Soule Restaurant: Summertime in the City!

Summertime in the city.

For some, this elicits images of a concrete jungle with heat emanating from the sidewalks and smoggy air.

New Yorkers have a secret, though. Summer in New York is the best! There’s so much to do, whether you remain in our great borough of Brooklyn, or visit surrounding areas.

Aside from being the home of the greatest Caribbean & Soul restaurant ever, Brooklyn is filled with cultural and nature-related activities.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one; bring bread to feed the ducks as you lounge at the lake enjoying your Soulé picnic. Adjacent to BBG lies Prospect Park, where you can bike or hike, paddleboat or picnic. The Bandshell features live musicians all summer as well. Cross the street to visit the Grand Army Plaza library and Brooklyn Museum; both are great escapes on rainy summer days. Brooklyn is also home to many street fairs and festivals. Check out www.visitbrooklyn.org or www.celebratebrooklyn.org for more information.

One of the cool things about the city of New York is it’s an island; hence, you don’t have to rule out the beach when making summer plans.

Coney Island’s amusement park is a blast! Walk down a bit to Brighton Beach, or hop on the bus over the Manhattan Beach for a fun day in the sun.

Manhattan is an excellent options as well. Visit the South Street Seaport and take a Circle Line boat around the Statue of Liberty. Some have DJs and bartenders… excellent option for a nice summer night. Of course there’s always the oasis that lies at its heart: Central Park. Bring your bikes or roller blades, a baseball and glove; or bring nothing--exploring is just as fun. Need a break from the outdoors? Try the Museum of Natural History, on 81st Street, across from Central Park.
Dinosaur bones never fail to fascinate my son.

Outside of Brooklyn and Manhattan, there’s the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanic Gardens or Flushing Meadow Park. Or you can do what most people who come to New York do: shop!

Just outside the city, there’s Woodbury Commons, Jersey Gardens, or the Tangier Outlets of Riverhead, Long Island. Long Island is also home to Splish Splash Waterpark and the beaches and vineyards of Southampton.

Just don’t forget to order your catered lunch from Soulé in advance!