Bryant Park throws an event called “Frost Fest” and the POLAR VORTEX hits NYC simultaneously. Coinsidence?
I think yes, probably.
It has been uncomfortably frigid in New York the past few days. I woke up this morning and my weather app said 4. FOUR DEGREES. This is the kind of weather that makes everyone in town (with the exception of Canadian transplants, probably) STAY INSIDE!
These shots of Bryant Park Winter Fest are from last weekend, when it was warm enough to walk around with my wool coat unbuttoned and my scarf jauntily tied.
The bumper cars on ice are one of the new activities to appear in Bryant Park as part of the Frost Fest. They absolutely look like they’d be a blast on a typical NYC winter day. But in 4 DEGREE weather? YIKES. NO. Sounds like some Black-Mirror-New-Ice-Age torture punishment! You must sit on a multi-colored rubber saucer that looks like a Google advertisement and bash into other poor souls as frostbite descends…
Bumper Cars on ice at Bryant Park Frost Fest
My face hurts just thinking about ice skating in single digit temps…I’m sure ice rink activities will return to good ol’ winter fun this weekend when temps are predicted to rise back into typical 30s/40s!
But for this Thursday night and all of Friday while it’s still supposed to be well below freezing? I’m staying inside!
Luckily, Bryant Park Frost Fest has some cozy inside options!
The Lodge is Bryant Park’s new winter food hall and bar. It’s on the north east side of the skating rink and has enough options of food and drink too make everyone happy. It’s a perfect first date spot.
The Lodge bar at Bryant Park
Get a couple of their hot cocktail options, try to cozy up, and if you click, grab a bite from one of the many food vendors. Hit it off and hit the rink after! Were I single this cuffing season, I’d suggest this place for every first day. It is the epitome of chill, and the people next to you are probably tourists so they won’t no how to properly glare at you when you and your date start making out at the bar.
You see it was kinda crowded on a Sunday afternoon, but come on a week night when 99.9% of NYC first dates are and you’ll be golden.
The other option for cozying up inside in Bryant Park is much more ridiculous. And Instagrammable. And $$$$.
Bryant Park Frost Fest Igloos
For just $250 you can sit and make ‘smores in one of these see-through plastic domes! That’s right folks, a whopping $250 dollars gets you and 3 of your best/most FOMO-riddled friends 90 minutes to sit on Urban Outfitters furniture while tourists and bloggers like me peer at you questioningly:
Really? What convinced you to shell out $250 for 1 pitcher of beer, a cheese plate, and feeling like Bubble Boy on that episode of Seinfeld?
The inside scoop on the Bryant Park Frost Fest Igloos
I don’t get the appeal nor did most of the Bryant Park public last Sunday. Only one igloo had people in it. But it sure is a unique experience! Perhaps the only opportunity we’ll ever have to say “I sat in an igloo in New York City!” The thing is…we crave authentic experiences these days…the frost fest probably would have more igloo reservations had the crafted them out of actual ice! This weather sure would sustain such enclosures!
Maybe I’m just bitter that I can’t take the $250 dollars they’re asking for an igloo and take a plane ride (not much longer that 90 minutes) to some tropical beach destination instead…
Nah, I’m actually excited for NYC snow!
Byrant Park Frost Fest continues through February 3rd. Find more details on bryantpark.org If you are brave enough to go out and take part durning the extreme cold, please stay safe and dress warmly!
