Welcome back! Dan DeFrancesco in NYC, and I suppose this means I'm officially uncool these days.

Today, we've got stories on hedge fund returns from some high-profile funds, why banks needs to stop pretending they are fintechs, and an app that'll get you back in the gym.

But first, let's head into the office.

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1. A commute worth making.

It's almost officially summer, which means the city is about to turn into an absolute hellhole. 

The Big Apple doesn't exactly shine during the summer months. Heat and humidity plus lots of asphalt and tourists isn't a recipe for success.

But Wall Street doesn't seem to care, as it's pulling workers back to the office. So if you have to come in, where's the best place to go? 

I broke down five of the most common neighborhoods you'll find financial companies and rated the area in terms of location, dining options, commutability, and overall vibes. 

Note: Most of the companies listed below have multiple office locations beyond the one listed.

Downtown.

Companies with offices there: Goldman Sachs, NYSE, BNY Mellon.

We'll start with a classic. The financial district, and the surrounding area, was long considered the epicenter of the markets. But that changed in the wake of 9/11 as companies migrated north.

As someone who has spent nearly a decade working downtown, I have to say I enjoy it. Basically, all public transport converges here. Tourists, while present, are somewhat limited. And things seem to run more efficiently since everyone's down here to do one thing: work.

The downside is the commute from Metro North and LIRR is a bit of a bear. 

Rating: 8

Midtown.

Companies with offices there: Nasdaq, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas.

It's really tough for me to see the bright side of coming to work in this part of town. It's the epicenter of tourists. The food options aren't great. And still, you're going to have to fight through a family of four from the Midwest to get a sandwich. 

The proximity to Metro North and the LIRR help, but not nearly enough to make a suitable case.

Rating: 2

Midtown East.

Companies with offices there: JPMorgan, Blackstone, Millennium, Jefferies.

A walk of just a few avenues really makes all the difference in the world.

This is a tough spot to beat. You're limited on tourists. You've got close proximity to Grand Central. And your food options aren't terrible. 

Is it the most exciting neighborhood in NYC? Definitely not. But you're not really here to hang out, so who cares?

Rating: 9

Hudson Yards.

Companies with offices there: Point72, MarketAxess, BlackRock.

The up-and-comer of the group. Lots of development has been put into Hudson Yards to turn it into a trendy area to work. And it's done a good job of attracting some high-profile companies to set down roots.

But it still seems a bit too desolate for me, and probably needs a few more years of development. In the meantime, I'm not interested in doing luxury shopping on my lunch break, so I think it'll mostly be a pass from me.

Rating: 4

Fintech Alley.

Companies with offices there: Betterment, Plaid, Rho Technologies.

While not a specific neighborhood, the area south of midtown and north of downtown — Flatiron, Union Square, NoHo, etc — is chalk full of fintechs.

The first problem is you need to take local trains to get to some of these locations. But the bigger issue is the environment. While these are undoubtedly cool areas, I'm not sure that's where I would want to work. The last thing I need on my way to work is to end up in some influencers' TikTok. 

Rating: 5

Connecticut.

Companies with offices there: Bridgewater, AQR, Point72.

Some people just aren't built for the city. If you're all about the suburbs, the Connecticut coast is tough to beat for an office location. Why bother with trains when you can drive to your office in just a few minutes. (Some experiences may vary.)

Sure, it's not the city. But what is?

Rating: 7

In other news:

2. A high-profile Goldman Sachs executive is taking a leave of absence. Stephanie Cohen, who played a key role in the bank's consumer strategy, is stepping away from the bank for an undisclosed period, her second leave since 2022. More on that here.

3. More hedge fund returns. The results from May continue to roll in for top hedge funds, as we've got performance numbers for Maverick Capital, Tiger Global, and D1 Capital. Check them out.

4. An open letter to big banks going through an identity crisis. A report of issues that JPMorgan had integrating a fintech into its org highlights a bigger problem: Banks need to stop trying to be fintechs. My open letter to big banks.

5. We're looking for a new class of Wall Street rising stars. It's that time of year again! We're pulling together a list of the top young talent in finance. Read here about the nomination process. And check out last year's class.

6. People moves at Goldman Sachs. A London-based MD is ready to make the jump to EQT Growth. More on the potential move here. Meanwhile, a top inflation trader at the bank is heading to Citadel. We've got the details on that too.

7. Why this week is such a big deal for the stock market. The combination of new CPI data and a Fed meeting mean that this is set to be a big one for the markets. Here's what to expect. 

8. It's not a very good time to be a startup. We're approaching a "mass extinction event" for young companies. Brace for impact.

9. Here's an app that'll get you back in the gym. Even if it's been a while, this app helped the author get back to the gym after a decade off. Learn more here.

10. A little chocolate never hurt anybody. Here's a list of nearly a dozen of the best chocolates you can buy, according to a professional chocolatier. (What a gig!) For all you sweet tooths. 

Curated by Dan DeFrancesco in New York. Feedback or tips? Email ddefrancesco@insider.com, tweet @dandefrancesco, or connect on LinkedIn. Edited by Jeffrey Cane (tweet @jeffrey_cane) in New York and Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London.