The Outdoor Items Our Editors Are Shopping For This Summer

"Did I steal this idea from another New Yorker? Yes. Is it probably a building violation? Maybe (don't tell my landlord). After living for years on a busy avenue, I finally found an apartment that didn't face the street, so my view is a lush communal garden that all of the buildings on the block share. I haven't spent much time on my fire escape, but to make it more comfortable, I'm hoping to enlist a few bamboo bath mats. It sounds strange, but I've seen them in action before; not only can they make the underutilized space a comfortable spot to hang out, but the mats can also help me avoid coming in contact with the rust that's most likely overtaking my century-old building." — Samantha Sasso, editor