While I am no stranger to packing my bags for a last-minute European getaway, sometimes you just don’t feel like dealing with the hustle & bustle that comes with standing in an airport TSA line while juggling your 4oz. toiletries and passport.
Summer festivals are a great way to enjoy your own city, especially after a long week. When torn between hopping on a plane to escape your ordinary routine or staying local, having easy access to both New York City and the Jersey Shore definitely has it perks. While some people view the festival experience as being all about embracing the grimy/roughing out weekend elements, this Jersey girl found 4 glammed out summer events to explore when conflicted with whether to staycation or vacation.
PINKNIC
Hosted in July on New York City’s Randall Island Park by Derek van Bakergem, Pinknic is a huge pink themed outdoor festival that offers the perfect sparkling blend of great live music, stunning waterfront views, good food, rosé-flavored wines, frosty frosé, champagnes, spirits, and cider. In celebration of all things summer and rosé, we were encouraged to dress in pink and/or white.
ASBURY PARK ROSE FEST
I was so excited to grab my “Rosé All Day” inspired swimsuit and head out to the Empress Hotel’s Paradise Pool for THE summer kick off dripping in Rosé. I swam in a sparkly rose gold tube and sipped on pink Three Olives Rose Vodka martinis while dancing the afternoon away to the hottest summer hits being spun by DJ Tyler Valentine. The brainchild of Jersey Shore locals, Carey Semprevivo and Melanie Rizzo, the pink themed pool party takes place on the eve of the duo’s Asbury Park Rosé Fest. Carey and Melanie founded the rosé festival with their first Grand Tasting in Kennedy Park at the end of June 2018.
This year’s Asbury Park Rosé Fest featured a Raw Bar, wine Gelato to stay cool, rosé themed events and TONS of Rosé wines (including my favorite from Whispering Angel, Chateau d’Esclans). I also LOVE how these girl bosses choose a different charity to receive proceeds each year with a portion of this year’s proceeds going to Headstands for Hunger, a local charity that works with animal shelters and community food banks.
ROSE MANSION
During last month’s heat wave, I chose to skip the traditional winery and head on over to NYC’s Rosé Mansion. When I found out the pop-up experience created by wine experts, Morgan First and Tyler Balliet, was back with 14 colorful rooms offering tasting experiences sprawled across 32,000 square feet — I jumped at the opportunity to literally swing from a chandelier.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ROSE MANSION VIDEO
Making our way through each room we sipped on wine from the mansion’s carefully curated selection of 120 rosé wines from around the world. Listed below are my favorite rooms:
· Champagne Disco Ball Pit
· Celebration Room with glitter cannons
· Vineyard Room
DINER EN BLANC
Diner en Blanc began in France and has evolved to include destinations around the world. This year, there were more than 60,000 people on the wait list for NYC’s most stylish picnic. Having been on my bucket list for a while, I was excited to be one of the 5,000 people selected to attend and that I was in town this year to experience ALL of the fabulousness.
What’s your secret to recharging on a staycation?
