We’re all trying to do our best to navigate the risks involved with this pandemic. There are so many questions that we ask ourselves daily- especially regarding the risks, rewards, and requirements of traveling at the moment.

Should we postpone all travel until a vaccine has been found?

Should we concentrate only on domestic trips within states without a required quarantine period?

Is it worth it to quarantine for 14 days in order to see family?

I recently had to navigate those decisions and myself onto a vacation that I decided for multiple reasons was worth the risk. I’ll share all of the questions I had along the way to help you know what questions to ask, what to expect and how to best make your own decision about travel during the pandemic.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor nor a scientist, just a writer who has done some research worth sharing. Please continue to monitor the CDC guidelines, your state government’s advising, and your own consciousness and that of your loved ones before making any decisions.

When should I get tested before traveling during the pandemic?

This was a question that was seemingly impossible to answer. If you have the ability to completely quarantine for at least 8 days before traveling, then you should get a test 4 days before leaving. Symptoms can lay dormant for 4 days, so if you are not exposing yourself to anyone else who might carry the virus for 4 days, then get tested and wait the 4 days for results, you should have an accurate and clean assessment of your health before traveling.

Flying during the pandemic- is it safe?

Yes and no. There’s been a lot of conversation about the “recycled air” on a plane that makes us all feel a little nervous. 

That being said, if you are traveling by plane, there’s no way to 100% guard yourself from the risk of contracting the disease on the flight. This article from The Points Guy (sounds cheesy, but a great authority on all things air travel) helped me make my decision, as well as traveling with a hefty supply of Lysol wipes. 

If you are able to quarantine for this same period post-flight, wait 4 days after flying (for potential symptoms to develop), get tested, and wait (and hope) that those results come within 5 days.

We flew United, which I can confirm took the following precautions to make us feel safe:

• Maintained a 50% capacity on the flight
• Boarded and disembarked the plane two rows at a time to maintain social distancing (this was also amazing to avoid that annoying moist-flight aisle traffic jam)
• Provided sanitized wipes via a long pair of tweezers from the flight attendant upon boarding (the tweezers were not lost on me.)
• Requested drink and food orders to be put in before boarding so as to avoid the lingering crawl of the cart.

Hotels + Rental Properties- how safe are they during a pandemic?

We stayed at both a beach house found via a local property rental website (similar to Airbnb) that maintained standards for cleanliness and had publicized sanitation guidelines. No one else entered the house but our family during the 5-day stay. The beaches in the Outer Banks are mostly residential, so there was no problem maintaining a 6-foot (or even 20-foot) distance from other beachgoers. This felt like a very safe option for accommodations.

Our hotel, a Hilton in Virginia Beach, provided the following precautions:

• The door sealed with a “sanitization guaranteed” seal when we checked into the room
• All physical “amenities” (the toilet paper, remote control, cups, ice bucket, bathroom accessories) were wrapped in plastic bags
• There would be no room service to make sure no one else entered the room during our stay
• The elevators had a maximum of 4 people inside at all times
• Masks were required in public spaces…

However, the following situations were risky and unavoidable…

• Plenty of people ignored the mask warning
• We still had to use public restrooms coming and going from the beach
• Hotelgoers were routinely drippy (no offense to anyone… it’s an oceanfront hotel)
• The dining space wasn’t physically separated from the lobby

Is Taking Public Transportation Safe During the Pandemic?

I hadn’t taken the subway since mid-March and was very concerned to be taking both the subway and the Path before boarding a plane and seeing my family. However, I didn’t see anyone without masks, and there was plenty of space on the train cars during the times we were riding. It felt good to feel like a normal straphanger in New York again, while still taking every possible precaution.

Is it safe to travel to see family during the pandemic? Is it worth it?

This is for you to decide, based on the age of family and any pre-existing conditions. Note also the hidden “conditions” the pandemic has had a way of exposing in all of us- heightened stress levels and sensitivities don’t disappear in a different, more tranquil environment. We were able to mitigate this by having the difficult conversations we may have been tempted to avoid. The pandemic has reminded us all that life is short and unpredictable- talk to the people you love. Embrace them. And care about them too much to let things slide.

But at least a vacation during the pandemic will be “relaxing,” right?

You know that anxiety we’ve all suffered from when leaving the house when the daily death rate in New York was at nearly 600, or when attending a social situation that we were promised would be “socially distanced” but very much wasn’t, or spending time around a friend for an hour or so who then lets us know they don’t believe in the pandemic and have been acting as such?

Yeah, so just imagine that times 10 but in multiple environments that are beyond your control, and no home insight. 

I can’t say that this was the most relaxing vacation, but it still felt better to get away and be stressed out than to feel stuck and still stressed. Wear a mask, wash your hands like crazy, don’t touch your face, and try to enjoy yourself and time with loved ones. This is the best advice I can give. 

The 14-Day Travel Quarantine Requirement- is it worth it?

A few notes on my decisions to travel regardless of this looming requirement.

What exactly is required for the 14-day quarantine?

What it is intended to require, based on my understanding and research, is the following:

• Not leaving your house, at all
• Getting your groceries delivered
• Exercising indoors, if your tiny apartment allows
• Saying “no” to even socially-distanced hangs
• If you have a roommate, even if it is your partner, everyone should wear a mask indoors
• If your roommate was not traveling with you, you must stay in a hotel for the 14 days at your own expense
• You must notify your building that someone has traveled to a “quarantine required” state… So don’t even think about collecting your own mail or packages…

What is the traveler health form? Do I have to fill it out?

The traveler health form is the form the state is using to help understand who, when, how, and why you were traveling outside of New York, where you traveled to, and how to keep track of you if needed. 

I was surprised to find that this form was not passed out at the end of the flight and required before leaving the departures terminal (as customs forms always are). I was not able to fill one out in the airport, mostly because I was searching for a bathroom and then needed to make the next train in time- at no point did I see a kiosk or individual asking me to fill out the form.

This form is available to fill out online if you do not fill it out in the airport.

But will they really know if I am ‘quarantining’? Will they find me?

They can know and they can find you. And if they do, it’s a $10k fine. This city and tri-state area have fought incredibly hard to get this virus under control, and any future spike will likely be caused by out-of-state travelers.

For the most part, the quarantine is based on the honor system… just as the honor system was what brought us from the brink of complete shutdown a la Italia and into a point where we have the ability to travel at all. Be an honorable person. Do not be the catalyst. Don’t let your actions be guided by fear or fines, just be a good New Yorker. 

#NewYorkTough

Can’t I just get tested as soon as I get back to NYC?

No. You have to wait 4 days to see if symptoms develop before even setting foot inside a pharmacy. If they still don’t, you can get tested, and wait the 5-14 days for your results. And even if you get “negative” results within the 9 days of landing-waiting-testing-results, the government can still fine you for not quarantining for the full 14 days.

Any other questions?

Hit me up. I’m happy to help your decision to travel, and I’ll be in quarantine for the next 12 days. And even then, I’ll still be here, trying to help

Hi Brooklyn. How are you doing? How are you feeling? How are you faring during these very strange times?

My hope is that you’re taking this time to breathe a bit. To reflect on why it is you’re here, what you want to do, and who you want to be, without any unnecessary pressure. We’re all in this together… apart, yet together. I’ve found a few ways to make this separation feel a little more unified, and to help you feel a little more alive, and not alone. It’s all here, and there for you, Brooklyn… wherever you are.

Socialize, From a Distance

Go on a Window Bar-Crawl Through Your Neighborhood.

You know what’s cool about right now? Open container laws have basically been thrown out the window, and you won’t draw attention to yourself in public as long as you keep a social distance. Take this opportunity to take a boozy little walk through your ‘hood. And if you’re lucky enough to live in Greenpoint you can follow my footsteps.

Greenpoint Beer and Ale, for pick-up!

Everything you need to know is right here.

Broken Land, at the window!

I highly recommend the frozen Aperol spritz. Great for sunny days, pretty damn good at night too.

Brooklyn Safehouse, just knock!

Shots in ramekins, cans of beer, spiked seltzer. It’s all waiting for you- just knock. (And then pay and tip your bartenders.)

St. Agrestis + Greenhook Gin Negronis, plus hand sanitizer!

Available for curbside pick-up, get a little tipsy and stay clean while you do it.

Make a 6-foot long tin can phone and head to the park.

Listen- you’ve been proudly cleaning out your cabinets and choking down slimy legumes for two weeks now. Upcycle those cans before you recycle them and talk to your friends at a clever social distance. Be candid. You can-do it!

Or Party… Virtually

Good Room Virtual Dance Party, Friday Night  

It’s a benefit for your favorite local club to turn the music up loud and #revelwithacause because you have nothing better to do. No, really… nothing you think you have to do is better than this.

Nowadays has live streaming DJs nightly starting at 8pm!

Yep. Every night, it’s virtually Nowadays. Tune in while you’re cooking, while you’re “working”, while you’re fucking or doing that goddamn puzzle that won’t quit.

Funk You NYC live from their living room through House of Yes!

Keep up with their Instagram stories for nightly parties. Costumes not required but come on… wear a costume. Let’s get weird. 

Bernie’s Having a Virtual Party on Saturday.

So. I don’t know, but if you tune in, let’s just do our best to put a smile on and pretend we’re not about to have 4 more years of the Overstuffed Yam in office. Let’s just… party. I guess. #Bernie2020

Listen to This

Meditate on all of this.

I don’t know about you, but Tamara Levitt’s painfully calming voice in my ears every morning has been very soothing. Download the calm app and do some very necessary meditation.

Dave Matthews is live-streaming a concert from his living room tonight.

And before you decide to make fun of me, I’m from Virginia. And that makes my love of Dave Matthews nothing more than a way to support a local musician. So put on your jean shorts and flip flops and pop open a crispy boy so you Don’t Drink the Water. Feel good about feeling like you’re Tripping (billies). If the internet goes out, try to tune in via Satellite. Lose yourself, Crash into some things. Find yourself again Under the Table and Dreaming. FaceTime your friends because you have So Much To Say. Just keep in mind that obviously, this is not a Typical Situation. But we have to do everything we can before we Lie in our Graves.
ANYWAY, I’ll be watching it. Don’t judge me, I don’t care. Bye.

Taste the Relief

Gertie’s on Grand

…is offering free meals to service industry workers. Meals will be available Tuesday – Friday from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The pop-up relief center will continue indefinitely until the restaurant can no longer financially support the program, so go support them supporting us.

Baoburg $5 ‘Survivor Meals’

Because we’re all still trying to figure out how to work, how to eat, how to live in this new reality, Baoburg is here to help. Their ‘survivor meals’ are just $5 and is, let’s be honest, better than whatever you have on the menu tonight.

Free Baked Goods at Bakeri Williamsburg!

Your favorite bakery in the borough is spreading love through their amazing baked goods and giving them out for free. Which is what we all should be doing right now- giving and sharing our talents to make everyone feel better.

Barano Brooklyn, dinner + wine pairing

Offering their full menu and custom wine pairings through neighboring bottle shop Spirit Animal, wine and dine yourself finely tonight. All info here. 

Edouard Massih Quarancatering

This Greenpoint local chef is posting his daily recipes for a homecooked, catered meal to help feed and connect you to your community from the comfort of your own mess-free kitchen. Follow him here and join in this week’s menu options, complete with a cucumber mint lemonade ready and waiting for your favorite liquor to be added.

To-Go Sushi and Sake Bombs From Kanahashi and Amami!

If you’ve been tuning in, you’ll know that me and my non-feline housemate had QUITE a time (and quite a rhyme) doing in-house sake bombs this past week. I equally do and don’t recommend this. (psych… I totally do.) Leave your rhymes in the comments section, please. 

Archestratus Contact-less Market!

Your favorite cookbook store and cafe has been working with local makers and markets to bring you this, a contactless market open this Saturday! Order online and pick-up right outside of the store, from 1-3pm. 160 Huron St.

Pour one out for your homies…

And please, support your favorite local businesses by contributing to their staff’s GoFundMe. There are 321,000 restaurant industry workers who are now, all, unemployed and potentially without jobs once “all of this ends”. Contribute the extra cash you have in your pocket that you haven’t been using as tips to help them get through this indefinite period of confusion. Le Fanfare in Greenpoint has been my family and livelihood for nearly 3 years now, and also provides the means for me to create all of this, for you. Show your support, to us, to them, to everyone

Stay Active

YesWilliamsburgTV Live Streams

Check out all of the amazing fitness streaming daily via YesWilliamsburgTV to help support local fitness instructors and to keep yourself fit, mentally and physically, while we’re all stuck indoors.

It’s Yoga, on an App!

Downward Dog app is FREE right now, and it’s the best Yoga app I’ve found so far. Try it out, no matter what your ability level is or how much time you have (but be honest… you have all the time.)

Get Creative

Atlas Obscura’s Wonder From Home

All the best ways to get lost and feel better on the internet are waiting for you right here via Atlas Obscura. Because mindlessly scrolling never really led anyone to where they wanted to be anyway, here’s the anti-Instagram black hole.

Paint Classes through Happy Creative Dig

My favorite little creativity nook is taking their coveted wine paint nights online, for free! Learn to paint alongside a bunch of strangers, virtually, who won’t judge you for refilling your wine glass every time you clean your brush. This Saturday’s lesson takes us to Barcelona with a scene of Gaudi’s Casa Batllo- a crisp cava wine pairing is recommended. Sign up and see the full schedule here, and choose from general admission (free!) to painter package (have supplies mailed to you!) or ‘Taste of the World’ which includes an assorted food box. Cheers, future painters! or just drinkers with paint-covered hands!

Opera in the Kitchen, Live from Italy!

Sign up for an Italian cooking class, live streaming from Chianti! Opera in the Kitchen was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever been a part of, and taught me so much more about Italian cooking. Open your kitchen up to all of the beauty of Italy, virtually. Sign up here, and I guess, bring your own opera.

Get That Government Check

Ok, listen… I have no idea if this trick actually works, but what I do know is that I was spending way to much time refreshing my browser and trying to penetrate the labor.ny.gov site and mindlessly redialing 800.833.3000 and getting absolutely nowhere… Then I got a tip to pretend to “forget my password” and then reset it, and somehow, that worked. I got through immediately and now finally, hopefully, I’ll get unemployment… at some point. Anyway, give it a try!

This is Le Fanfare, an Italian restaurant in North Greenpoint that allowed me to transition my lifestyle out of the fashion industry and into pursuing my creative passions. It particularly means something to me- not just because it is my main source of income, but also because the family of coworkers and regulars that has grown within it has become such an irreplaceable community within our little corner of New York.

We all care so much about this place and the memories we create within it. And if you’ve also been a part of those memories, please consider contributing to our GoFundMe account.

This money will go toward the service industry workers that you see day after day, smiling through that charming little window in the front, and also those that you don’t always see… A lot of us are artists who depend on this income to support what we want to create and put out in the world, some of us send 90% of our paychecks back to a family in another country, but all of us in the service industry are now left in the unknown. Help us keep the spirit of this place and the livelihoods of its family of workers alive so that soon we can reopen the doors and welcome all of you.

Or, find a business that has a special place in your heart on this list compiled by Greenpointers, or in this list for North Brooklyn Mutual Aid and find a way to contribute that is personal to you.

Let’s show this unnamed, ‘novel’ virus just how much stronger we can be.

So, hi.

Hi, coming from a mission of connecting people by bringing them outside of their shoebox apartments and into the wild, wondrous concrete jungle we’ve chosen to inhabit. 

So now what do I do? We are supposed to stay inside. To keep our distance from each other. To buy canned food and packaged goods that we wouldn’t normally eat because, who knows- everything’s changed now. You just might be a Spam person. 

My mission of city and human connection, mano a mano, is now officially, nationally, discouraged. And don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty sure I agree that we should stay indoors. 

But while we’re here, let’s talk, from a distance. I was recently mentioned on an amazing and very informative Instagram account called YesWilliamsburg as part of a Locally Famous feature. To be considered for such a feature, I had to answer the following questions:

1. What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen in NYC? 
2. What’s the best advice for someone wanting to move to New York?
3. What’s something really cool someone can do for under $30 in Williamsburg? 
4. What’s your go-to coffee shop order/where do you usually drink coffee?
5. What’s your favorite brunch spot in Williamsburg and why?

And while I’ll keep my responses to myself and to whoever the hell is listening on social media, I want to hear from you, here, now. Tell me your answers to the questions above, and anything else you want to add. Because after all, while we’re inside, we might as well keep in touch.