Saturday morning at 6.30am (quite the sleep-in, following a week of jet-lag), I awoke to the most glorious view – about 10 inches of Snow piled up on our fire escape. We got up, bundled up and headed out to see just what the blizzard had brought.
We weren’t the first people out (there were already some industrious snow shovelers) but we got out in time to see the snow at its most pristine, before feet and tyres, and children and dogs. We picked up a coffee and cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese on Montague Street and headed down to the Promenade (fast becoming our go to spot to survey the scene after any major weather event). Surrounded by snow - and the quiet that snow brings at this time of the morning - sipping hot coffee, with a brisk wind in our faces, and a view of Manhattan, it really was one of those New York moments.
Then I made a snow angel on virgin snow on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
As the rest of Brooklyn awoke, the air filled with the hum of snow-blowers, the scrape of shovels and the odd squeal from an impromptu snow-ball fight. It was perfect.
Two days later, after lots of traffic, a great deal of melt and a morning of rain, it isn't quite so perfect. It's dirty and slushy, but it is still kind of fun, trudging around in rainboots, standing in ankle deep icy slush and navigating slippery sidewalks. Great day for rainboots! - I am sure the woman I saw wearing ugg boots this morning was regretting that decision.
How to Enjoy a Snow day in New York City
- Get out early and see the snow at its most pristine
- Head to the Park - check out NYC Parks Snow Days - on Saturday they declared a snow day in some city parks, with (friendly) snowball fights, sledding and free hot chocolate. Check the parks website before going to the park - just to make sure they are open.
- Hire some snow shoes and find a good park (Inwood HIll Park at the top end of Manhattan, Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, or Prospect Park in Brooklyn, or even Central Park). No training required - if you can walk, you can snow shoe (generally). You can rent snow shoes at Eastern Mountain Sports on the Upper West Side or SoHo, or REI in Soho and probably many other places.
- Forgetting the first rule of Fight Club - Fancy a good old fashioned snowball fight? Visit the NYC Snowball Fight Club on facebook.
- Dress appropriately - function definitely trumps fashion on a snow day, especially when it comes to footwear.
