"I love New York on summer afternoons when everyone's away. There's something very sensuous about it—overripe, as if all sorts of funny fruits were going to fall into your hands."
Last Saturday, we drifted to Governor's Island in the sweltering summer heat seeking to experience some of that Gatsby magic at the Jazz Age Lawn Party. Now on its 10th year, the Jazz Age Lawn Party brings those enamored with the 1920s to Governor's Island for a day of dancing, picnicking and partying in the style of a bygone era. We dressed up in our roaring 20s best—I attempted to channel Daisy Buchanan with a bejeweled Art Deco-style headpiece and black fringe dress while J put on a vintage vest and bowtie to play the role of the dashing old sport. As much as we wanted to party as if we were guests at Gatsby's mansion, however, the heat was oppressive. We scarcely left our picnic blanket where drinks and snacks could be had with the least amount of exertion. A few times, I mustered up the energy to listen to live music, break out into a little jig, peruse the stalls selling vintage wares, and walk amongst the 1920s-era cloaked crowd—it was good fun up until the point where the heat would overtake me. Come to think of it, even the pages of that great American novel are strewn with lethargy and lamentations brought on by New York summers. In the end, maybe we were more Gatsby-like than we realized after all ...
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