Winter has arrived to New York City, meaning the streets are getting colder and the days are becoming shorter. While it can be fun to spend the holidays curled up and binge-watching Netflix, it can also be exhilarating to round up a group of friends, or simply to take yourself out to enjoy one of the many fun activities this city and school has to offer.
With the help of fellow New Schoolers, The New School Free Press rounded up a list of nine winter-themed activities, ideas and events just in time for the holiday season.
On-Campus Activities:
Cookie Decorating Party Event
As a way to relax during this stressful finals week, events like the “Cookie Decorating Party,” held in Kerrey Hall on Dec. 13, provide students an outlet for their anxieties and a study break. The event will take place in Kerrey Hall’s L2 Lounge from 7 to 8 p.m.
Holiday Tree Decorations
Kerrey Hall is decorating a holiday tree representative of the festive season in the dormitory’s L2 lounge. RA Breck Lanning encourages students to decorate the tree with their own ornaments. Decorating starts on Dec. 9 and ends on the 31.
Amelia Kearney, a second-year comparative literature and media student said, “I think tree decorating is really cute. At my place of work we decorated a tree together in the store and it’s nice to see people smile from time to time.”
Holiday Mingle and Jingle Party
As a way to celebrate classes and finals ending, a holiday party is going to be hosted in the Kerrey Hall L2 lounge on Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. Freshen up on those holiday tunes and get ready to sing!
Bella Durante, a third-year photography major looks forward to the party and celebrating the end of final exams. “Finals are stressful. I really want to spend time with friends in my dorm [building] as much as I can to relieve the stress,” Durante said.
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas Reading
On Christmas Eve, Kerrey Hall is hosting a reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” in its L2 Lounge that is open to all New School students. Eggnog and light snacks will be provided.
“It sounds like a really nice thing to do for students away from home,” said Ananya Shrivastava, a second-year Journalism and Design major.
Off-Campus Activities:
Ice skating in Prospect Park
Ice skating season is now upon us and the rinks are open at Prospect Park in Flatbush, BK. Adult admission is $7.50 on weekdays and $11 on weekends, with weekend pricing beginning on Fridays at 4:00 p.m. The rink is located at LeFrak Center at Lakeside, which is at the corner of Lincoln Rd and Ocean Ave in Prospect Park. If you don’t own your own skates, they have rentals for $8.
“Last year, a few friends of mine and I went skating in Prospect Park. It’s a lot cheaper than the touristy spots in Manhattan and really beautiful over there,” said Franklin Ayzenberg, a third-year visual studies student at Lang.
Rush tickets to The Metropolitan Opera
Looking to get out of the cold for the afternoon? Snag rush tickets to The Metropolitan Opera and head over to Lincoln Center. Subject to availability, $25 Metropolitan Opera Rush Tickets are offered on the day of the performance. These tickets are only available online and are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Specific seat locations are chosen by the Met and are non-negotiable.
“I sat in the orchestra for 25 bucks and literally Jake Gyllenhaal was sitting in the same section as me,” said Katrina Zoya Caley, a third-year Parsons photography student. “The tickets are so cheap and it’s a great way to get out of the cold for a few hours.”
Window Shopping Through Holiday Displays
Partake in a classic tradition by strolling along Fifth Ave and beyond, and admiring the window displays of Manhattan’s biggest department stores. From Bloomingdale’s, Barneys, and Bergdorf Goodman to Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Macy’s, extravagant, holiday-themed window displays are installed around Thanksgiving and stay up through the start of the new year. Fill up a thermos with hot chocolate and take in the art of visual merchandising!
“My favorite winter activity in the city is probably going up and down Fifth Avenue and looking at all the shop windows and seeing them decorated for the holidays,” said Katherine Schmid, a fourth-year Journalism + Design major. “It’s a classic tradition for me and my mom when she visits.”
Thrifting
With the plethora of thrift, vintage and consignment stores New York City has to offer, it seems like a no brainer to spend some time this winter compiling a new wardrobe sustainably. Consider taking your holiday shopping trip to your local thrift store, and give old items a new life this winter. Bring friends and see who can put together the best outfit with the selection the store offers. Some favorites of New Schoolers are Beacon’s Closet, with a location right next to the Parsons building on 13th St., L Train Vintage’s East Village and Brooklyn locations, Search and Destroy, and Tokio7.
“My friends and I go thrifting together every few weeks to see what we can find, and it’s gotten to the point that I think almost everything in my closet is from Savers or Beacon’s,” said Izzy Aronson, a second-year screen studies student at Lang. “You know I’m only thrifting my Christmukkah gifts this year.”
Museum Hopping
Head uptown and enjoy the day indoors by traipsing through the many museums the city has to offer. Notably, the Museum of Modern Art has expanded their galleries and created a new MoMA experience. New School students get in for free with their New Card. New Schoolers also have discounted access to the city’s other art museums such as the Frick, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (which is still pay what you wish, with a valid New School ID), and the Guggenheim.
“This is my first winter in New York because I just transferred here from school in Australia, but I’m looking forward to using some free time over break to go explore the museums I haven’t had the chance to see yet,” said Julia Rose Margaret Clark, a third-year photography student at Parsons.