The Pond in Bryant Park

At the risk of spoiling a good thing, Lofty has spoken with a few of his pals who were surprised to hear about this, so he decided to spread the word via the information superhighway: In case you haven’t heard, there is a skating rink in Bryant Park! Yes that’s right Bryant Park. It’s called The Pond, and it’s Free.

Now, before you go getting all gushy, Lofty should mention that when he was there last week the chosen name was unfortunately very appropriate as the rink was covered in 2 inches of water. Nonetheless, the diehards skated away.

It’s a great big set up. They had to take special precautions so that the underground book storage of the New York Public Library wasn’t damaged. You can browse through the market or sip hot cocoa in the ice café. The musical stylings of Frank Sinatra and other romantic seasonal favorites fill the air. Each Wednesday afternoon, there is a session sponsored by the Rangers where you can get Rangers swag and even meet a player. For the lonelier of Lofty’s readers, the promoters promise a Singles Skate. For the parents-wanting-their-kids-to-just-have-some-good-clean-fun-darnit crowd there is a (cough) “Fifties Sock Hop” and a “Hip Hop Jam”. Put away the Mary-Jane kids: let’s have some fun.

That said, the rink is way bigger and quieter than its Rockefeller Centre counterpart, it’s surrounded by trees and all told it’s a really cool place to get your skate on. All you pay is $7.50 for skate rental: a bargain compared to the Rock with it's $13 admission plus $7 rental. You can go just to watch too. Some local show-offs are always on hand, reliving their glory days as semi-pro figure skaters. For a fee they’ll teach you too how to skate like Tonya Harding.

To Lofty’s mind, Bryant Park is a loafer’s dream and one of the greatest places in the city year round – the reading room, wifi all through the park, coffee kiosks and chairs to sit in and watch the productive people walk by – who could ask for more.

Lofty’s keen ex-pat eye noticed that the Pond is sponsored by the Government of Canada. Lofty thought it strange that - while Canadians endlessly kvetch about (or is it ‘aboot’?) Americans stereotyping Canada as a cold tundra hinterland full of igloos, dogsleds, and frozen Mounties - the Government still plays to this stereotype by linking us with sub-thermal activities in the interest of good will and tourism. Lofty surmises they are simply following a cardinal rule of marketing– don’t fight preconceptions, work with them. Maybe all Canada wants to do is remind the Yanks that there’s another country on the same continent - Any press is good press, Eh?

The rink is open weekdays 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m., and weekends 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Hustle up before the holidays because it closes Jan. 16 to prep for the invasion of the skinny and fabulous for fashion week. Click here for calendar of events.