Must-Dos During NYC's Coldest Season
by Danielle Robles
As a quintessential California girl, the thought of living through an actual East Coast winter completely terrified me. Anything colder than 50 degrees felt totally foreign. But instead of running from the snow, and holing myself indoors until spring, I decided to to grab the season by the balls and embrace one of the greatest, most beautiful miracles that Mother Nature has blessed us with, call it, a winter wonderland. Because believe it or not, the city that never sleeps is so much more magical when it's cold. So if you're feelin the winter blues, check out a few of my favorite things to do:
Xmas Tree + Lights in Rockefeller Center
Call me cheesy, but nothing gets me more in the mood for the holidays than a giant Christmas tree and a copious amount of lights. This area can be a COMPLETE shit show if you go too close to Christmas, as the tourists come out in the masses. It's totally cliché, but definitely worth checking out if you ever get the chance.
Window Displays on 5th Ave
The window displays in designer boutiques are seriously my favorite part of the holiday season. Ones not to miss include Bergdorf Goodman's, Saks, and Macy's. They are well-known for their over-the-top (and sometimes avant garde) displays.
Ice Skating in Central Park
This has been on my list forever, because there is something so damn dreamy about ice skating in Central Park. Most of the major parks in the city have skating rinks during the winter, but this one takes the cake in my opinion.
Get to Nut Crackin
The city has no shortage of ballet companies, and while The Nutcracker is a beloved classic, I prefer to check out the newer, more modern renditions. The Brooklyn Ballet company puts on the most amazing show at the Brooklyn Museum, melding pointe with hip hop and African dance.
Karaoke Bars
There's no better way to banish the winter blues than by singing your heart out with a few of your closest friends. I'd recommend Boho Orchard in East Village or one of the many spots in Koreatown if you want to snag your own room.
Hot Pot
Cold weather means soup season which, to be fair, is already one of my favorites any time of the year. Hot Pot is a type of stew stemming from Asia, that consists of a simmering metal pot of herbal stock at the center of the table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, raw meat and fresh veggies are placed into the pot to be cooked fresh. I could seriously eat this every day.
Pub Hop
NYC is scattered with some of the best Irish pubs, making it that much more convenient to grab the perfect winter concoction. Pick any one of hundreds of Irish bars, pull up a chair, and get to poundng Irish coffees.
Snowed-In Parties at Home
And for those few afternoons when the weather has made it difficult to adventure outside, a snowed-in party is the perfect way to spend your day. Baking cookies, making cocktails, and binge-watching everything on your Netflix queue. Could there possibly be anything better?