"free" free time in the city

This one is going to be slightly less fashion related but about NYC nonetheless. I just wanted to share some of my favorite things I've been doing in my free time that are virtually free! From taking a relaxing break, fun activities, or just simply soaking in all the creativity and beauty in the city; here are my favorites and go-to's so far.

• Printemps: a new french department store located in the Financial District

While obviously this is shopping, so you COULD spend money, most of the items are high ticket items anyway and aren't the kind of things you'd just pick up when you're out. This place is also literally a museum. You could spend forever in here and it's been my favorite window (more like a maze) shopping by far. There's multiple levels and so many different sections, they even have food and drink spots if you are looking to spend some money after all. But this place is absolutely insane. You could spend hours just browsing around here and they way they have merchandised this place is a work of art. They have some brand specific set ups, but besides that it's basically merchandised in any manner to be the most aesthetic. Some of the clothing items in there are TO DIE FOR and have a hefty price tag accompanying them, but they are so nice to look at. If you glance up when browsing, you can also spot archival looks they switch out pretty frequently, which means every time you go you can always see something new! Besides the endless hallway of luxurious skincare and makeup products and the magnificent shoe curation, the history and interior of this place is enough to impress. I recommend windowing shopping for such a creative and beautiful atmosphere, and even try on a dream designer piece or two while you're there and pretend your trying on items from your future dream closet!!!

• The parks, the greenery, the scenery

As someone who is used to being surrounded by trees, birds, grass, water, and just nature in general, living in a tall apartment building, being surrounded by skyscrapers, and literally being underground on the subway, it's nice to take some time to realize this place really isn't just all city: it has it's pockets of nature as well. It's nice and honestly a necessity to find some slow and peaceful time when getting adjusted to the city, or even if you've been here your whole life. I've found that when I'm feeling exhausted, whether that be mentally or physically, time surrounded by nature brings me back to reality and makes me feel more like a human again LOL. My absolute favorite park (which I'm biased because it's a quick walk from me), is Battery Park/WSH. I love it because you have you patches of grass and walkways, but you also get to see the water and little sailboats and such, which I've always found is my favorite part of nature. It's also cooler by the water, so it's just such a refreshing break from reality and a reminder that being in the city doesn't mean you have to be surround by brick and steel all the time. You can even walk around and just people watch or watch a game of beach volleyball, and its just a great FREE reminder that life really is fun in a city where you can get it all. You can also find so many little green wedges or corners that I love to stop at on the way to or from work or after a long day out-and-about to catch my breath before going home to my apartment. It actually surprised me how many of these you can find.

• Pop-up SOCIAL events

Social pop-ups are such a great way to keep yourself busy and see new things. Almost all of them are free. Some time they'll be a ticketed event, but most of the time you can find free pop-up events or even brand pop-ups that are just a fun way to connect with people and experience a new place. There's often times some free goodies that you can get that double as fun souvenirs for your time in the city. I'm following and always checking up on pop-up "reports" on Instagram and TikTok that will make you aware of what's going on that week or weekend and are very easy to find.

• Neighborhood tours

This is something that you can spend money on if you choose but can also always be totally free! This also doubles as not just something to keep you busy but also great way to familiarize yourself with the city and has really made this place feel less daunting. Being able to familiarize yourself with different parts of the city besides where you live or work really opens your eyes up to this place and also helps you be able to navigate easier and feel like this place is more of a home. What I recommend is picking one neighborhood you haven't been to before (think outside the box besides Soho and the WV), and spend some time just wandering. You can pay $2.90 for the subway or just walk there depending on how "free" you want this day to be or how much walking you plan on getting into, but once your there, just meander around. Take in your surroundings and don't have a specific destination in mind. If you don't mind paying a little, pick a spot for lunch at dinner so you have least one location point to go off of, but besides that, window shop, walk up and down the streets just taking in your surroundings and seeing what streets connect where. If you find a park or a nice bench, sit for a while and people watch; I would even recommend bringing a book or a current hobby or project of yours and just slowing down and finding a spot to land in for a while. Being able to be immersed into all the different cultures and environments of the city's many neighborhoods is not only fun but also really important. being able to appreciate other places besides what you call yours i such avalueble things an such a great opportunity to have in a city like this. I've found this to be one of my favorite things to do and really helps you feel 'attached" or a part of the city. I also just think this is a great option if you just need a chill, mental health day.

Hopefully from this, you have found your next adventure or place to check out. Being able to do these things allowed you to feel more at home and comfortable with not just exploring but existing in this hige city. While it's practically impossible to see all of the city even if you've lived here for years, it's nice to explore as much as possible and I wanted to make this list to show that exploring doesn't have to cost you an arm or a leg (or the joke that it costs $50 to leave the house everyday), and you can really take on this city and make it feel like YOUR place, YOUR life, & YOUR experience.