People are starting to catch on to what color does for the soul. Starting to realize that color is one of the quickest ways to bring about joy. And they’re delivering it to us in one Instagram-bait brainchild after the other.
But you know what? I don’t feel bad at all about falling for it.
New York City is packed with color-laden pop-ups this summer, all designed to take your 35-ish dollars in exchange for an experience worth ‘Gramming about. Instead of just dishing out for snaps, though, some of these pop-ups promise a pint of ice cream, a Rosé tasting or candy galore.
Here’s a look at all the color-crazed summer activities in the city, perfect places to hide out and still have fun when the humidity’s at kill-me-now levels.
I’ve tried one so far but I’ll probably end up at all of them since I’m pretty sure I’ll never quench my thirst for color.
The Pint Shop
Ice cream lovers, this one’s for you. A more permanent outpost of the Museum of Ice Cream that’s been popping up in big cities all over the U.S., The Pint Shop serves up color with a side of ice cream. It’s a color-coded grocery concept shop, where what’s on the shelves is either ice cream paraphernalia or other cute nonsense you’ll think you want to buy. If you book a Tasting Room experience, you’ll get a little lesson in the science and art behind making ice cream and get to taste all of The Pint Shop’s seven original ice cream flavors, and they’ll send you home with a pint of your favorite one. Mine was Vanillionaire, their take on vanilla. And don’t judge me, there’s nothing vanilla about their vanilla. I guarantee you’ll end up counting that one among your favorites.
Run dates: The shop is supposed to remain indefinitely, but the Tasting Room experience wraps at the end of August.
Ticket price: $33
Info: museumoficecream.com/pint-shop/
Rosé Wine Mansion
Rosé is having a moment and the Rosé Wine Mansion is capitalizing on it. This is more than Instagram bait though—it’s color, fun and chilled alcoholic beverages all rolled into one. As part of the experience, you can wander the rooms of the mansion, which are decorated as different places (like the Finger Lakes) and time periods (like Ancient Rome), and you can sip Rosé from all over the world while you stroll. Plus, you’ll let a lesson in the history and science behind the beloved pink drink. Take photos in a garden bathtub, in front of pink walls with sayings like “Say yes to new adventures,” swing from a gold chandelier and wind up at the Rosé wine bar. Tickets include entrance plus Rosé tastings amounting to roughly two glasses of wine.
Run dates: Currently open and runs through the end of October.
Ticket price: General admin $45, Happy Hour (weekdays until 4:30 p.m.) $35
Info: rosewinemansion.com
Color Factory
Color Factory has built an entire experience out of celebrating color and creativity and I’m here for it. It launched in San Francisco last year, ran longer than intended and was steadily sold out for months. And now it’s coming to New York City. Each color they’ve chosen for the participatory installation corresponds to a color the designers spotted around the city. Basically, it’s going to be a 20,000-square-foot place to play, where all your color dreams will come through. Note, this one doesn’t come with ice cream or wine.
Run dates: Opens Aug. 20 and runs through the end of September (that’s if they don’t extend it, which they probably will).
Ticket price: $38
Info: colorfactory.co
Candytopia
OK, we’re back to color experiences where you get to consume something other than color. This time, it’s candy. At Candytopia—which has a very Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory vibe—color is celebrated through candy, with massive candyfloss constructions, face-size lollipops and a marshmallow tsunami. Most of that stuff is for play and not to be eaten as you navigate the interactive experience, but there’s a candy lounge at the end where you can certainly get your fix.
Run dates: Opens Aug. 15 and runs through Nov. 15
Ticket price: $34
Info: candytopia.com
“Color! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams.” —Paul Gauguin