Where to Eat, Drink, & Party in New York this Summer
How to Enjoy Your Life
Hello beautiful people of Hot Literati. What rain today outside?!? I went outside in my slip and a jacket. I love rain. Here is the piece:
I just want to start by saying:
This is not journalism in the classical sense. This is my opinion as someone who is:
Very opinionated and deliberate about my own personal taste
Always content being alone as opposed to in bad, or boring company
And then I’ll say this. I know the world seems crazy and going out seems like the last thing you should do, however, as Jon Haidt writes, synchronous movement is really important for healthy communities and circulating a local dollar helps local economies, so in a sense, partying, making do with the world you’re in, even when it feels like it’s ending, could potentially help yourself, your community, and the world at large. Never underestimate the power of a positive attitude.
Remain kind. Energy is real. Talk to a stranger. Don’t take anything off of a key in a stall, but buy a someone a drink and dance with them, damn it!
A Note on Nightlife
Nightlife in New York has been “dying” for twenty years according to Gen X and Millennials. Often, they blame TikTok, Covid, and us, Gen Z. :P
While I understand where they come from, I think we should approach this, as all things, with nuance.
I received my partying education from an acquaintance from school who DJs, and then my 54 year old Italian hair stylist (who I fear I may be breaking up with. I want to go blonde! And he won’t take me there).
I received my culinary education from Valley of the Dolls, a company I used to work for, and an Italian man in his 60s who taught me how to cook throughout random coffees when I’d pop in sad, or frustrated, or heartbroken, and somehow we’d always end up on the subject of cooking.
I call him my Italian Grandpa, and there’s a lovely director that hangs out with us sometimes who I call (to myself) my Art Grandpa. He is the one who I talk to when I wonder if it’s even worth trying to be an artist anymore.
They thought my parents were diplomats. I explained that I was just a quiet kid. Studied classical ballet for 15 years. And found more comfort in museums than I did my peers growing up. I was content living in my own little world, so long as I could make it cool, beautiful, and timeless.
I say all of this to say that, this is a list curated based on my taste. I’m serious about the cultivation of personal taste. You are allowed to disagree, but these are the sort of places I enjoy and why. And if you’re in New York this summer, I hope you’ll go and that you’ll tell them Hot Literati sent you and/or tag Hot Literati so I can say hello in the comments. <3
So here is my comprehensive list of where to eat, drink, and party this summer: