My favorite room in all of New York City is the Allison and Roberto Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History. I think I’ve been there five times now since it opened in June of 2021—once a year! It contains 11,000sq ft of total space, with more than 5,000 specimens from almost 100 different countries. If you identify as “woowoo” in any capacity, this room will send you into another universe. I could spend a whole day in this room. I especially enjoy trying to pronounce all of the scientific names. Unfortunately, it takes 30 minutes just to reach this space at a normal pace, and of course longer if you stop and look at other things along the way, it will take longer! So, factor that into your trip, especially if you eat an edible, which we did—a NYCE Pink Lemonade Gummy—because I always get rushed toward the end. The lines on the weekend are absolutely insane, especially if it’s a rainy day. Plan ahead, go early, and make sure to pace yourself as you look at everything else on the way.
You might think it bizarre to get high and walk around a graveyard, but Green-Wood Cemetery is arguably the most beautiful park in New York City. It’s an arboretum with a whopping 843 different species of trees and shrubs—8,000 of them! 173 of them are larger than 48” diameter. We shared a few hits of my Angel Therapy Lemon Portal Flower. I thought this was the perfect place for it, especially considering the man who gave me the package was named Sebby… pronounced just like my great-grandmother, Sibby, and we went there on Mother’s Day! Walking around, examining the different leaves and flowers of the trees, I did think it was weird that the location with the greatest collection of trees in NYC, and therefore the most oxygen and clean air, is a place for dead people… who don’t need that. I was saddened to learn that with our warming climate, some trees are declining as well, and they’re replacing them with trees better adapted to warmer temperatures. Green-Wood is an oasis of green within the ever-bustling concrete jungle we live in. It’s vital for reducing pollution, providing cooling shade, and moderating the urban heat-island effect that makes cities considerably hotter and less livable than nearby rural areas. Aside from a resting place, it’s also a sculpture garden, historic landmark, and bird watcher’s paradise (hello?!). If you want to take your date to the next level, my friend, Lo, has started organizing cemetery scavenger hunts for the morbid-curious and off-beat obsessed. Curious to join one? Reach out to Lo at hello@buriedhistorynyc.com for more details.
If you’re looking for a real cannabis-centered wellness date experience, you have to check out BlissIn Out events. I took my date to their event on a Greenpoint rooftop, where Ayrloom Beverages were being served (I chose the Honeycrisp flavor, because, you know, they are located on an apple orchard). Hannah Cohen (@feelings_felt) was doing mini bodywork sessions, you could write something you’re celebrating right now in a collective journal, and then Nika Antuanette, the founder, who is a certified yoga instructor with professional dance experience, took us through a little body movement warmup. As someone who doesn’t partake nearly as much as most people reading this right now, the slow, smooth high of the drink was absolutely perfect for this activity. After we descended into a long spacious room with three walls covered in calming projections of stars, nature, and colors, Nika took us through a yoga-inspired uplifting movement class. With their goal “to connect to our Bliss through movement, music, art, and communal elevation,” Nika’s cheerful attitude and infectious positivity kept the room flowing with joy. We were even surprised by a costume change when she ended with a live singing performance to one of their songs, written by Jeremy Cone. It was such a cute event, and I hope to attend more.
