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A critical piece to NYC’s ice skating rink puzzle, the iconic Wollman Rink has been welcoming New Yorkers and tourists alike to to glide around inside of what feels like a gorgeous snow globe in the heart of Central Park since 1950. And this January, the rink will kick off a year-long celebration of 75 years!

To take you back in time a bit, a press release writes how ice skating has always been part of Central Park’s DNA, and that Olmsted and Vaux’s original plan labeled The Lake as a “skating pond” even before Central Park’s completion in the 1870s. So when the rink did open, it wasn’t a surprise how quickly it became a popular wintertime activity.

Bret Pidgeon, General Manager of Wollman Rink, stated:

When Wollman Rink opened in 1950, it was a pivotal moment for outdoor recreation in New York City. The opening of Wollman Rink provided skaters with a safe and accessible space to create lasting memories on the ice, which is a legacy that has been present over the last 75 years and one we hope to continue for years to come.

Throughout its lifetime the rink has been the site of many incredible events, from transforming into a pickleball paradise and a funky roller disco to hosting NYC’s inaugural We Belong Here festival. But the fun isn’t stopping there.

Beginning this weekend, Wollman Rink will kick off a lineup of themed events and programming that will take place throughout the year. First up: a nostalgia-laced party on Saturday, January 25th that invites visitors to step back in time with rollback pricing on skating admission, an interactive photographic journey through Wollman Rink’s storied history, and festive treats.

Partygoers will only have to pay $19.50 to skate ($10 for children and seniors) compared to the typical $27 admission price. And to keep you energized for a full day of fun, a retro-inspired candy bar will take skaters on a sweet journey through the last seven decades, and the Café located in The Clubhouse will also be serving complimentary hot chocolate, an ice skating staple!

The Skating Club of New York and Ice Theatre of New York will also perform a special routine at both 12 pm and 2 pm, mirroring the performance put on by figure skaters from the Junior Skating Club of New York 75 years ago on Wollman Rink’s opening day in 1950.

Beyond this weekend, future events will be announced on Wollman Rink’s website. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate 75 years of the iconic Wollman Rink!

The post Musical Performances, Discounted Admission, & More Will Celebrate 75 Years Of Wollman Rink appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Plan your first trip of the new year with Amtrak’s exciting Northeast Winter Sale! If you book a trip before January 24th for any dates between February 1st – March 31st, 2025, along the Northeast, you could save big with Amtrak.

The Northeast Winter Sale is the perfect way to take advantage of downtown-to-downtown service without needing a car. It’s connecting cities like New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Philly, Baltimore and Richmond.

Passengers must book on the Northeast Regional Coach or Acela Business Class, North America’s only high-speed train! And though it’s not as fast as the proposed 311 mph Northeast Maglev, the Acela trains travel at a racing speed 150 mph.

Acela Business Class not only gets you to your destination in record time, but provides great legroom and reserved seats.

Fares for the Northeast Winter Sale are as low as the following (NE Regional/ Acela):

• New York to Philadelphia – $29 / $69
• New York to Baltimore – $37 / $97
• New York to Boston – $40 / $86
• New York to Washington D.C. – $40 / $102
• New York to Richmond – $55

Book your trip today on the Amtrak website!

The post Amtrak Rolls Out $40 Rides From NYC To Boston appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

If you’re looking for some fabulous new places to explore, USA Today has got you covered with their endless 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards! From the best apple farms in the country to the best new restaurants in the U.S., travel experts over at USA Today select the top 20 nominees in contests covering food, lodging, destinations, travel gear, things to do–the list goes on–and then their readers help them pick the 10 best. Next up on the docket: the best art museums in the country.

The United States is home to some of the world’s most impressive art museums showcasing famous and comprehensive collections. 20 museums have been nominated by an expert panel as the best in the country, and now it’s up to us to make the final decision by casting our vote. Even more: an NYC museum made the cut, so we have to show it some love!

NYC’s Brooklyn Museum landed a nomination as one of the best art museums in the U.S.! USA Today writes:

The massive Brooklyn Museum has been a New York City mainstay for over 200 years — the huge, marble, Beaux Arts building at the edge of Prospect Park takes up an entire city block. The museum houses rotating contemporary exhibitions, a renowned collection of Egyptian, Islamic, Asian, and Assyrian art, an Education Center, and an Art Gallery.

Throughout its 200 years of existence (it celebrated its 200th birthday in 2024) the museum has housed a number of fabulous exhibits, including Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech”, and Spike Lee: Creative Sources. It even hosted Dior’s FW24 Show.

Plus, a state-of-the-art education center opened last year, where various classes and programming regarding arts education and community engagement are held.

If you’d like to show the Brooklyn Museum some love to ensure it wins the title of the best art museum in the U.S., you can vote for it once per day until the polls close on Monday, February 17th at 12 pm. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 26th.

And if you’re looking to visit the museum yourself, you’ll be happy to know it offers free admission the first Saturday of every month! Oh, and if you didn’t know, your New York Public Library card can get you into 80+ local museums for free!

The post This Beloved NYC Institution Was Nominated As The Best Art Museum In The U.S. By USA Today appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here