Let's Not Work From Home This Summer

Let's Not Work From Home This Summer

With a vaxxed summer around the corner, 'working from home' has a whole new look.While NYC is known for its 'shoe box' sized apartments with typically more than one roommate, I can attest we all struggled a bit finding a place to accomplish our tasks. As the weather gets nicer, and the virus rates start to drop, it is a perfect time to start exploring new places to get work done!Although some classic locations are still closed or have limited capacity, now is the ideal moment to get out of our comfort zone and find a new outside office in this big ole' city. Let me show you what I found: 

Working from the park has gotten a lot easier. 

Instead of using a normal desk and chair, the increase of Free WIFI in the city has been particularly helpful for outdoor spaces. Before you immediately call me crazy, working outdoors has become a great alternative to the WFH desk. It makes you feel as though you are going to an office, or out of the house at least, and keeps things a bit more interesting. The fresh air just makes work feel calming. Being outdoors replaces paying for another space, coffee on the hour, or being tempted to buy snacks that you don’t want to spend the money on.  My top choices include:1. Battery Park City, DowntownThis is a calmer spot and there are a lot of individuals who come here with their computers to do work. It includes a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and a pretty strong Wifi connection all the way down the park.2. HighlineThis is a fairly busy location but with a pair of headphones, it gives you lots of variation from our WFH space. It also brings a huge inspiration while doing work because you’re looking at expensive apartments and while you type you can push yourself further.3. Bryant Park, MidtownMy absolute favorite place to get work done 'PRE COV' was the New York Public Library at 42nd Street. Although it is closed, Bryant park has some tables and there is a lot of great food trucks in the area ( I told you not to spend money but come onnnn they are so good) and also you can stare at the historical library and remember all of the famous people who got their work done right next-door to you. 

Next is an interesting alternative. Rent a desk!

A couple of places are popping up that allow anyone to pay for a desk a day. If you just feel like you need one day out of your home office, this is a perfect place for you.1. KindredThis restaurant during the day turns their outdoor space into a make-shift office. While charging $25 for the day it includes coffee, wifi, and you can easily plug in your devices right by you.2. 3DEN WorkplaceThis has been around for a little while, however, since the pandemic they have given much more attention to their app. On the App, you can find a location to do work at and they have multiple ones all over the city. It is particularly great for multiple people. If you have a group you want to put together there is enough space and you can rent an individual room for it. 

We all have our local coffee shops we know and love…Here are just some of my favorite gems for getting work done and for anyone looking to TOTALLY explore.

1. The Craftsman - Morning Side HeightsThis is one of my favorite places and will always be a top. It is a bar at night and during the day they have smoothies, coffee, and by far the best Avocado toast in the city. It is a must if you are even remotely close to the area.2. Pause CafeOverall vibe 10/10, great food, and a great place to do work.3. The Black Cat - LESIt is a great place to just focus and they always have delicious treats to give you fuel to work more.It is safe to say we all need to get out of our houses, if you want to use working as an excuse to get out of your homes then do it!

Scott Brooks

Born and raised in a small town in Massachusetts, Scott has lived in New York City for more than twenty years. A degree in theater led down many paths from a gig as a top 40 DJ, to film and television production. He also managed to write several plays and get some of those on stage. He has had a handful of screenplays optioned or produced along the way as well. Most recently, Reality Sets In – a comedy web series about being newly single in the city. His proclivity for the arts led to a slew of survival jobs from tour guide to the inevitable years in hospitality where he prefers to bartend in fancy restaurants and five-star hotels, if he must do it at all. His first novel, based on his experiences at the intersection of hospitality and show business, And There We Were and Here We Are is available on Amazon Kindle and in paperback. He also just finished the travel tip book; 50 Things to Know Before You Go to the Theatre in NYC, which is also available on Amazon. He is an avid reader and proud father.

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