Winter Wonderland!

December 2020

When you’re in the midst of New York City at the “most wonderful time of the year,” that means (frosted) window shopping, sipping hot apple cider and cocoa from the farmers’ market, and bundling up to go ice skating in some of the city’s magnificent public rinks. Just around a few corners from the Midtown Manhattan apartments at 555TEN is one of the season’s most beloved destinations—Bryant Park’s Bank of America Winter Village.

Unlike anything else in the city, this aptly self-proclaimed winter wonderland is every holiday lover’s paradise—with shopping, food, and festivities spread out in a European-inspired open-air market. But the piece de resistance of this holiday village is its 17,000-square-foot ice skating rink, the only free-admission rink of its kind in the city. Bring your own skates (or rent a pair) and show off your spins and jumps or clutch your partner as you glide along for the fun. Children under 10 can rent skate mates as they learn the basics safely.

This year, the skating rink has taken on added safety protocols to ensure skating remains safe for visitors and staff. Rental equipment will be sanitized, and high-touch surfaces disinfected throughout the day, with hand sanitizer and washing stations located around the park. Convenient online booking will guarantee skaters can stay safely distanced, and masks will be required for staff and skaters alike.

After a final brisk lap around the rink, a visit to the après-skate Lodge Deck cocktail bar is in order. Visitors can enjoy cocktails or hot beverages to warm up, as well as food items, including toasted marshmallows while taking in the Christmas Tree and skaters whizzing by.

For those who prefer staying off the ice, plenty of attractions still await. Nonskaters can book a 90-minute session of iceless curling at the curling cafe. Or, for a relaxing afternoon, cozy igloos are available for renting. These private, dome-shaped pockets of furnished space are ideal for an intimate gathering of friends of up to eight. Best of all, you can stay warm in the heated space while enjoying food and drink items ordered straight to your igloo, all in the center of one of the most bustling spots in the city.

Everyone can enjoy browsing or doing gift shopping in the holiday shops lining Bryant Park. The panoply of shops, all housed in custom-designed kiosks, include food purveyors; clothing and accessories vendors; home and pet suppliers; art, jewelry, and wellness gifts; and holiday wares for a true one-stop holiday shopping experience. Meanwhile, kiosks selling sweets, crepes, waffles, Chinese street snacks, and Italian dishes can fuel another round of shopping, skating, or ambling through the winter village.

This year, whether it’s for an ice-skating outing or a last-minute gift for the hardest-to-shop-for family member, residents of the Midtown rentals at 555TEN can experience the best of winter right near home at Bryant Park.