This isn’t about hot dogs on Fifth Ave or running the Marathon. This is about the frequency of New York — the version of you that wakes up with fire in your spirit and creates her life as art.
This is my New York frequency — but maybe yours looks different. What flavor of New York are you calling in? 🖤🎨📈🌃
Here we go…..
When I was graduating from college, I always had this dream of life in the big city — New York, specifically. Living in your 20s in New York sounded like the thing at the time. Everyone was doing it 😛. So when I got a job offer in Atlanta, I was like wait, what…? Life in a different big city than I imagined? How was that going to work out?
(A separate story for another day…)
But I learned over time — and was reminded through tools like astrogeography (shoutout to Alyssa Donato!) — that you can still tap into the energy of a place even when you’re not physically there.
So today’s post is all about how to channel the energy of New York — even if you’re hundreds (or thousands) of miles away.
When I want to tap into this energy, it’s usually because I’m in that ambitious, go-getter, not-sleeping-on-my-dreams state of mind.
On the go — walking with purpose.
Why might you want to channel this energy?
It’s blunt. It’s “let’s get a move on and get the deal done.” It’s determination. It’s I’m going to make it happen.
But it’s also:
– Pride for your city and your team
– Being unified by a common thread — being a New Yorker
– Beauty. Art. Hipster energy. Grit and glamour all at once.
That frequency? It’s always available.
I’ve lived in metro D.C. for awhile — so some of these things are easy to access locally (shoutout to Levain in Georgetown), but a lot of them are experiences or products I’ve sought out intentionally. Some you can order online. Others are just energetic anchors I return to when I want to feel that New York pulse — no matter where I am.
Without further ado… here are the things that make me feel connected.
Visualizing the Vibe
If you’re more visual, NYC energy might show up seasonally:
🍁 Fall — Picture it like a crisp day in Central Park, leaves falling, boots on pavement
🌇 Summer — Rooftop happy hour, skyline glowing
🎄 Winter — Holiday shows, twinkling lights, bundled-up magic with a hot chocolate in hand
🌸 Spring — Outdoor café life with your first Aperol Spritz of the season
🎧 Before you keep reading, press play: Empire State of Mind
✨ VIBES
Cinnamon Projects — Someone once turned me on to this incense and it’s been such an elevated vibe ever since. Their burners make amazing gifts. It’s the perfect mix of shifting your environment’s energy with gorgeous stones… but still chic enough not to scream “witchy vibes” when someone’s coming over for the first time. 😂
Hotel bars — The ones that are dark, romantic, and make you feel like something cinematic is happening.
💅 FASHION
There’s something about throwing on an oversized coat, a baseball cap, and your best “don’t mess with me” energy that just feels New York.
For me, it’s not about trends — it’s about feeling like I could walk into a gallery or a dive bar and belong in both. It’s less “look at me” and more “try to catch up.”
My energy of choice though -> Baseball cap energy — That casual-but-cool vibe like you’re on your way to a photoshoot… or to pick up coffee from that new place and have a walk and talk with your bestie.
Why this connects me:
It’s pure expression — it’s about owning your presence and allowing yourself to be seen. Putting on an outfit that feels like me and says “I’ve got somewhere to be” helps me step into the action, like I’m moving with purpose.
🎭 ENTERTAINMENT
Late Show or SNL reruns for that classic NYC pulse
The Met Gala — Dream
Sex and the City or Younger
Watching NY sports games
Streaming concerts from Madison Square Garden on YouTube
Why this connects me:
First, it’s a break from the ongoing show that is real life. Second, it’s full of inspiration — from fashion and date nights to staying in the loop with pop culture. It reminds me to have fun, enjoy storytelling, and not take myself too seriously all the time.
🥦 HEALTH & WELLNESS
Peloton — Truly. You can be on the bike in your apartment complex and feel like you’re in the Peloton Studio. I’ve never actually been, but it’s easy to connect with that New York drive — especially during on-the-go workouts.
Sakara Life — I used to dream about their delivery service and even had it on my vision board. But if you’re not ready to drop a few hundred a week on meal delivery yet, here’s what you can do:
Do the detox/reset
Start with one product (like the Metabolism Powder) and slowly add to your routine if it works for you
Why this connects me:
These wellness rituals ground me — and honestly, they bring out the “extra” in me. I can’t pretend it’s not there anymore 😇. They help me stay clear, nourished, and connected to my body in a way that supports everything else I’m building.
🚇 MOVEMENT RITUALS
These can apply to pretty much any major city — but each city has a unique flavor twist that would apply.
Ride public transport and pretend you’re headed to your off-Broadway audition or start-up pitch
Take a solo city walk without a destination
Get off the subway one stop early and take a new route home
Spend an afternoon in a neighborhood you wouldn’t usually visit
Run errands with headphones and sunglasses like you’ve got somewhere important to be and you’re going to be on time this time.
Why this connects me:
It’s not about the destination — it’s the feeling of being in motion. Movement is my almost-instant reset when I’m feeling stuck. It gets me out of my head, even if just for a few minutes. It reminds me I’m alive, on my path — and that even the most mundane errands can feel like a main character moment.
🥯 FOOD
New York Times Cooking & Recipes — Love looking up meatball recipes specifically for the purpose of this post!
The perfect bagel — I will die loving Emerald City Bagels in Atlanta, but you can absolutely find the best damn deli or bougie bagel in your city too. Call Your Mother Deli in D.C. is another fave.
Pressed Juicery — Reminds me of mornings en route to work, making multiple stops for multiple beverages. I used to get a beetroot latte, a juice, and some sort of energy bar there. I lost it when they started serving 🍦. I remember the first time I saw the juices at Sprouts (not in New York) and was immediately nostalgic and excited to have access again.
Milk Bar & Levain —
- Milk Bar – Crack pie (now Milk Bar Pie) = legendary & people will fight you for the last slice if you bring to a party
- Milk Bar – It’s become a tradition to make Milk Bar cakes from scratch for birthdays around here
- Levain — I freeze those cookies and eat them slowly to savor every last bite. Thank god for their Georgetown location now. 🙏
Tate’s Cookies — Someone invite me to the Hamptons to get them fresh, please and thank you
Momofuku – noodles & fried chicken options, need I say more?
Why this connects me:
Food holds memory — but it also holds pleasure and joy. Every cookie, bagel, and juice on this list isn’t just about taste — it’s about emotion, nostalgia, and a sense of connection. These are the flavors that bring me back to different eras of life, and remind me to tap into whatever energy — or delight — I need in the moment.
If this were a blog post about obscure local hidden gems, this list might look different. But that’s kind of the point. Because this isn’t about exclusivity — it’s about accessibility. It’s about energy and about tapping into a vibe that’s still available to you, wherever you are.
✨ YOUR TURN
So here’s my invitation to you:
You don’t have to live in New York to channel the New York frequency.
Maybe for you it’s putting on red lipstick and walking with purpose.
Or blasting your city-girl playlist while grocery shopping like it’s the West Village.
Or just savoring the perfect bagel and remembering that you get to define your vibe — wherever you are.
🗽✨
Make your own list.
What taps you into that version of you — the one who’s bold, might clap back a little & is fully alive?
Tag me if you make one — I’d love to see what’s on your NYC moodboard.
A note of reflection…
Being in New York isn’t always easy — it can feel lonely, overstimulating, and chaotic. You start asking: Is the price worth it? Am I receiving as much as I give?
Sometimes you don’t even have the energy to pause and ask — because you’re already late to your next meeting or being invited out for the third night in a row.
The balance is real, and it can be hard to hold.
And if you’re totally over NYC energy — if you’re like no more — and looking to close that chapter:
My single A New York Goodbye is out now. 🖤🚕
