There is no shortage of love for city escapism at the FABRIC magazine offices in downtown Manhattan, however, seasoned New Yorkers know that big summer weekends are sometimes the best to stay home and enjoy the empty city. That being said, staying in the 212 is no excuse for merely sitting at home and watching the telly, so we’ve decided to compile a list of culturally stimulating, physically moving and restful activities for those of us not in the Hamptons this weekend.

Art

Lover exhibition is still running at hip downtown gallery On Stellar Rays, works by a variety of artists all on the broad subject of love, what can be better (or worse) to get those creative juices flowing?

Kiss today goodbye, The sweetness and the sorrow. Wish me luck, the same to you. But I can’t regret What I did for love, what I did for love. Look my eyes are dry. The gift was ours to borrow. It’s as if we always knew, And I won’t forget what I did for love, What I did for love. Gone, Love is never gone. As we travel on, Love’s what we’ll remember. Kiss today goodbye, And point me t’ward tomorrow. We did what we had to do. Won’t forget, can’t regret What I did for Love What I did for… Love.

Curated by Kate Gilmore & Candice Madey

Eat

Nothing says Independence day like delicious nyc thin crust pizza, kinda… Tonda, restauranteurs Luigi Comandatore’s and Dario Milanin (think Bread and Lulu) partnered up with Bob Giraldi (Jean-George and Prime Steakhouse) for this cool East Village pizza project and pulled out all the stops when they imported 4th generation Napolitano pizza specialist Michele Sceral from Italy just to wow your taste buds. Outdoor seating is available in this amazing space (it was the old EU) service is fast and the food is delicious.

Relax

Had enough of shopping, gallery browsing and lunching? Enjoy some weekend downtime on one of NYC’s many Hudson River Parks. Large and small lawns are speckled all along the Hudson river’s east bank are adorned with flowers and trees (for those needing shade) and welcome sunbathers and semipro nappers who enjoy the city from a different angle – the horizontal one. Get some blood moving and take a long walk on the beautifully renovated highline from Chelsea to the West Village, and continue down on the Hudson until you find a patch of grass that suits your needs. Picnicking is allowed but adult beverages are strongly discouraged by the green clad park policemen, so plastic cups are recomended for that can’t-live-without Pinot.