What it’s like to be in New York each month
January - New York is for the New Yorkers (Part I)
After the ball goes down and the year begins, you can almost feel the exhale as the City empties of tourists. New York is downright cold all the way through the month and the days are short so why would anyone want to come visit? Honestly no one and aside from The National Retail Federation conference no one is coming unless they absolutely have to. Personally, I can’t blame them but the upshot in the equation is that the tourists are gone and after al of the crowds of the holidays, the City feels quiet and livable. One fact I learned in January is that the locals turn the museums into playground where their children can run around and I spent many afternoons in the old incarnation of the Gem Room at the Natural History Museum as my children bounded up and down the many ramps and stairs to blow off energy. It’s easy to get restaurant reservations, the subways are less crowded and there’s very little traffic. This is the time when anyone who doesn’t want to be in New York has left and even New Yorkers still around (particularly those without young children) do their best to hibernate. It’s for this reason that Restaurant Week and Broadway Week are in January; they’ll do anything to get the hibernating New Yorkers out.
Weather - Coldest of the year, highs in the 30’s lows in the 20’s
For Tourists - Short days and cold but no crowds unless visiting a museum on a weekend
For locals - Few tourists
February - New York is for the New Yorkers (Part II) — Thank god it’s the shortest month of the year because no one wants to be in New York
February is an extension of January but there aren’t really any special events in New York (unless you want to count Groundhog’s Day with Staten Island Chuck but I’ll pass), no Restaurant or Broadway weeks; it’s almost as if Valentine’s Day was created to enable restaurants to be able to make their rent for the month because that’s probably the only way that’s happening. Allegedly there’s a Fashion Week in February but there’s much less evidence of it than the one in September. And while the start of the month is downright miserable, later in the month, February can be sneaky enjoyable. By the third week of the month, the coldest of winter is usually gone and you start noticing that the days aren’t quite so short — remaining light out more than an hour after early dark sunsets from December. Many years ago I even planned a wedding for late February and it ended up being nearly 60 degrees out that day! Trust me, if you want to plan an event in NYC and get the best possible rate, February’s your month!
Weather - Improving as the month goes on. Could be as cold as January, otherwise highs in the low 40’s, lows in the 30’s
For Tourists - Not quite so short days and cold but no crowds unless visiting a museum on a weekend
For locals - Few tourists
March - New York is frustrating; why does anyone live here?
The old saying that March is in like a Lion out with a Lamb hasn’t been to New York in March. No, that’s April here. March is perhaps the most frustrating month to be a New Yorker because you think spring is coming: you turn on TV and see Major League Baseball in Spring training, golf tournaments in Florida & Texas, March Madness is heating up and yet, it’s still 45 degrees out. The true nadir that captures March is St. Patrick’s Day. Everyone (at least in their 20’s, along with cops & firefighters) gives up on hibernating to go to a shitty bar & drink. But March also seems to be when people start coming back to the City for the ACC & Big East tournaments which run in parallel at the Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden. Sure, spring officially begins in March and the sun is setting after 6pm but it all feels like a tease. During the last week of March, I always have the same thought: “How in the heck are they going to be playing baseball outside here next week?”
Weather - Highly variable. Could be as cold as January any day, but improving to the 50’s by the end of the month
For Tourists - Not much joy unless you’re at an ice skating rink, enjoying an Irish bar on St. Patty’s Day or college basketball
For locals - Do you like college basketball?
April - Opening Day for New York
Somehow, despite a lot of rain it always seems like the first signs of spring appear right around Baseball’s Opening Day. Sure, it may be chilly, or rainy and it is many times both, but typically we start getting some nice days where you can finally shed a jacket and hope starts to spring eternal for the City. Though Opening Day may be finicky, it always seems like Easter Sunny is a sunny day with temps in the low 60’s. It’s not just at the professional level do outdoor sports commence, but baseball and softball games at all levels begin dotting the New York City’s Parks — assuming the ground is firm enough to allow it to start on time, you see basketball on the playgrounds, the tennis courts fill up, the soccer die hards get their seasons going on Randall’s Island & Riverside Park, while the running paths start building up. And if you do catch a rainy day, the Auto show runs for two weeks at the Javvits Center and yet, I still almost never go. By the end of the month, spring sports hit their stride and the City truly blooms. Yeah, that “blooms” thing is a big watch-out: April is also peak allergy season as well for New York so we burn through a lot of Benadryl & Claritin in my household. Even the sunny days are problematic during spring in New York!
Weather - Highly variable with a lot of rain. If it’s not raining will feel like spring
For Tourists - Bring your umbrella and cross your fingers
For locals - Wait for sun and call in sick
May - The Gliteratti return to New York
May is in many respects a mirror of September and while September is truly the time when everyone wants to be in New York, The Met Gala the first Monday of the month kicks off spring in New York, along with many other events in the fashion. Plus, there are also entertainment upfronts and the playoffs begin for the local hockey & basketball teams that bring out the celebs to the Garden. Outdoor dining also starts to pick up and it starts truly feeling like a time when elites return to New York for the first time of the year. And it’s not just the Gliteratti who come to town but also the Navy arrives for Fleet Week before Memorial Day. Which brings not just a lot of sailors to the streets but plenty of tourists as well. The one watch out is the weather, which is notoriously unreliable. April showers make May flowers? Ummm….maybe push that whole scenario back a month.
Weather - Starts feeling like spring, ends feeling like summer
For Tourists - Long days and NYC at its best. But prepare for rain
For locals - Make friends with the host at your favorite outdoor spot
June - Peak New York
Shhhh…don’t tell anyone but June is the best month to be in New York City:
The days are Loooooooong: The last two weeks of the month, it’s not getting dark until 9
Pride: The village is buzzing, pride signs are everywhere and the feeling of joy is infectious. Is there a coincidence the Tony Awards are also in June? I think not!
It’s not that hot….yet: Reliable heat doesn’t truly hit until the middle of the month. I have sat in misery at many night games to prove it. There’s a perception that summer unofficially starts Memorial Day weekend and while that’s sometimes true, it might not be until the third week of the month when summer officially starts that it actually feels like it. Even when you do get some hot days, they’re fun, you’re excited for them and it might be the one month the subways will cool you down
Sports are epic: When the Knicks or Rangers are making a deep run into the playoffs (other teams in the area are too but they don’t count) or the US Open Golf tournament is nearby the City takes on an energy of excitement that’s unmatched. The Belmont Stakes is also in June and it’s mid-season for professional baseball
Meanwhile because the local schools are still winding down New Yorker’s are still in town. It’s probably the one month where everyone in New York really wants to be here — even if they’re making their plans to get away
Weather - Starts feeling perfect, ends quite warm
For Tourists - Soak it all in
For locals - This is the month to enjoy!
July - It’s Hot in New York
I love the heat, I love the summer, it’s my birthday month so while New Yorker’s are racing to decamp to “summer” outside the City — and I typically do as well the first week — I love July in New York. The month kicks off with the Macy’s Fireworks display — by far the best fireworks show ever in the world and you’ll never convince me otherwise. But July is the one month of the year where it is reliably hot. 90 degrees in New York is over 100 anywhere else. Also, good luck if you’re flying into town on because there are thunderstorms which pop up most afternoons which will snarl flight plans. July tends to be the month where those with full-time jobs are still in the office so it still feels busy, and the afternoon traffic on Thursdays and Fridays as everyone tries to get out of town is notoriously terrible. Oh and those subways start to feel like a sauna
Weather - Upper 80’s to low-90’s most days with thunder many afternoons. Not much relief at night
For Tourists - Hydrate!!
For locals - Stay out of the subways
August - New York is for the Tourists
Early in the month, the feeling of the “Dog days” of summer start picking up as the Mets inevitably start to wilt in the heat and smell of the subways becomes overbearing. Day camps are in session and everyone is generally in the office but the tourists without kids truly have their run of the town in August. Later in the month, because New York City schools start after Labor Day and camps are out, the last couple weeks in August are when New Yorkers are either at their summer homes or on vacation so the City feels very quiet, unless of course your a tourist and it’s very busy. After the middle of the month, the heat just can’t really bite and you start noticing the sunsets, but typically it’s still warm and pleasant. But as a local I actually like being in town because the running paths are quieter and if I’m able to get out, it’s a lot easier to get a tee time on the golf courses — assuming they’re not chewed up from the heat and heavy play from the season. I’m often one of the people who are away but I totally get why people want to visit and late August is wonderful for out of towners. Fewer crowds, not quite the same prices as September and the weather is still warm, but not insufferable. Pro tip: head out to the National Tennis Center the week before the US Open begins for qualifying which is free to watching. And you may also catch a top pro on a practice court. The main draw typically starts the week before Labor Day which keeps some tennis die hards in town
Weather - Dog days of summer. Starts in the upper 80’s to low-90’s ends in the low 80’s and pleasant. Sun starts going down closer to 7pm and you’re noticing the shorter days
For Tourists - No locals
For locals - Alternating between questioning why you’re here and enjoying yourself
September - Everyone wants to be in New York
Right after Labor Day, there is a distinct refilling of the City as schools back in session and it feels like literally everyone wants to be in New York City when it is in peak form. September is among the driest months of the year where temperatures typically hit the high-70’s and low-80’s every day. It’s for this reason that the month is action packed with events, starting with the US Open, ending with the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly that brings nearly all world leaders to town with Fashion Week & the Feast of San Gennaro in between. Good luck walking through Soho in September! If you’re lucky enough to find a quiet street you’ll likely end up in someone’s fashion shot with zero idea if it’s someone who’s actually a professional model or some amateur trying to emulate one. You have no idea!
Weather - Driest and most pleasant weather. Low 80’s highs at the start of the month, low-70’s at the end
For Tourists - Make your hotel reservations well in advance!
For locals - Make your diner reservations well in advance!
October - New York is still nice!
Because of the Yankees, New York in October is all about postseason baseball. The weather is still temperate during the day, typically in the low-70’s early in the month and gradually bringing the first chills at night and later in the month as the local pro basketball & hockey teams open up their seasons. Peak NY in October is all about Halloween where the parade through the Village draws over a million — to say nothing less of the many costume parties over the last week of the month
Weather - Still dry and pleasant. Low 70’s highs at the start of the month, high-50’s at the end
For Tourists - Bring your favorite costume or have fun buying one!
For locals - Get out and enjoy some of the best weather you’ll see for six months
November - New York throws a Parade
Sure, the days are getting really short and it is starting to get cool but the first Sunday of the month brings many tourists to town and many locals out for the big party that is the New York City Marathon. Over the course of the month, the City starts hitting its holiday groove as Radio City’s Christmas Spectucular, The Holiday Train Show & Holiday Markets start quietly opening. Later in the month is the largest single event in the country for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade which attracts over 3.5 million to the route every year! I still have no idea how this many people come for the parade yet it doesn’t ever seem to cause traffic problems. Trust me, it’s not all locals!
Weather - Cool but enjoyable with a jacket on. The days are incredibly short
For Tourists - Dress like it’s the middle of winter for the parade!
For locals - Call in sick if you catch a nice day
December - New York throws a monthlong party
The best way to describe December is a one big long party. Just about every night, every possible events space is booked for some company’s holiday party. Inevitably I’m going to a few. Meanwhile, Christmas Tree vendors come in from out of town on Thanksgiving to set up shop (and quietly clear out on Christmas day) and it seems New York has its most “Gridlock Alert” days as tourists flock to the City to go to Radio City, see the Tree at Rockefeller Center (which is usually lit the first week of the month) and see the lights all over town. It’s almost enough to ignore the 4:30 sunsets and first blasts of winter. Though locals often bail out of town around Christmas, the City remains abuzz through New Year’s Eve when (depending on the weather) there’s always a massive crowd in Times Square. There was a time when I was growing up on Long Island I wanted to be one of those people, but as a local I now think everyone there — who isn’t paid to be on TV there — is nuts. The year always goes out with a bang here!
Weather - Cold & depressing if not for all of the holiday events
For Tourists - Get out early if you want to see the tree!
For locals - Do your best not to eat or drink too much! Otherwise you’ll spend all of January dieting & in the gym