As the summer ends

As my second summer in New York came to an official end this morning on my commute to work, I realized that I hardly felt summer begin. In comparison to a year ago, I was the big-eyed college grad eager to see every corner of Manhattan as if it were all going to get whisked away when the hot air cooled. This summer, things were different. I knew what to expect, but here are just a few of my favorite things about summer before its time to bid it farewell.

Nothing Beats:
-- Summer Fridays and getting out of work at 1 p.m. allowing you to start your weekend off early (and quite possibly with a bang).
-- Which is a nice segway to rooftop bars being opened in the summer. There's this endless hunt that comes with finding just the right atmosphere to sip a nice cold brew, while taking in the mid-afternoon rays.
-- Wearing shorts and sandals to work in Midtown makes you really feel for the men all tied up in their dark suits and neck ties.
-- Spreading out in Sheeps Meadow in Central Park is the New York equivalent to the sandy beaches of Florida minus the cool tide and option to refresh yourself with a dip in the ocean. Nevertheless, sprawling out on a blanket and enjoying wine from a dixie cup makes for an enjoyable afternoon.
-- Bikers leisurely cruising down the streets.
-- Iced coffees for the extra pick-me-up and refreshing cool down of the taste buds.
-- Straw fedoras will always beat ear muffs and beanies.
-- Extended days and the occassional breeze.
-- Classic movies in Bryant Park with friends, food and again wine in dixie cups as the bustle of midtown drowns out Carey Grants distinct voice.
-- The crowds at Central Park Summerstage and Coney Island Siren Festival.
-- Weekends when a hush falls over Manhattan as natives escape to the Hamptons.
-- Double decker buses crowded with tourists overlooking the busy sidewalks of SoHo.
-- Slower work days, long lunches and getting out at a reasonable hour.
-- Old friends visiting town for the weekend.
-- The return of the deep 'v' t-shirts
-- Fighting the urge to stay out late on a weeknight. This diminishes as the weather gets colder and all you want to do is bum around on the couch.
-- Aimless strolls down your favorite neighborhoods.
-- Finding the right spot to relax with a magazine.

But perhaps my favorite thing about summer is the realization that just around the bend is Autumn and there is nothing like the cool temperatures, foliage and approaching holidays in Manhattan. It's like having all the good bits of summer and winter mixed into 3 months. I can't wait.