Williamsburg. Because of its alliance with the city, membership was a mere $65 per half year. Also because of its public nature, it was a popular place with limited lap lanes. During swim sessions, I was often circling the tiny pool with up to five other people in my lane! My swimmy inclina