Turiello’s Pizza in Nyack

With a little time and effort, Rockland County teens like me can get off of our phones and into the real world — spending time with friends rather scrolling the endless feeds on our devices.

Doomscrolling has become an issue for many teens, even if we don’t want to admit it. But Nyack and its surroundings hold many potential places for teens to spend time rather than doomscrolling all day. And by getting out into our community, we’re also supporting local businesses.

Here are a few ideas for Rockland County young people to get off of our screens and into the community — together.

Hanging Out in Nyack and Nearby
For me and most of my friends, the mall and downtown Nyack are always places to have fun with friends. I recommend Art Cafe on South Broadway in downtown Nyack. From the pretty art on the walls to the delicious Israeli bites and other food, it’s a very enjoyable place to spend time. I also think it’s a nice place for studying, finishing up homework, or just talking to friends. Of course, like any place it has a time limit, but there are many other places nearby to check out afterwards.

Also downtown, Main Street Beat is an amazing place for music lovers like me. They sell clothing, books, miscellaneous art supplies, and more, too. And they sell and buy records and CDs. I have bought multiple CDs I love there. I think it’s a great place to find gifts and good music ranging from the Beatles and Prince to Alex G and Sza.

If you enjoy reading, Big Red Books is down the street from Main Street Beat and is another good place to stop in. I haven’t been there much, but it’s a nice, local, bookstore. Besides books, they sell stickers, games, tote bags, and more. Right on Main Street, it’s surrounded by plenty of other shops to check out afterwards.
When I was younger, and even today, Jill’s Ceramics was always where I wanted to spend my free time. It’s a place in West Nyack where you can paint ceramics with friends and family, and even host a birthday party. If you like painting or art in general, this is definitely a fun place to hang out.

While I didn’t list them all, I enjoy the activities and many different stores in Nyack. Simply walking around with friends can be fun, stopping by Turriello’s Pizza, or going to Koblin’s for some snacks. In-store shops are something I believe we need to keep and not replace with doomscrolling. If you’re specifically interested in supporting local stores, possibly working at one, just taking a walk downtown may be beneficial.

Checking Out the City and Cold Spring
If you’re willing to go outside of Nyack, I have even more suggestions. New York City is always a fun place to go, especially for teens. Time Out, a market/food court in NYC, is a fun place to try. There are a few locations, and they offer multiple restaurants in the same building that are all able to deliver food directly to your table. In NYC, I also recommend Rise NY, a part-ride, part-museum attraction that opened a few years ago. I particularly enjoy the ride and would love to go again. New York City holds many tourist attractions and fun activities to look into.

Another place I like going to from time to time is the town of Cold Spring, though it can be a bit of a drive. They have nice stores and restaurants that resemble those in Nyack. Going there is a fun day trip. And going to other towns with small local shops is always something I enjoy doing with friends and family.

Trying Out Creative Projects
I believe shopping in Nyack rather than spending my time scrolling is beneficial for me. But shopping isn’t the only way to avoid crazy screen-time hours. I generally like to write, do art-related things, or simply listen to music. Hobbies I recommend trying include making collages or things with clay, drawing, and writing short stories for fun. Hopefully, reading this article gave you more places to check out and ideas on how to stop doomscrolling.

Sasha Weintraub is a 9th grader at Nyack High School who likes writing, art, and music.