July was so busy that I barely had any time to loathe this awful time of year! Here’s what went down last month.

I started doing Summer Saturdays, which is a weekly roundup of what happens each week.
The best tweets of July can be found over here.
I can’t stop making this steak salad.
Went to the new Superiority Burger and the veggie burger was great, but the rest of the menu wasn’t anything terribly special.

Veggie burger at Superiority Burger, NYC

Appeared on Paul’s TikTok again!
Went to Shakespeare in the Park (Hamlet) for the first time and it was so, so good. Didn’t even mind the thunderstorm that happened mid-show, that’s how good it was. There was a gentle breeze of mild B.O that also wasn’t even that unpleasant. Had no idea that the Delacorte Theatre is closing after this season, so it’s especially neat that I got to go this year. ALSO I might like Shakespeare?? So many lines were ones I never realized were from Hamlet. And so many lines from Frasier too!

Currently living in these green Halara bike shorts with pockets.
The greatest chocolate cake recipe I’ve come across.
I physically can’t shut up about these great black bean muffins that I just add protein powder to in order to eat homemade protein snacks.
Always a solid experience at Amelie in the West Village.

With Jessie at Amelie in the West Village

Went bowling at Astoria Bowl 360 and it was great. They’ve updated it a bit so it’s not as grimy as it used to be, which I guess is a good thing.
Got the Natori bra that I’ve loved for years (and lasts years) at the Nordstrom sale.
Marla came to visit and we did as much as humanly possible, some highlights:
- Visited the MoMA and the new wing at the Natural History Museum
- Had the gluten free latkes and french toast sticks at Modern Bread and Bagel and everything tasted ungodly good
- Saw the Kusama exhibit in Chelsea
- Stopped by the weekly stargazing event on the High Line
- Finally ate at Rubirosa
- Rented row boats in Central Park
- Saw Six on Broadway and actually liked it (loved Marla saying before it started, “I don’t understand what they’re gonna do for *80* minutes.” Hahahahah)
- Drinks in the sky at Manhatta will always be a good idea

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Liz Heather (@lizheather)

The duck confit spring rolls at happy hour at Sojourn are wild. Gotta return.
For years I’ve wondered who the hell goes to the Uno or Applebees in my neighborhood when you LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY and there are a million better options. But for whatever reason, I found myself in one this month and I’m sorry but $7 martinis are the absolute main reason to go there. I forever remain on my mission to find the deals and drink the deals.
New favourite place to eat in Astoria: Figlia.

I went on a family trip to Scotland! Full post coming this week.

Some things I watched:
- The Summer I Turned Pretty - so unbelievably fun.
- Dave - so great! How have I never seen it before?!
- The new Indiana Jones - loved it, except for the end.
- And Just Like That - okay yes it’s still terrible, but Charlotte has really been shining in the latest episodes.
- Black Mirror - watched all the new episodes and I really don’t think Ayo Edebiri is a good actress. Loved Joan is Awful since it felt like a more modern Truman Show. And Josh Harnett? A god.
- It Should Happen To You - I saw this when I was so young and just fell in love with the idea of someone renting a billboard solely to just see their name in big letters. Great movie.
- Barbie - phenomenal. Would see again. Will continue to buy (almost) any merch.

Some things I’m looking forward to this month: I’ll continue to do things off of my summer list, I definitely want to try lane swimming at a pool in the area, I’m determined to get Baby Dog in a kiddie pool to see if she would like it and I’d love to go to a Jays game if timing permits.

If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in June over here. And my summer highlights on Instagram can be seen here.

There are always so many "What To Do In July" posts that always have the same, summery suggestions that I see every year (go to the beach, have a picnic in the park, see the fireworks, blah blah blah). So I thought I'd write a list of stuff that I'd actually like to do (and most of it I will do! Not all, 'cause of budgetary restraints, but most). Off we go.

Wednesday July 1st (Canada Day) - What better way to spend the holiday than by watching Alive, which arrives on (American) Netflix today?! (Okay, there are probably tons of better ways to celebrate the day - but I really can't wait to watch this movie again. I only saw it once when I was a kid and I feel like it might be a good time?) But if that's not up your alley, I recommend getting a poutine from Mile End to celebrate the day.

Wednesday July 1st - Today also marks the re-opening of the Guggenheim Museum's Kandinsky collection, which has been closed since April 1st and features some of the most important woodcuts and paintings in the artist's entire body of work. The exhibit re-opens today at 10am at the Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave, Manhattan, admission is $25 (or you can wait until any Saturday to go since it's Pay-What-You-Wish from 5:45pm - 7:15pm on Saturdays).

Saturday July 4th - Astoria Greenmarket has re-opened for the season, so I'll definitely be heading over here for the best goddam corn-on-the-cob OF LIFE. Open from 8am - 4pm.

Monday July 6th - Saturday July 11th - Lincoln Center Presents: Danny Elfman's Music From the Films of Tim Burton (!) - I know the tickets for this are a little steep since it's at Lincoln Center ($90+), but there's a sale right now where they're $49/per person over at Goldstar.

Tuesday July 7th - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is having a book signing & reading at Barnes & Noble (555 Fifth Avenue store) to promote his new book, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety. You can arrive at 9am to purchase the book and receive a wristband for the 12pm event.

Tuesday July 7th, Tuesday July 14th, Tuesday July 21st, Tuesday July 28th - Stargazing on the High Line - There are telescopes set up and anyone can join in for free. From dusk until 11pm at West 14th Street.

Sunday July 12th - Bastille Day in NYC - Held on three avenue blocks closed to traffic, the day offers French classics like crêpes, cheeses, macarons & more as well as musicians and other French-centric activities. East 60th Street between Fifth Avenue and Lexington Avenue, 12pm - 5pm.

Tuesday July 14th - Astoria Bookshop is celebrating the release of one of 2015’s most anticipated books, Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee, with a Southern-inspired cocktail hour from 5pm - 7pm.

Sunday July 19th - Barkfest - It's basically a dog block party of sorts. Kind of sounds amazing or terrifying, I can't decide. Runs from 2pm - 9pm.

July Jiffs 2023

Things To Do In July in NYC