The New Yorker took a break from watching the temperature soar to 88° on Thursday, which was quite nice after some rainy weeks. It felt good to soak up the sun again.
Beaches were bustling, lined with colorful umbrellas, and parks were buzzing with sunbathers soaking up the rays.
“Finally! Perfect beach weather,” exclaimed Mariah S., 58, from Ridgewood, alongside her husband, enjoying a spot near Coney Island.
Another beachgoer, Joseph, 63, reflected, “It’s been rainy and humid. I was indecisive about what to wear, and it drizzled for a while.”
The couple relished their time away from work, noting that the lively Brooklyn Beach was a much better scene than their day jobs in banking and private schools—especially since there was no holiday break for them.
“There’s so much happening on the boardwalk. You see people dancing and some interesting outfits,” Mariah commented.
Kaiya Nixon, a 21-year-old tourist from Toronto, dove into the chilly, about 60-degree water while in a bikini. She was surprised to see people like Mariah and Joseph neglect their work for sunshine.
“Is it really okay to just take a break because the sun is shining?” Nixon asked, sounding baffled.
She continued, “[In Canada], people won’t take a break for nice weather but will definitely complain about missing it while at work.” She even joked that Canadians talk about the weather more than the British.
Meanwhile, David from Bushwick had no choice but to blend work with pleasure. The 29-year-old project manager turned off his camera during a meeting to enjoy the beach atmosphere.
“This is fantastic,” David said, pleased with the decision. “I thought, why not work from the beach if I can?”
His friend Leela, 27, chose to skip work for a refreshing drink instead, sharing a $10 Pina Colada Nutcracker with him.
“It was too lovely out here. We wanted to relax rather than stress about work,” she admitted.
At Washington Square Park, Monty “Legend” shared that he’d been waiting for clear skies for weeks. “It’s a gorgeous spot to unwind,” he added.
This 90-year-old regular claims to spend around 200 days a year enjoying the park, saying he’ll visit “every day, as long as it’s not raining,” even in winter.
Monty also swears by his solar reflector for a deep tan.
He mentioned that not everyone can brave the chilly water just for some park enjoyment. Still, many park visitors dipped their feet in the fountains, inspiring young Alice Moore to jump right in and encourage others to join her.
The seven-year-old even forgot about her shopping plans, opting instead for a refreshing splash with her mother and sister.
“I had a double ice cream cone too!” Alice said happily.
A family from Salt Lake City found themselves adjusting their afternoon plans after Alice got soaked.
“We came to enjoy the park,” Katie, her mother, explained.
Several dogs, including a six-month-old pit bull named Rocco, were also enjoying the scene near the fountain.
Myra de Leon brought Rocco to the park for some early training, knowing it would be bustling with people, perfect for socializing.
Though he appreciated the crowd, Rocco was a bit startled by the nearby jazz band.
“I’m not usually a summer person, but today feels perfect. The heat is just right,” said de Leon, 52.
“It’s not humid, and with the breeze, it really feels nice.” Her three teenagers made the most of the warm day: one was at Rockaway Beach, another in Central Park, and her daughter enjoyed their rooftop.
But for de Leon, the park remains the ideal spot, reminiscing about her youth spent lounging in the fountains.
“The water is clean; I’m okay with the kids swimming!” she laughed.
