The Ultimate Holiday Date in NYC
Lace up your ice skates and leave those crowded Christmas bars behind.
Planning outings in New York City is no walk in the park. Even when it’s just a walk in the park. Whether you’re trying to impress a date with that coveted dinner reservation or just get your friends to try a different bar for once, there are always roadblocks. Long lines, missed trains, mediocre food.
So why not take the planning out of it? Join me for the first weekly installment of Guide NYC — tried and true itineraries for your next day (or night) on the town. I’m kicking things off with a classic: the holiday date.
It’s that time of year again. The Christmas decorations are up, the tourists are afoot, and you’re really hoping to avoid Midtown at all costs. So, your first stop is going to be…
Ice Skating at Brookfield Place
It was sixty five and sunny last weekend— not ideal ice skating weather — and yet we persevere. My boyfriend and I woke up late for our 12:45 PM rink reservation and scrambled onto the E train heading downtown.
To start off this holiday season, we landed on The Rink at Brookfield Place. An hour long weekend session and skate rentals set us back about $55 in total. This is pretty comparable to the other public skating locations in the city. I should qualify this by saying that while I’m no pro at iceskating, I’ve gripped the wall at my fair share of rinks around the city.
We had a lovely time. The rink itself is relatively small, but it wasn’t overly crowded and catered to most skill levels. There was no wait to check in/rent skates and no incessant reminders of your remaining time on the ice. The real show stopper, though, was the view of the Hudson River. The scenic backdrop and festive music made for a really great start to the holiday season.
Lunch at Eataly
For lunch, we tried our luck at the nearby Eataly Downtown. It was a quick walk through Brookfield Place and a ten minute wait for a table at La Pizza & La Pasta, one of their several dining options. There are certainly more authentic Italian spots in the city, but I’m always pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of Eataly’s restaurants and retail items.
I ordered Margherita “A Ruota di Carro”. Directly translated to “a cart wheel” in regards to its extra wide size, the Neapolitan style pizza is a classic. Fresh basil, tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and EVOO on an wood fired thin crust paired nicely with the recommended wine — a lightly sparkling Ferrari Trento Brut.
My boyfriend ordered Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe — with the least pretentious pronunciation he could muster — and sampled a glass of the Barbera d’Alba red.
Though we stuck to the basics, La Pizza & La Pasta offers more than its name suggests. Start off your meal with a new take on a traditional antipasti — bruschetta with ricotta and truffled honey. Or sample desserts like tiramisu and gelato right at your table. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
After paying our bill, which came out to around $100, we perused the rest of Eataly in search of fresh olive oil. This hunt for authentic EVOO began a few weeks prior after going down the rabbit hole of olive oil fraud. Essentially, it’s reported that 70% to 80% of the product is mislabeled, tainted or just plain old fake. We scoured the shelves for seals of approval, dark bottles and recent production dates, a few notes of a genuine brand.
Holiday Sightseeing in the Financial District
In my opinion, FiDi is one of the best neighborhoods in New York for Christmas shopping and sightseeing. It rivals Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park but with cobblestone streets and fewer crowds.
We first strolled through the Oculus to check out their holiday market and indoor roller rink. Then we headed to the NYSE Christmas Tree. Wall Street celebrated their 100th annual tree lighting this year in an homage to the rich history of the neighborhood.
Another quick walk will take you to the Seaport District, home to a multitude of restaurants, stores and seasonal popups. It’s always especially decked out for the holidays. The Tin Building, a decadent food hall opened in the fall of last year, is the newest permanent addition to the area.
We didn’t make it all the way to the water — our wine had worn off at this point. But for those of you looking for a nightcap, the nearby Stone Street is the place to go. The first paved street in the city, circa 1658, is now home to classic pubs, American fare and some great happy hour deals to close out the evening.
Check back next week for the next installment of Guide NYC. A limited time pop-up that combines cultural enrichment and Instagram worthy photo ops — we’re heading to the Balloon Museum.
