Hyggehiking NYC — Autumnal Gardens Edition

Here's my real-time location for the whole day: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VFrpKJLMsVqxkhFP7 If at any point you have trouble finding the group, just call me: 484.686.5329 ~~~~~~~ Hygge means "a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being." "Hyggehiking" is my own special blend, where we engage in that conviviality while trekking through green spaces throughout our city. I host Hygge gatherings so we can come together to make new friends, discuss fun projects we're eager to work on, dive into deep, thoughtful discussions, and meet people who can help make NYC feel like a smaller, closer-knit community. We bring our friends, family, coworkers, anyone we think would enjoy spending the day alongside a variety of curious souls. For Saturday October 28th, I'm leading us on a journey by land and by sea to the enchanted gardens of Staten Island, where we'll explore a botanic garden, a Chinese Scholar garden, some natural woods (with secret lightning talks), and then all-you-can-eat Sri Lankan goodness, followed by an evening ferry ride back to Manhattan where we may encounter some witchy pub goodness! Here's my Google Maps list of the specific parks and places we'll traverse: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EeJvwgUiQc7hof847 This gathering is open invite, and you can show up whenever you like. I'll post our route to this page and also share my realtime location all day long 🙌 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🗺️ ITINERARY 🗺️ 10am — Whitehall Terminal for Staten Island Ferry 📝 Gather at the gate, board the (free) ferry, and set sail for Staten Island 11am-2pm — Snugg Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, Harbor Eats 📝 Explore the gardens, lake, and cultural center, check out Heritage Farm and the Connie Gretz Secret Garden, lunch at Harbor Eats. 2-4pm — Chinese Scholar Garden ($5 entry) 📝 This is the most beautiful place I've encountered in my 12 years in NYC. A team of 40 Chinese artists and craftspeople spent a year in China creating the Garden’s components and another six months in Staten Island as craftsmen-in-residence at Snug Harbor to complete the construction. 4-6pm — Allison Pond Park, Goodhue Park, Silver Lake 📝 Wander along multiple lakes and into a nook of deep woods with a woodstump amphitheater where we'll have impromptu 5-minute lightning talks. 6-8pm — Lakruwana Restaurant 📝 Dig into their weekend all-you-can-eat buffet ($20.99pp) and enjoy their mesmerizing interior. 8-9pm — Staten Island Ferry Terminal ➡️ Whitehall Terminal 📝 Board the ferry and return to Manhattan. 9pm onward — The Cauldron Downtown, then Halloween weekend people watching 📝 Celebrate Halloween season at a witchy pub with handcrafted drinks by resident potion masters, but if they're all booked up (as is likely), we'll wander and weave through Manhattan, checking out the decorations and making neighborhood-by-neighborhood observations of which people are dressed up in which ways to go to which festivities. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🎒WHAT TO BRING🎒 • comfy shoes • light blanket • warm jacket • sun protection / umbrella (check weather beforehand) • friends 🥰 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 👋🏼ABOUT YOUR HOST👋🏼 I'm Steve Dean, an NYC-based community builder, dating industry consultant, relationship coach, entrepreneur, and diehard superconnector. Creating deep, authentic connections across communities is what I do. It’s what I live for. Connect with me anytime through my website, Dateworking (http://dateworking.com), or on Instagram @stevenmdean. If particularly curious, venture to https://stevedean.blog ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 💸TIP YOUR HOST💸 I'd love to make these a regular fixture of our NYC lives, but it's not easy to herd cats for 12 straight hours across a busy metropolis 😅 Suggested donation: $20. Venmo: @stevenmdean PayPal: @stevedean CashApp $stevenmdean