Hi there, my adventurous readers!

We don’t have a New Yorker of the Week today, so I’m sharing some random things that I’ve been loving recently:

• Hearts and Bones, an animal shelter, is having an adoption event this Sunday! I’ll be there to take some pictures of the dogs and create content. A pawparrazi if you will. (I’m sorry, I had to.)
  

• Othership has officially opened their new location in Williamsburg! Go check out the snazzy new space. I’m addicted to hold/cold therapy, because no matter how frazzled I am, it calms me down.
  
  Use JILLIANRICHARDSON as a code to get a discount. (And if you tag them on IG in a story, you’ll get a free Williamsburg pass. But you didn’t hear that from me.)
  

• CookUnity, the new food delivery service I’m obsessed with. It’s cooked by local NYC chefs, and is by FAR the best meal service I’ve ever tried. Use my link to get 50% off your first week, and 20% off the next 3. My current favorites are the grilled chicken and farro bowl, the black bean burrito bowl, and the breakfast frittata with roasted potatoes.
  

Therapy for people who are ready for relationships that feel nurturing — not draining.

You replay conversations, regret opening up, and worry that you’re too much (or not enough). Outwardly you’re fine, but inside you feel anxious, lonely, or longing to be seen. It doesn’t have to be this way. In therapy, we’ll put words to the stories you’ve carried about who you are and who you should be—and write new ones with more freedom, compassion, and self-trust. Fall spots open for virtual therapy.

Looking for your crew? Want to be a “better” man?

Join a brotherhood of strong & supportive men who will help you tackle the doubts that keep you stuck in relationships, underwhelmed by jobs, and bored in the bedroom. Led by therapist, Mike Rosen, you’ll redefine and reclaim what masculinity means for you, make friends & find your power. 80% of men leave with a clearer sense of self. Starts 10/20. In person. Union Sq. Use "Joy" for $100 off.

Gatherings

Double check details before you go, and contact the organizers with questions! The Joy List does not run these events.

Tuesday, September 16: Kinky Games Night

Join us at the lovely Hit Me Up space for a Sex Positive Social with fun and ridiculous games.Our host and sex educator extraordinaire Niki Davis-Fainbloom will lead teams through a series of games designed to foster connection, accidental sex education, and to meet the other cuties that are nerdy enough to show up to a games night and cool enough to think that the Kinky version was for them!The Night will include: Erotic Chocolate Station, Ridiculous Games, Clitoris Darts, Vendors with sexy treats, Tarot Readings, Clitsonary, Sexy Prizes, Free Wine and light Snacks

$30 7pm 120 Walker Street #floor 5 New York, NY 10013. Info here.

Tuesday, September 16: NYC Civic Fair

Note from Jillian: Absolutely cracking up at this tone shift here

​Looking to get more involved at the local level—but not sure where to start? Join us for a Civic Fair connecting New Yorkers with local organizations tackling the city's biggest challenges—from housing and transportation to elections and streetscapes. Think of it like a career fair, but for community and civic impact. Meet the people doing the work, explore causes you care about, and find the right place to lend your voice, skills, or time.

Free. 6-8 pm. 20 Jay St, Brooklyn. Info here.

Wednesday, September 17: What Do We Sacrifice To Belong? | Open Loops

On Wednesday, September 17th, join us at Le Petit Monstre in Brooklyn for Open Loops, a modern-day academic salon exploring the question: What do we sacrifice to belong? Together we’ll reflect on the quiet compromises we make for acceptance and the costs of fitting in. No background in philosophy required; just curiosity and a willingness to engage. Come ready for an evening of big ideas, good company, and conversation that lingers (and totally fine to come alone!).

$20, 7-9 pm, 82 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205. Info here.

Thursday, September 18: All Levels Contact Improvisation Dance Class

Contact Improvisation is a fun non-gendered partner dance form. The technique focuses on giving and supporting weight, and coordinating with gravity and momentum, to create spontaneous relational dances. It is both a come-as-you-are practice (meaning anyone can join) and a skill-based practice (why people keep coming back). Come to improve your body awareness, learn to listen through the skin, and make new friends!

$20. 7-9 PM. 115 Wooster St., 2nd Floor "Dance Studio" (Soho). Info here.

Friday, September 19: Common Thread - Storytelling Series

Common Thread is a storytelling series that explores what it means to be human while supporting a great cause.Our September theme is "Community," with six New Yorkers sharing personal stories about groups that have impacted their lives. All proceeds go to Fountain House, a non-profit that helps people living with serious mental illness. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with stories beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Donation Based. 6-8pm. 15 Rutherford Pl, New York, NY 10003. Info here.

Saturday, September 20: Hyggehiking Manhattan

On Saturday, September 20th, we'll spend 12 hours wandering through the parks, atriums, amphitheaters, food courts, beaches, and libraries of Manhattan. Each hygge hike is an exploration of the green spaces of our city where we can gain a visceral understanding of its neighborhoods and local lore, meet people who can help make NYC feel like a smaller, closer-knit community, and discuss the projects, ideas, and events we're most excited about. This particular hike highlights the vibrant and serene places that evoke the rolling hills and social hubs of my alma mater, Swarthmore College. Bring your curiosity, your stories, and your friends!

Free ($20 suggested). 10am-10pm. Central Park South + 10 mile hike. Info here.

Sunday, September 21: Hopeful Futures Book Club

We’ll read fiction (and sometimes nonfiction) that may help us imagine and prepare for the futures we want. Our first book: "Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune" by M. E. O'Brien & Eman Abdelhadi

Free. 4-6pm. McCarren Park. Info here.

Coaching For Executive Functioning

Looking for support with managing your ADHD or neurodivergence? Meet Alex! She has an MA in Intellectual Disabilities and Autism from Teachers College, and 14 years of experience working as an educator for students with ADHD, ASD, and learning disabilities.

With an additional background in art education, she often integrates creative approaches tailored to each client’s needs. She’s comfortable working with children, teens, and adults. She also offers consulting to parents.

Please feel free to reach out to her at [email protected]. She offers in-person and virtual sessions.

That's it for this edition.

Jillian

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