I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have served our country and those who are currently active. Memorial Day parades occurred all around the country on Monday, including in my hometown of Merrick, NY, where I retreated for the weekend.

Good weather also came with this year’s Memorial Day, and I couldn’t help but wonder what summer in the city will be like this year. While the rest of the world tends to slow down in the summer months, New York maintains its fast pace year ’round. Many New Yorkers flee the hot city on summer weekends, even though there is always plenty to do. I plan on checking out the new High Line, which I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t yet done.

I also plan to visit the recently overhauled Intrepid Museum. A friend of mine visited the museum this weekend and was so impressed with its new look that he convinced me to go check it out myself. I find summer is a great time to visit new restaurants and rediscover parts of the city I usually overlook in the winter. Yesterday, for example, I roamed around the West Village, armed with a new piece of information.

We have been digging into family history, and with the help of some long-lost relatives, found four addresses where my great-great-aunt used to live. The addresses were found in letters, some of which were written during World War II, and all of the apartments were located in the West Village, where she lived during the 1930s and 1940s. I’ve walked around West 4th Street, Perry Street and Bank Street many times before, but this time, as I wandered, I tried to imagine what the area was like during that time period, especially for an artist like my aunt. I couldn’t help but get excited by learning more about my past, thinking about how it may lead to my future.

I’m looking forward to summer adventures, both close to home and on trips this summer. I hope the next few months bring excitement for you as well!

— Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher