LAND A COVETED RES AT NOBU

SUSHI AT NOBU 57

40 W. 57th St.; 212-757-3000
Wait during the rest of the year: One month for a prime-time table
Wait during the dog days: A week for the same seats

The Midtown outpost of TriBeCa’s famed eatery is a hot property. So hot that it’s typically hard even to get a seat at the bar. But in August, things change for the better. “We’re still busy, but given that most of our usual clientele is away, you’re more likely to get a reservation for a Saturday night by booking a week in advance, as opposed to after Labor Day, when it will be at least a month,” says managing partner Richie Notar.

NO LOX ON THESE DOORS

BRUNCH AT EJ’S LUNCHEONETTE

1271 Third Ave.; 212-472-0600, and 447 Amsterdam Ave.; 212-873-3444
Wait during the rest of the year: 30 minutes
Wait during the dog days: 15 minutes or less

The tasty omelets, the savory French toast and the endless cups of coffee draw a huge crowd for brunch every weekend — except this month. “It’s so quiet this time of year, you could roll a bowling ball down Third Avenue,” says the eatery’s owner Robert Eby.

OPEN TRADE

SHOPPING AT TRADER JOE’S

142 E. 14th St.; 212-529-4612
Wait during the rest of the year: That checkout line snaking through the aisles can last 30 minutes.
Wait during the dog days: 15 minutes — less if you go about 9:30 p.m., just before the 10 p.m. closing time

This unique grocery has a cult following among foodies who usually leave its shelves looking like a hurricane is bearing down on NYC. Officially, a Trader Joe’s spokeswoman refused to comment, but staffers at the store confirmed that August is indeed “a little slower than usual.”

FACE TIME

FACIAL AT CHRISTINA CHIN

82 Orchard St.; 212-353-0503 and 212-353-0071
Wait during the rest of the year: Two months
Wait during the dog days: About two weeks

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen and actresses Gretchen Mol and Winona Ryder frequently get the royal treatment from Chin, and now so can you. It’s not cheap — a session with Christina herself runs $250 — but fans swear by the glow, and this month you only have to book two weeks in advance to get it.

DESIGNER DATE

BARGAINS AT BARNEYS WAREHOUSE SALE

Aug. 19-Sept. 6; 255 W. 17th St.; 212-826-8900
Wait during the rest of the year: From five minutes to an hour and a half
Wait during the dog days: No such thing

The hottest brands and the slinkiest styles — Barneys has them all a lot cheaper than usual. The good stuff goes fast, but wait for the weekend when everyone has left for the Hamptons to make your move.

DESSERT BAR

CHIKALICIOUS DESSERT BAR

203 E. 10th St.; 212-475-0929
Wait during the rest of the year: 40 minutes for a seat on Saturday night at 9:30 p.m.
Wait during the dog days: 15 minutes — if you show up from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

This 20-seat East Village dessert bar is famous for its prix-fixe dessert menu ($14) — offering dishes such as sorbet floating in sparkling wine — as well as for its long lines. But a window opens around dinner. “If you can show up between 7:30 and 9 p.m. — even on a Friday or Saturday night — the wait can be much, much shorter,” says owner Don Tillman.

NOTHING BUT NETS

CENTRAL PARK TENNIS COURTS

93rd Street near West Drive, 212-280-0205
Wait during the rest of the year: At least an hour or two
Wait during the dog days: 30 minutes to an hour

To play tennis in the city parks, you need a permit ($7, for a single-play ticket) and a reservation (nycgovparks.org/facilities/tennis) at many courts. But in August, you can just walk in and get on the waiting list. Our on-court spy says the best time is “at the end of the month, when the US Open is going on.” There are also shorter lines at courts in Riverside Park on the West Side and Prospect Park in Brooklyn, two of the other most popular tennis spots in the city.

WANG FUN

ALEXANDER WANG SAMPLE SALE

Through tomorrow; 93 Mercer St.
Wait During the rest of the year: Hundreds of fashionistas fighting for every hot scrap.
Wait During the dog days: Dozens of fashionistas fighting for every hot scrap.

Wang is arguably the hottest designer in town. He’s beloved by fashion editors, and his fans’ appetite for his cutting-edge clothes — especially his accessories — is insatiable. This weekend, score apparel and handbags for up to 80 percent off and avoid getting bulldozed by competitive shoppers.

BROADWAY-BOUND

“TRUST”

The Second Stage Theater, 305 W. 43rd St.; 212-246-4422; 2st.com
Wait during the rest of the year: Very tough to score tickets after the official opening Thursday
Wait During the dog days: One fast phone call and a $70 seat is yours

This hot new play from Paul Weitz (“American Pie”) features “Scrubs” star Zach Braff and Broadway powerhouse Sutton Foster. It’s generated so much buzz during previews that its run ­— through Sept. 12 — has been extended by a week. Tickets are expected to be nearly impossible to get without breaking the bank — unless you call now, and you’re golden.