Who is Enjoying Summer Vacation So Far?-Written by Fatima, GiGi’s NYC Participant

There are some wonderful holidays to celebrate in August 2024. For example, National Bowling Day, National Relaxation Day, National Couples Day, National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, National Waffle Day, National Banana Split Day, National Beach Day, and many more. 

National Bowling Day is on Saturday, August 10th. This is a perfect day to go bowling with friends. Get your bowling shoes ready! This day has been around since the 1950s, when it was created to celebrate the popular sport of bowling. Over the years, it has become a fun and exciting way to get friends and family together for some friendly competition. It’s also a great opportunity to learn a new skill or even just have some fun with loved ones. Gather up your team and head to the nearest bowling alley. You don’t want to miss out on all the excitement that National Bowling Day has to offer! Also, my brother is a talented bowler and has toured all over the country for competitions. He now coaches the team at Molloy High School. I enjoy bowling with Peter.

National Relaxation Day is celebrated on Thursday, August 15th, and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. For example, people like to take naps, fish, read books, picnic, walk along the beach, take a spa day, golf, watch sports, go out for lunch, shop, attend an exercise class, write in a gratitude journal, take a bath, do art, listen to a sleep story, color in adult coloring books, watch a lot of movies at home while having nachos, popcorn, and a platter of sushi, and play outside games, etc. On National Relaxation Day, I am planning on going to the nearest local pool to swim with Peter and then going out to dinner with him.

National Couples Day is celebrated on Sunday, August 18th, and a lot of people celebrate the occasion by planning a date night. You could have a candlelit dinner at home or go out to a restaurant. You can also try something new together and go on an adventure like hiking, kayaking, or taking a cooking class. Another idea is to exchange gifts. Surprise your partner with a thoughtful gift that shows your love and appreciation, like a piece of jewelry or a personalized photo album. Others like to write love letters and take some time to express their feelings for their partner in writing. You can also recreate your first date and relive the magic of when you first met, or plan a weekend getaway by taking a short trip to a nearby destination. I also like the idea of having a spa day together and indulging in relaxing treatments. If you prefer to stay in, you and your beloved can watch a movie and snuggle up together and enjoy popcorn and your favorite films. You can also communicate openly by taking the day as an opportunity to reaffirm your commitment to your relationship. Whether you plan a grand gesture or simply spend a quiet evening together, make the most of this day to honor the love and companionship that you both share. 

National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day is celebrated on Tuesday, August 20th, and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. For example, people like to bake or buy the pie and share it with loved ones. It’s also popular to try a new recipe, visit a bakery to pick up a pie, or make a family recipe and then give the pie to friends, family, and extended family members. I am planning on baking chocolate pecan pie with extra ice cream and whipped cream on top to have in the house as a snack after working a long day at Citi Field. 

National Waffle Day is celebrated on Saturday, August 24th, and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. For example, people go out to IHOP (International House of Pancakes) or to a diner to enjoy breakfast brunch with a side dish of sausage, making it a waffle deluxe. You can also make waffles at home. You need a waffle maker to make waffles from scratch. I also enjoy eating waffles with extra butter, syrup, and ice cream on the side. Some other popular waffle toppings include mixed fruit, chocolate syrup, hot fudge, Nutella, cherries, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and powdered sugar. On this day, I plan on cooking homemade waffles for family and friends at my house by having them over to get together. 

National Banana Split Day is celebrated on Sunday, August 25th, and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. For example, people like to create their own banana splits, try new flavors of ice cream, toppings, and fruits, host a banana split buffet with a variety of ice cream and toppings, host a banana split making contest by inviting all their loved ones, throw a banana split themed potluck by asking people to bring their favorite toppings, and partner up with a local restaurant or ice cream shop by offering special discounts or promotions. On this day, I am planning on making banana splits as a snack with Sophia and Peter and the rest of their family by hanging out at their house.

National Beach Day is celebrated on Friday, August 30th, and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. For example, it’s popular to participate in a beach cleanup or organize a group to clean up trash and debris left behind on the beach by other people. You could also donate garbage and recycling cans to the beach, host a beach themed party at home or on the beach to celebrate and raise awareness, volunteer at a charity that supports marine animals, attend a seminar to learn about water pollution and how to prevent it, and spend time on the beach with family and friends playing games like frisbee, volleyball, and looking for shells and sea glass. If you’re not sure how to contribute to honor this important day, ask your local beach how you can help.

This month’s restaurant review is on Christos Steak House, located at 41-08 23rd Avenue in Astoria, Queens. This is a very special restaurant and is a great choice for a special occasion, such as a birthday, an anniversary, an engagement, or Valentine’s Day. My favorite dishes on the menu are ribeye steak with mashed potatoes, spinach, and fries as side dishes, seafood dishes with fries and spinach, filet mignon, hanger steak with mashed potatoes and truffle mac ‘n’ cheese, king crab leg with double truffle fries, New York strip steak with broccoli and creamed spinach and asparagus, and all types of pasta with a steak sandwich. This restaurant is very pretty on the inside and outside, and they even have outdoor seating. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves steak and hope you will all try it. If you go, let me know what you think! I plan on going in October for lunch with my family, Peter and his family to celebrate my 24th birthday. The photo of included in this blog is at Christos Steak House.

Until next month, enjoy the rest of your summer.

See you in the fall.

Sending my summer love,

Fatima