Who ever said the city and nature don’t mix? Sara takes a look at the city’s enchanting outdoor spaces.

Wave Hill
West 249th Street / at Independence Avenue
Riverdale / Bronx / map it
718.549.3200 / website

Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon Boulevard / near Broadway
Long Island City / Queens / map it
718.956.1819 / website

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
900 Washington Avenue / at Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn / New York City / map it
718-623-7200 / website

Pedro takes a dip in some of the city’s hottest pools and lounges poolside at a few of the city’s luxurious hotels.

Empire Hotel
44 West 63rd Street / at Broadway
Upper West Side / New York City / map it
212.581.5290 / website

Gansevoort Hotel
18 9th Avenue / at West 13th Street
Chelsea / New York City / map it
212.206.6700 / website

The Sports Club/LA
330 East 61st Street / between 1st and 2nd Avenues
Upper East Side / New York City / map it
website

George pampers an adorable pug named Boomer.

Jim Dratfield Petography
25 Central Park West, Suite 3A / between West 62nd and West 63rd Streets
Upper West Side / New York City / map it
800.738.6472 / website

Le Chien at Trump Plaza
1044 3rd Avenue / at East 62nd Street
Upper East Side / New York City / map it
800.532.4436 / website

Bideawee
410 East 38th Street / at 1st Avenue
Midtown East / New York City / map it
212.532.5884 / website

When your gym pampers you like Gymnastique, it’s a lot easier to keep that whole “beauty equals pain” mindset. Pedro Andrade puts in his time in the gym circuit and gets a relaxing post-workout spa treatment.

605 Madison Avenue / at 58th Street
Midtown East / New York City / map it
212.888.8988 / website

Frizzy hair blows.

No, really. At Blow Styling Salon, troubled tresses and curly Sues can get shiny, straight hair with Blow’s signature blow-out and styling services. You’ll also find specialty hair products that will help you get through those weeks you don’t have time to hit the salon.

Blow Uptown
843 Lexington Avenue / at 64th Street
Upper East Side / New York City / map it
212.452.0246 / website / hours: 8am-8pm(M-F) / 10am-8pm(S) / 12pm-6pm(Su)

Blow Downtown
342 West 14th Street / between 8th and 9th Avenues
Chelsea / New York City / map it
212.989.6282 / website / hours: 8am-8pm(M-F) / 10am-8pm(S) / 12pm-6pm(Su)

New York City is embracing the green trend, but residents have actually been making better environmental choices for a while now. We sent Sara Gore to check out some of the eco-friendly shopping the city has to offer — if you didn’t already know about these, you’ll want to visit them STAT.

Sara met up with Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern and the two went shopping for produce at the Union Square Green Market — one of 46 green markets in the city. Green Markets support local farmers, and ensures that the fruit and vegetables you take home is fresh, seasonal, and most importantly…delicious. But don’t take our word for it — take the Chef’s!

If you prefer more fashion-centered shopping, we suggest gominyc, an East Village shop that sells mostly repurposed fashions. Actress and environmentalist Shalom Harlow cites the shop as one of her favorites.

Here, recycled doesn’t equal a lack of fashion sense. You’ll find vintage jewelry, soft sweaters fashioned from bamboo, and the type of dresses one might steal from her mother’s closet.

Happy green shopping.

Union Square Green Market
Broadway Avenue / at East 17th Street
Union Square / New York City
212.788.7476 / website

Gominyc
443 East 6th Street / between 1st Avenue and Avenue A
East Village / New York City
212.979.0388 / website

With crowded streets and sidewalks, back-to-back meetings and no waves to let loose on (no offense to Long Island), it’s no wonder we New Yorkers are generally more stressed than our West Coast brethren.

While we can easily head to a nearby steam room, it turns out you don’t need steam to blow off, well, steam. We sent Sara Gore to participate in some stress relieving sports — a mission that had her firing a few rounds, circling around on roller skates and dodging rubber balls (no, not all at once).

Next time you have one of those days, give the gym a rest and head to the nearest roller derby rink or dodge ball mat. Next time you hear someone say “Relax,” you’ll know they couldn’t possibly be talking to you…

New Jersey Firearms Academy
231 Bay Street / between Grove & Erie Streets
Jersey City / New Jersey
201.386.9451 / website

Gotham Girls Roller Derby
New York City / New York
646.405.9803 / website

New York City Social Sport Club
New York City / New York
website