Winter in New York can be tough; the winter weather could prove to be more of a shock to your system than culture shock, especially if you come from a country with a warmer climate. However, there is no shortage of things to do in the chilly Big Apple. Here are some activities that may help to ward off the winter blues.
Museums
The Metropolitan Museum of Art always has interesting exhibitions to explore, and with a suggested entry fee, a visit to the Met won’t cost too much. Current exhibitions include “Matisse: In Search of True Painting” and “African Art, New York, and the Avant-Garde”. The latter is a free student activity in February so check out the calendar at the front desk for details. If art is not your thing, there are plenty of other museums to explore on a cold winter’s day. For example, the Transit Museum located at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights. Here you have the opportunity to learn about the history of the NYC subway system, and walk through original subway cars from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
Movies
Spending a chilly day at the movies (with an obligatory bag of freshly-made popcorn) is always highly recommended. Not only do movies provide entertainment, they also allow you to practice listening skills and are rich in authentic vocabulary. There are two outings to the movies scheduled for February so sign up at the front desk if you are interested. If the cost of a movie ticket is not in your budget, why not join other students for a free film class? EC offers a film discussion class in the third week of each month, giving you the chance to talk about the film with other students – perfect for those who would like to improve their speaking!
Hot Chocolate Festival
What’s better than a cup of hot chocolate on an icy winter’s day? If you love chocolate, perhaps a visit to the 21st annual Hot Chocolate Festival at the City Bakery is what the doctor ordered. According to partyearth.com (http://www.partyearth.com/new-york/festivals/) the Hot Chocolate Festival “features specialty hot chocolates infused with unique, eclectic flavors…past flavors featured at the Hot Chocolate Festival include Banana Peel Hot Chocolate, Spicy Fig Hot Chocolate, and Espresso Hot Chocolate.”
Concerts
Music lovers can warm up at one of several upcoming concerts (although getting tickets for some might be a challenge). Some of the big stars performing in the city in the next couple of months include Fun. (February 2 at Radio City Music Hall), Maroon 5 (February 16 at Madison Square Garden), Lady Gaga (February 22 at Madison Square Garden), and Pink (March 22 at Madison Square Garden).
Did you know?
Did you know that the lowest recorded temperature in New York City is -15ºF (approximately -26ºC) on February 9, 1934 while the average snowfall for the city is 22.4 inches (approximately 57 cm) per year. Here’s hoping there are no record-breakers this year!