1. Everyone is away. Or almost everyone.

2. There are parking spaces galore, especially on the weekends.

3. The driving is easy; not much in the way of traffic.

4. The streets are nearly empty; fewer strollers, kids, people (not to be misanthropic, it’s just different).

5. It’s easy to get into restaurants we’ve wanted to try like Bar Corvo and maybe Little Neck, which we’re trying tonight.

6. It’s fun to bop around in neighborhoods I’m not familiar with like Crown Heights.

7. The park is as beautiful as ever.

8. It’s less stressful because things don’t really get going until after Labor Day. No school means no homework which means no nagging, etc.

9. It’s okay to take a nap in the late afternoon when it’s hot.

10. The summer sales are fun, especially when the stuff is really cheap like the warehouse sale Bird had last week.