Tommy Maidment
Summer's in full swing in New York City, and there's no shortage of things to do in the city: skateboarding, playing soccer, going to the beach, or hitting a concert. Despite the freedom most adults feel, nothing compares to summer as teen, a period when school's out, the future's bright, and there's nothing ahead except heat, sun, and free time.
This past June, FADER's Tommy Maidment hit the pavement — at Washington Square Park, Tompkins Square Park, soccer fields, Governors Ball, and other youth hotspots — to photograph and ask young New Yorkers about their summer bucket list. From SAT prep to chasing viral fame, their plans were about as varied as the city itself. Ahead, hear in their own words about how they're making the most of their New York summer.
Zaiden, 17, Manhattan
What are your summer plans?
To go viral, to make money.
What is your song of the summer?
“A song” - Nine Vicious
What do you and your friends do for fun in the summer?
Make TikToks, troll, and have fun.
What are you saving up for this summer?
Car, a lil Honda.
What is your favorite thing about New York City in the summer?
The people. Everyone’s outside.
Tommy Maidment
Omari, 16, Manhattan
What are your summer plans?
To get money.
What is your song of the summer?
“couches” - xaviersobased.
What do you and your friends do for fun in the summer?
Explore.
What are you saving up for this summer?
I’m saving up for a lot of clothing.
What is your favorite thing about New York City in the summer?
How close everybody is together.
Tommy Maidment
Daniel, 18, Utah & Preston, 18, Utah
What are your summer plans?
Daniel: Honestly, to go out and travel a bunch. Next week we’re going to Montana, and then we’re going to Cancun and then hopefully Ibiza.
Preston: Just came back from Oregon three days ago, drove a manual truck back 14 hours, 1981 Toyota. Working, running my own business, selling clothes.
If you guys work to move here, what borough would you want to live in?
Daniel: I definitely want to be in the Manhattan area. The SoHo, NoHo area, definitely nicest area.
Preston: I honestly am not familiar with any parts of New York. Jamaica was not bad to stay at.
What is your song of the summer?
Daniel: “Ho Phase” - Drake.
Preston: “Princess” - Drake.
Tommy Maidment
Ava, 21, Manhattan
What are your summer plans?
My parents are gonna be coming out here later in August and we're gonna make a trip out to the Hamptons. None of us have ever been, so we thought it’d be a fun little family vacay.
What is your song of the summer?
“Car” - Royel Otis.
What do you and your friends do for fun in the summer?
Come here to Tompkins and sit and really soak up the sun. Some of us will bring our computers and we’ll do work or we’ll bring a book and just read and sit in silence and enjoy the park.
Tommy Maidment
Mariana, 15, Queens & Liam, 14, Manhattan.
Joseph, 13, Queens
Tommy Maidment
Liam, 20, Brooklyn
What are your summer plans?
Looking for a job. Gonna play more gigs outside and hopefully travel. I'm not tryna stay in the same space all the time cause New Yorkers can be weird. They don’t like talking to you. They like to mean mug you when you crossing. It’ll get you in your head.
What is your song of the summer?
“I wish I knew” - Chet Baker.
What are you saving up for this summer?
Right now I’m saving up for a new horn or a tattoo.
What do you want to get?
Something on my chest and on my shoulder. Some big piece, and then never feel pain ever again.
Tommy Maidment
Lucas, 16, Brooklyn
What are your summer plans?
I have the SAT, and college applications, so mainly that.
What are you trying to study in college?
Political science maybe.
What is your song of the summer?
I don’t listen to music I can’t lie. I haven’t opened Spotify in a minute. I don’t even have headphones.
What do you and your friends do for fun in the summer?
In the winter it sucks to skate cause it gets really cold but right now it’s beautiful out, so skating.
Tommy Maidment
Nico, 14, Brooklyn
What are your summer plans?
I’m going to Greece for vacation and then I'm going to basketball sleepaway camp for like a month.
What are you saving up your money for?
Maybe a Knicks Jersey.
What is your favorite thing about New York City in the summer?
Everyone is much more happy in the summer. Things are brighter. The city just comes together and lights up.
What is your song of the summer?
“Just the Way You Are” - Milky.
Tommy Maidment
Marlowe, 14, Brooklyn
What are your summer plans?
I'm gonna spend time with my friends, and then I’m going to Florida for almost all of summer. It’s nice to take a break from the city even though I love the city.
What are you saving up your money for?
Concert tickets. I've only been to a few.
Is there anyone in particular you wanna see this summer?
Ken Carson. If he goes on tour I really wanna go, so I'm saving up for that.
What is your song of the summer?
“Green room” - Ken Carson.
Tommy Maidment
Rya, 12, Manhattan & Scarlette, 12, Williamsburg
Olivia, 18, Long Island
Rayf, 14, Brooklyn
What are your summer plans?
I’m going to like a pre college thing at [School of Visual Arts], and I also have a job at an art studio.
Where do you and your friends normally hang out?
Borough Hall usually, cause we go to school near there.
What is your favorite thing about New York City in the summer?
I can hangout with friends and do whatever I want without having to worry about essays and homework and stuff.
What is your song of the summer?
“enough” - xaviersobased.
Nile, 18, Brooklyn
What are your plans for the summer?
I’m finna join a summer soccer team, train with them, chill, go to the beach.
What’s your song of the summer?
Blueberry Faygo - Lil Mosey.
What’s your favorite thing to do in New York City in the summer?
Play at the pitch in the afternoon, hit the pool, and then afterward go to the crib.
Tommy Maidment
Samien, 20, Brooklyn
What are your summer plans?
I’ve got a job lined up so working, busking in the city, doing gigs. In August I'm going to play with my group at a Jazz festival in Toronto.
How would you describe yourself as a musician?
I’d say I'm very passionate about it of course. I wanna express myself through the music, that’s really the main goal.
What is your favorite thing about New York City in the summer?
Just how open everyone is. Feeling of belonging. We’re in Washington Square Park, I’ve probably met like 50 people today. Like this conversation — this is not happening anywhere else. I just finished playing with some random people over there.
What is your song of the summer?
“PRAYER” - Joel Ross.
Tommy Maidment
Riley, 19, Long island & Tessa, 19, Long Island
What are your summer plans?
Riley: I work at ice cream shop. I love going to the beach. I love coming to the city.
Tessa: I’m working as a camp counselor in July, but for this month I'm working as the after school programs director.
What is your song of the summer?
Riley: “Summer boy” - Lady Gaga.
Tessa: “Summer boy” - Lady Gaga.
What is your favorite thing to do in New York in the Summer?
Riley: I love gettin a crepe on 86th street and going to Central Park and going to the Boathouse and having a little picnic.
Tessa: Walking around the whole city, taking the subway, you know.
Tommy Maidment
Zach, 15, Westchester & Matteo, 15, Westchester
Nico, 17, upstate New York & Logan, 18, upstate New York
Tommy Maidment
Takauma Anderson, 13, Brooklyn & Walker Willis, 13, Brooklyn
What are your summer plans?
Takauma: My parents are paying me a bunch of money to remodel the backyard. I’m going on a vacation to Yosemite and I’m going camping in August and in July.
Walker: I’m gonna go to Florida to visit my grandpa and I’m gonna go upstate a lot and I’m gonna go to Cape Cod.
What is your song of the summer?
Takauma: “White keys” - Dominic Fike.
Walker: “Doomsday” - MF Doom.
What is your favorite thing to do in New York in the Summer?
Takauma: Go fishing on the beaches or hangout in Manhattan.
Walker: Hang out with my friends.
Tommy Maidment
Jack, 17, Red Hook & Lucas, 17, Red Hook
Otis, 18, Brooklyn
Abie Niedzwieck
Micah, 17, Manhattan
What are your plans for the summer?
I got to go to college early for my scholarship. Play soccer and enjoy time with friends.
What’s your song of the summer?
"Best Friend" - Feng.
What’s your favorite thing to do in New York City in the summer?
Play soccer at Pier 5. It’s not even close.