Ice skating in the heart of New York City feels special, like something everyone should do once. As you loop around the rink, you see 30 Rockefeller Center where the television show 30 Rock derives its name and the huge gold statue of Prometheus that caused a stir among some groups. You can feel the energy radiating from the NBC Studios and Radio City Music Hall, imagining all the amazing, creative musicians and actors that have been inside those buildings as you glide around the ice.
The Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center
Although the rink is small, the sunken-in design protects skaters from whipping winds. Everyone seems happy, even giddy, and we saw more than a few excellent skaters spinning like professionals while others gripped tightly to the sides as they inched around the rink.
Maybe because in my head the possibility that Nora Ephron or David Letterman or Tina Fey might walk by at any minute, but the experience felt magical. For an hour, all our worries were gone, and the rink felt like a safe, happy place where only good things could happen: children laughing, couples holding hands, the cold air making everyone have rosy cheeks. A calm sense of freedom and possibility envelopes Rockefeller when it’s ice skating season.
Magnolia Bakery
You can’t have ice skating without some hot cocoa, so after our time ice skating, we headed to Magnolia Bakery for the best cup of hot chocolate I have ever had. It was creamy, not too sweet, and the perfect temperature. We also grabbed two of their huge cupcakes while we were there-carrot cake and classic chocolate. These too were creamy, rich, and delicious without somehow being too sugary. To end our excellent New York City day, we walked about twenty minutes through the beautiful Theatre District and quirky Hell’s Kitchen to have a late brunch at Justin Timberlake’s Southern Hospitality BBQ.
Southern Hospitality BBQ
I expected everything to be way overpriced since it’s celebrity owned, not very good, and for lots of flashy celebrity pictures to be hanging on the walls. Yes, completely closed-minded of me, but my low expectations were blown out of the water. The interior design was comfortable and laid-back, with wood floors, walls, and ceilings, large round booths, and simple wood tables and chairs. And the food was amazing. For brunch, you can order all-you-can-drink mimosas or Bellini drinks for what two drinks would normally cost, and anything barbecued tasty smoky and slow-cooked like BBQ should be. The macaroni and cheese was thick and crusty, and the cheesy grits were great (and I don’t like grits!). The portions were large, the atmosphere fun, and the prices reasonable.
Talk about a perfect New York City Sunday.