Socially Distant Friend Date Ideas

As I mentioned in my life update earlier this week, finding ways to be social during the pandemic has been a challenge. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was attending a lot of Zoom happy hours, but 3 months in they’ve kind of fizzled out.

I personally am still playing things pretty safe, especially because I see my parents fairly often. As of right now I’m not going on the subway or taking taxis. I also feel nervous about hanging out indoors with friends sans masks.

Even introverts like me need to socialize, though, and I’ve been trying to find ways to make it happen, safely.

[This dress is currently on sale — it’s from J.Crew. Only available in Navy right now]

My favorite solution so far has been outdoor picnics and gatherings. You might not think of NYC as a beacon for outdoor space, but there are a number of parks to take advantage of.

I’ve met up with friends a few times for a picnic in Hudson River Park (the park that runs along the west side highway). One of the times a friend and I picked up lunch at Urban Vegan Kitchen and then walked west to the water. There are tons of shady spots to sit and eat by the Houston or Christopher Street entrance.

For a bigger group, I recommend Pier 63 by Chelsea Piers. There’s a huuuuuge lawn by 24th Street where there’s plenty of room to spread out. I’ve been bringing my own huge towel to use as a picnic blanket. There’s also a public bathroom in the Chelsea Piers parking lot that’s shocking clean.

I’ve also been enjoying meeting friends for coffee or ice cream. It’s been fun to walk with a friend to my new favorite vegan ice cream place, Whipped. We’ll find a chill place to “pull over” on the sidewalk and eat our ice cream so we’re not walking around sans mask.

I haven’t ventured into the world of outdoor dining yet since it’s still pretty new in NYC. I’ve been scoping out restaurants that have tables spread out or plexiglass partitions in my ‘hood.

This weekend I’ll be in Westchester. I gotta say having a car to drive around and a backyard at your disposal makes hanging out WAY easier. I won’t be attending any big parties but am excited to see local friends and sit 6 feet away from them in our childhood backyards 😂

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Disclaimer: Obviously I’m not a doctor. I am a blogger. Please please please be careful with all social interactions at this time. Wear a mask when you’re less than 6 feet away from people. Sit 6 feet away from friends. Be respectful of those around you, too, to keep everyone safe.