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This past weekend, instead of hopping the train to a Connecticut or Long Island beach, the Hamptons or taking a road trip to Upstate New York—like so many of my fellow New York City dwellers—I decided to take a mini-staycation right here in my hometown, Park Slope, Brooklyn. In addition to saving carbon emissions from travel, money and time otherwise lost in rush-hour traffic—I enjoyed the languid, quiet and quaint, tree-lined charm of Park Slope in its peak of summer.
If you're already familiar with Park Slope you might wonder why I’m missing some of the neighborhood’s more famous, adjacent staples like The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, The Brooklyn Museum, and Prospect Park. And your reason is valid. These places are great! My wish however is to show you a real snapshot of a weekend-in-the-life of an aspiring green, frugal, and fun-seeking Park Slope-r…Me! Ready?
Friday: Bodhisattva Yoga
The best way to cap off a work week in my book is a restorative yoga session. I take the 7pm Inspired FlowsTM class at my local 5-blocks away yoga studio, Bodhisattva Yoga. Disclaimer: I teach here and my boyfriend happens to be the owner. OK, it’s a small neighborhood, I know! But this is the best, most authentic yoga I’ve ever stumbled upon in NYC. Best of all, it makes a conscious effort to operate eco-sensitively, running on wind power, recycling and organizing local community service efforts—whether that’s trash pick-up in the park or hosting meetings to send collective activist messages to the Obama administration.
After I work up a sweat—and an appetite—I treat myself to one of the best Italian restaurants in the city, Al Di La. Even Manhatanites venture out for this good stuff. The food has a unique Venetian and Tuscan flare and the menu touts local, organically sourced meats and veggies when available. Don’t go without ordering the creamy polenta and malfatti, gnocchi wrapped in kale, braised in a sage butter sauce. Yum! Look around too to get a real local feel. Your surrounding diners are serious Park Slope foodies. You can’t make a reservation so do expect a long wait during peak dinner hours.
Saturday: Organic Wine and East Village Wandering
The great thing about a staycation is that you can still be productive—and get much-needed chores done. Since I set the intention to make it a mini-vacation however, I decide to make them fun and of course, green. Preparing for a big apartment move, I have tons to get rid of and refuse to let it hit the landfill if it doesn’t have to. The beauty of living in an urban city is the amount of sidewalk foot traffic. I set out some unwanted books and clothing out on my stoop and watch as everything gets snatched up within a few hours flat.
The sun is hot and it’s time for a much-needed, pick-me-up lunch—slow food style. I make a pit stop at Prospect Wine Shop which offers a generous selection of organic and biodynamic wines. I ask for an organic wine ten bucks or under and the staff enthusiastically takes on the mission. I end up with a delicious organic Chardonnay from France called Comtesse de Marion for a frugal $9.99. (And, as we know wine from France has a lower carbon footprint for East Coasters than those from California, South America, Australia or Oregon). The light and floral bouquet is the perfect accompaniment to my salad made with NY-grown red leaf lettuce, organic cherry tomatoes, scallions, pan-seared tofu and pumpkin seeds—a refreshing meat-free lunch for a hot summer day sans AC.
Park Slope can get sleepy at night. In an adventurous/spontaneous mood my boyfriend and I decide to hit the East Village with no destination in mind. As a short 20 minute subway ride away on the F line, I let the East Village sneak into my staycation criteria. It sucks that the MTA subway fare went up to $2.25 one way but it’s still an affordably green way to travel in the grand scheme of things. We get off at 2nd avenue and walk one giant loop around the East Village, soaking in the diverse and colorful culture and life. From the Latinos playing dominoes and blasting Meringue in Alphabet City to the young Asians partying on St. Marks Place. For dinner we stop at a place I had been dying to try—Caracas, a Venezuelan arepas bar. It was packed, loud, lively and Latin. All the things I could’ve asked for. And I didn’t need to travel to South America to get it.
Sunday: Staycation Relaxation
D’mai Urban Spa is a little Asian-inspired oasis tucked within the concrete jungle. Having a little birthday money tucked aside, I book a spa service. While other Park Slopers take part in the ritual lazy Sunday mimosa brunch, I sip on a cucumber-infused water and get pampered with the spa’s luxurious and eco-friendly Sonya Dakar products that are paraben-free, and sans artificial dyes, fragrances, petrochemical and animal byproducts. Pretend you’re in Tahiti and choose from facial, massage, body treatment, and waxing services.
My staycation ends here this Sunday evening and as I reflect upon it, I think I feel the most relaxed I’ve been in a while. Is it because I wasn’t pressured to do all the crazy sightseeing I do when abroad or out-of-state? Maybe. Could it have been the blissful yoga sessions and spa service? Probably. But most of all, I attribute my post-vacation mentality to slowing down, enjoying what I’ve had right here in front of me and having no destination in mind. So will more staycations fit into my future? Most definitely.
More on Staycations:
5 Staycations You Can Take At Home
7 Local Vacation (Staycation) Destinations
Are You a Green Globetrotter? (Quiz)
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