Making a New York Winter Fun, Outside or Inside

Summary

All Of It: Episode Summary — "Making a New York Winter Fun, Outside or Inside"

Host: Kate Hines (Guest Host for Alison Stewart)
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
Location: WNYC Studios, Soho

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Introduction: Embracing the Winter Season

The episode kicks off with Kate Hines introducing the theme: transforming the typically cold and gloomy winter months into a season of fun and engagement in New York City. With the winter solstice marking the official start of winter and temperatures expected to dip into the teens, Kate emphasizes the importance of finding enjoyable activities to shake off the winter blues.

Key Points:

• Winter Solstice: Sets the stage for winter activities with the sun setting at 4:30 PM and dropping temperatures.
• Community Engagement: Encourages listeners to share their ideas on enjoying winter, fostering a sense of community.

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Featured Activities: Indoor, Outdoor, and Free

The core of the episode revolves around suggestions for winter activities categorized into indoor, outdoor, and free options. Kate and her producer, Simon Close, along with contributions from other WNYC colleagues, provide a diverse range of ideas to cater to different preferences.

1. Indoor Activities

Public Song Project Event
Speaker: Simon Close [02:16]
Simon promotes the upcoming Public Song Project concert at Joe's Pub on January 8th. This event showcases artists who reinterpret public domain music, featuring performances from winners and special guests like Joanna Sternberg and DJ Reika.

Notable Quote:

"The Public Song Project... we're doing another concert, which I'm really excited for at Joe's Pub. It's on January 8th, which is a Wednesday." [02:10]

Spa and Massage Recommendations
Contributor: Luke Green [10:24]
Luke suggests pampering oneself with a spa visit or massage to combat winter stress and promote self-care.

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2. Outdoor Activities

Ice Skating in Prospect Park
Contributor: Zach Goderer Cohen [08:22]
Zach recommends ice skating at Prospect Park’s Lafrac Center, which offers both covered and outdoor rinks, catering to different preferences regarding weather and crowd levels.

Winter Jazz Fest
Speaker: Simon Close [12:25]
Simon highlights the NYC Winter Jazz Fest, a multi-venue festival featuring 150 groups across 20 stages from January 9th to 15th. The event encourages exploring neighborhoods through the experience of walking between various indoor concert venues.

Polar Bear Plunge at Coney Island
Contributor: Luke Green [10:24]
Luke describes the exhilarating experience of the Polar Bear Plunge—a quick dip into the freezing Atlantic Ocean, followed by enjoying Coney Island’s attractions and renowned pizza.

Community Snowball Fights
Contributor: Simon Close [14:45]
Simon shares information about the Community Snowball Fight event on January 4th in Prospect Park, organized by Tea, Arts, and Culture and the Prospect Park Alliance. The event includes sound performances and encourages communal fun.

Notable Quote:

“Winter is hot duck season. So most weekends next month I will be out and about spotting those northern shovelers, green winged teals and buffleheads in various bodies of water in Central Park.” [00:16]

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3. Free Activities

Winter Tea in Prospect Park
Contributor: Simon Close [15:36]
An event featuring tea, sound performances, poetry, and art installations, promoting mindfulness and relaxation in a communal setting.

Walk the Promenade at Riverside Park
Listener Suggestion: Text [26:13]
A serene nighttime stroll along Riverside Park’s promenade from 96th Street to Riverside Church, ideal for peaceful reflection and enjoying the city’s quieter side.

Visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Post-Blizzard
Listener Judy [17:51]
Judy recommends visiting the Met the morning after a blizzard, offering a unique, nearly solitary museum experience.

Notable Quote:

“Winter is hot duck season. So most weekends next month I will be out and about spotting those northern shovelers, green winged teals and buffleheads in various bodies of water in Central Park.” [00:16]

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Special Events and Highlights

Listening Party for Crung Bin’s Grammy Nomination
The episode mentions that the band Crung Bin has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, with a listening party planned for their latest album, "A la Sala."

Works by Notable Contributors:

• Comedian Josh Gondelman: Provides positivity through pep talks.
• Author Sascha Sagan: Discusses the history of winter solstice traditions.
• Composer David Lange: Previews his new series of hymns to be performed at Lincoln Center.

Notable Quote:

“Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong...” — Cristina De Rossi [Podcast Description]

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Listener Interaction: Calls and Texts

Throughout the episode, Kate engages with listener submissions via calls and texts, incorporating their suggestions into the discussion. Highlights include:

• Bill from North Brunswick: Recommends curling at local clubs and ice skating at North Brunswick Veterans Park.

  "Bill in North Brunswick, who says the best way to handle the winter season, go curling at the Brooklyn Curling Club..." [09:39]

• Judy from Brooklyn: Suggests visiting cultural exhibits and experiencing quiet moments at museums.

  "Some theater graduates... performing a trolleybound Christmas with flesh and blood actors..." [24:54]

• Sophia Edmondson: Highlights free winter activities in New Jersey, including the Dickens Village and Turtleback Zoo’s holiday light show.

  “...there’s ice go karts. Admission is free, but of course a bit extra for the activities.” [27:58]

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Insider Tips and Additional Suggestions

Luna Art Amusement Park at The Shed
Contributor: Malik Anderson [16:46]
Luna is highlighted as the world’s first art amusement park, featuring interactive art installations by renowned artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, running through February 23rd.

Holiday Markets and Museums
Additional recommendations include winter exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Bryant Park’s Winter Wonderland, and unique experiences at Temple Emanuel’s museum.

Notable Quote:

“Winter is hot duck season. So most weekends next month I will be out and about spotting those northern shovelers, green winged teals and buffleheads in various bodies of water in Central Park.” [00:16]

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Conclusion: Building a Winter Community

The episode concludes with Kate thanking listeners for their contributions and encouraging ongoing participation through calls, texts, and social media. The collaborative effort aims to create a vibrant winter community in New York City, leveraging the city's diverse offerings to make the cold months enjoyable for everyone.

Final Thoughts:

• Community Engagement: Emphasizes the importance of sharing and participating in winter activities.
• Upcoming Events: Encourages listeners to attend forthcoming concerts and festivals.
• Positive Outlook: Maintains an optimistic perspective on embracing winter through culture and community.

Notable Quote:

“Bundle up, wear those PJs inside out and I will see you at the snowball fight.” [08:22]

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Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Varied Activities: From ice skating and jazz festivals to art amusement parks and quiet museum visits.
• Engage with the Community: Participate in events, share ideas, and contribute to making winter enjoyable.
• Leverage Free Resources: Utilize parks, public libraries, and free exhibits to explore the city without breaking the bank.

For more detailed information on the events and activities mentioned, listeners are encouraged to visit WNYC’s website or follow the “All Of It” Instagram page.

Transcript

[Listener Support]

Listener support WNYC Studios.

[Kate Hines]

This is all of it. I'm Kate Hines in for Alison Stewart live from the WNYC Studios in soho. Thanks for joining us on today's show. The band Crung Bin has been nominated for a Grammy Award for best new Artist. We'll have a listening party for their latest album, A la Sala. Comedian and writer Josh Gondelman is here to provide a little positivity on the airwaves by giving us all pep talks. Plus, we'll learn about the history of winter solstice traditions with author Sascha Sagan. And composer David Lange is here to preview his new series of hymns that will be performed at Lincoln center tomorrow. That's the plan. So let's get this started with what to do this winter. The solstice is here tomorrow afternoon. The sun will set at 4:30pm and we will officially be in winter. And it's like the weather knows because the temperatures will be dropping into the teens this weekend. But rather than be all doom and gloom about the cold months ahead, we want your ideas about how to shake off the January and February blues and actually enjoy a New York winter. Here's one thing I do. I'm a birder and winter is hot duck season. So most weekends next month I will be out and about spotting those northern shovelers, green winged teals and buffleheads in various bodies of water in Central Park. And we've got a lot of other ideas, too. We've asked our WNYC colleagues to share their suggestions of one indoor, one outdoor and one free activity that's great for winter in our area. And we'll start with all of it. Producer Simon Close, who is with me here now in studio. Hey, Simon.

[Simon Close]

Hello, Kate.

[Kate Hines]

How you doing?

[Simon Close]

Good. How are you?

[Kate Hines]

I'm doing great. Let's start with your indoor suggestion. And it's a public song project event that you're working on that is open to the public in January. Give us all the details.

[Simon Close]

I was hoping to say I had no stake in this at all, but in fact, this is purely self promotional.

[Kate Hines]

We love that.

[Simon Close]

Yeah. The Public Song Project, the project that we launched on this show a couple years ago that we've gotten lots of different artists involved where we have people take music from the public domain and create new recordings out of it. We're doing another concert, which I'm really excited for at Joe's pub. It's on January 8th, which is a Wednesday. So you have no excuse not to come, listeners, because what else are you doing on Wednesday, January 8th and yeah, it's gonna be really fun. We will have some of the winners from this year performing their songs that were chosen by our judges as the. As the. Some of the best submissions that we got. And then also some special guests will be performing. Also Joanna Sternberg, who's a local singer songwriter, and DJ Reika, who is also local and has been on rare a few times. And they were also a judge for the project as well. So they both contributed to the project this year and will be doing something special on stage for us.

[Kate Hines]

What did DJ Rekha adapt from the public domain?

[Simon Close]

DJ Reika's submission was really cool, and it's in the vinyl that we put together, which we can talk about in a second, I think. But the song that DJ Rekha did is called Earth Talking and it takes two audio samples. So a lot of the submissions we got are more like song covers or people taking poetry like text and making a new song out of it. But Reika, because they're a DJ with another artist named Offering Rain, took two audio samples, which I have some information about here. One of them is a poem by the poet Juan de Dios Pesa called Mexico y Espana, and the other one is a recording by. I'll probably get this name wrong, but Gauhar John, who is one of India's first recording artists. And the two of them took these two audio samples and made a new piece of music out of it. And do you mind if I read what Rekha told us about the song when they sent it in? So Rekha said the original music for this was created for these two audio samples to invoke the origins of both recordings. Offering Reign is of Ecuadorian and Indian descent. And Reika says that they live. They live in a Latinx and South Asian neighborhood and they wanted to find content that reflected that and veered outside contemporary music of the early 20th century. And as DJs and producers, they couldn't resist giving it a groove. And I think we have the clip of the song.

[Kate Hines]

Yeah, you want to. That's what we're going to hear. Yeah, let's play it. So that is a sample of something people will hear at Joe's Pub on January 8th.

[Simon Close]

Yep. Yeah. So Rekha again and Joanna Cernberg, who also submitted to the project, they'll be performing their songs along with some other stuff that will be specific for this live concert.

[Kate Hines]

You mentioned an album which I've seen. It's at your desk. It's gorgeous. If listeners haven't seen it, go to the all of it. Instagram. It's a red piece of vinyl, which is kind of wild.

[Simon Close]

Transparent red.

[Kate Hines]

Transparent red. How can people get a copy?

[Simon Close]

If you donate to wnyc, you can get it as a premium. So if you go to wnyc.org donate you can get it there. And you can also call the number that Kate made sure I had right before we started tattooed in my brain, which is 888-376-9692. And so if you go there, call that number, you can ask for the Public Song Project vinyl as a premium. And that features music from DJ Rekha, Joanna Sternberg, also Roseanne Cash and John Leventhal, the Lemon Twigs, Bela Fleck, Rhiannon Giddens, a lot of other great artists who were kind enough to contribute to this project and pull from the public domain and yeah. Oh. Before we move on about the concert, I also just want to add that we'll be launching the 2025 edition of the Public Song Project where listeners can submit songs and then we'll pick some favorites. But the goal also is just to create sort of an archive or, you know, a big, like database of all of these songs. So this concert will be kind of a launch party for this vinyl album and we hope to put the stuff on digital platforms, too. But it'll be a launch for the 2025 edition of the project as well.

[Kate Hines]

That is very awesome. And we're gonna do a little something on the show right at the turn when we enter 2025 to some more details. To come one more time, just shout out the date of the Joe's Pub concert and how people can get tickets.

[Simon Close]

Sure. So that's January 8th. It's a Wednesday. It's at 7pm and it's at Joe's Pub. And to get tickets, all you have to do is go to wnyc.org Beautiful.

[Kate Hines]

Thank you, Simon.

[Simon Close]

Thank you.

[Kate Hines]

And listeners, we want to hear from you. Give us your ideas of how to enjoy the city and our surrounding area during the winter so we don't just suffer through the cold. The Public Song Project concert is great, but it's just one night. We're looking for more details. How can we have fun in the winter? How are you having fun in the winter? Call or text us now. 212-433-9692. That's 212433, WNYC. Do you do something outdoors or do you favorite place you like to hang out indoors? Something that is free and accessible to everyone. We want to hear it all. 212-433-9692. You can also text us at that number or write to us on social media. Llove nyc. Now we went into this prepared. We asked some of our WNYC colleagues to share their ideas for things to do in the winter and they recorded some voice memos for us. So let's start with some members of Team all of It. Here's our producer, Zach Goderer Cohen.

[Zach Goderer Cohen]

So I'm really excited to get back into my ice skating groove in Prospect park at the lafrac Center. They have two rinks. One is covered and one is fully outdoor. And so you get to sort of choose based on whether the weather is nice or whether one is more crowded than the other, which rink you want to be in. The vibes are great and it's just, it's a really good time. There's a lot of excellent skaters that are fun to watch, sort of do fancy footwork and then there's, you know, it's more family friendly, people learning, of all ages and it's a good time. Highly recommend that. And then for free activities, I'm really looking forward to when it snows, if it snows. Fingers crossed. I was watching Elf the other day and they had that snowball fight scene and it made me really want to have a snowball fight. I haven't had a snowball fight in a very long time and I know that they do these community things in Central Park, Prospect park, just around the city. So I'm going to be looking out for community snowball fights when that happens. I also think it's just really lovely to after it snows or during it, during a big deluge of snow to just walk around. It's a lot quieter, like the snow absorbs all the sound. And it's a unique way to experience the city that I really just enjoy. So bundle up, wear those PJs inside out and I will see you at the snowball fight.

[Kate Hines]

Yeah. So listeners, if you're walking through a park and you get hit by a snowball, it might be all of it. Producer Zach Goddard or Cohen.

[Simon Close]

Community snowball fights is maybe one of the most deeply Zach Goddard or Cohen phrases that I've heard.

[Kate Hines]

We got a text from a listener, Bill, in North Brunswick, who says the best way to handle the winter season, go curling at the Brooklyn Curling Club or the Plainfield Curling Club in South Plainfield, New Jersey and do some ice skating. I plan to do some at the North Brunswick Veterans Park. It's open every Friday through Sunday at different times. Which are available on the website. Thanks Bill. Curling is something that I pay attention to every four years during the oly, so it's nice to hear it in an off year.

[Simon Close]

Have you ever curled yourself?

[Kate Hines]

I have never curled.

[Simon Close]

I have not curled. I've shuffleboarded which is maybe similar like the land version of it.

[Kate Hines]

I'm intrigued by it. I like watching it when it's on the Olympics. Same producer Luke Green, who prepared this segment, also has some pics and I'm just going to shout out a few of them. For his indoor idea, Luke is recommending going to a spa or getting a massage in the wintertime. He says we all need some self care when it's cold or dark, and Luke believes that one way to do that is taking care of our bodies. Sure, some spas or massages can be expensive, but there are also places with good deals all around the city. For his outdoor pick and this is Luke is recommending a trip to Coney island for the Polar Bear Plunge. His parents live by the ocean and they swear by taking a quick dip in the winter to shock your system and make you feel good. Luke thinks they're kind of crazy, but it seems to work for them. Will it hurt and give you a numbing pain and make you feel like you're having a heart attack? Sure, but it's for 30 seconds and then it's over. And then you get to go enjoy Coney island and maybe get Totono's Pizza. Have you ever Polar bear plunged?

[Simon Close]

I went to college in Maine and I still have. Never polar bear plunged, but I hear it's good and we're getting thumbs up about it from the control room. I do think it's kind of funny that Luke's two picks are one like the most relaxing body experience and then.

[Kate Hines]

The most horrifying one. And then for his final free pick, he recommends going to Bryant park on a Saturday afternoon either solo or with family or friends and enjoy the main branch of the New York Public Library. Bring a nice book or a crossword puzzle, people watch and enjoy the grandeur of the space. And he finishes off by saying, who knows, maybe you'll also spot Robert Caro finishing his next LBJ volume. Listeners, we want to get you in on the conversation. What are you doing this winter? What are you looking forward to? Call or text us now at 212-433-9692. That's 212-433-WNYC. You can also hit us up on social media at at all of it NYC if you're thinking of picking up a new hobby, I myself am knitting. Curious. So, you know, we'll see if that happens. Okay. So, Simon, we heard about your indoor pick. What is your outdoor pick for something to do in New York?

[Simon Close]

My outdoor, I've sort of blended the free and outdoor. So I'm going to start with my, my more outdoor pick, which is kind of not even outdoor, but walk with me on this. So my pick is the New York City NYC Winter Jazz Fest, which returns for its 21st year this winter. It runs January 9th through January 15th. So the day after the Public Song Project, in case you forgot that we're doing the Public Song project event on January 8th.

[Kate Hines]

Where is that event again, Simon?

[Simon Close]

It's at Joe's Pub on January 8th. But yeah, NYC Winter Jazz Fest is great. I've been the last couple years and it's a bunch of venues all host concerts around the same time on the same weekend or within this span of days. And it's 20 different stages between downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. There are 150 groups performing. So technically the concerts themselves are indoors. But what I really like about this event series is that you have to like walk between the venues. So there is a big outdoor component. And I think especially if it's like a cold winter night, you get a better, you might get a more enjoyable experience of the walking between venues if you think of it as an outdoor experience rather than between the indoor experiences. And you get to explore those neighborhoods in maybe a different way than you would otherwise.

[Kate Hines]

That's neat. I look forward to hearing your review of it.

[Simon Close]

I look forward to telling you more.

[Kate Hines]

And before we get to your final pick, I want to take a call. We've got listener Judy in Brooklyn. Hi, Judy, you're on the air.

[Judy]

Hi. Hi. There are three good exhibits now. The main branch of the library on 42nd street has Bohemian Greenwich Village. The Performing Arts Library at Lincoln center has a great exhibit on the Joffrey Ballet with movies and audio. And Temple Emanuel has a museum and they have an exhibit on Theodore Herzl.

[Kate Hines]

Those are all three great suggestions. Thanks, Judy. We love it. Listeners, you can get in on this conversation. 212-433-9692. That's 212-433-WNYC. Simon, what's your free event?

[Simon Close]

My free event? A friend of mine just told me about last night, actually. And it is winter tea in Prospect Park. So after you go skating, like Zach's suggestion, or after a snowball fight, after.

[Kate Hines]

You get hit in after snowball after.

[Simon Close]

Community Snowball fight on January 4, the organization called Tea, Arts and Culture and the Prospect park alliance are joining to put on from 2 to 4pm on January 4th a sort of like winter tea drinking and meditative kind of experience. So there will be tea, there will be sound performances, there will be poetry. I think there's also maybe some art installation involved, but generally just kind of a two hours of mindfulness and drinking tea.

[Kate Hines]

What are the sound performances I have?

[Simon Close]

I don't know much about them, but I can read what I saw online.

[Kate Hines]

I was wondering if it was like a sound bath or are we hearing music?

[Simon Close]

There is music. It's described as a long form music performance, but I think there's also kind of a sound bath, like ambient, meditative, soundscape stuff.

[Kate Hines]

Okay, this is all of it on wnyc. I'm Kate Hines in for Alison Stewart, and I'm here with my producer Simon Close, a fellow member of the team. All of it. We are talking about things to do this winter. I'm gonna shout out something that our colleague Malik has. Malik Anderson is producer here on the show and he has some recommendations for us. Luna. Luna. This is something that we talked about on the show. It is the world's first art amusement park and we covered it, I think maybe last month. It opened at the Shed in New York City and It's on through February 23rd. It was just extended and it features things like a Ferris wheel from Jean Michel Basquiat, a carousel by Keith Haring, a wedding chapel by Andre Heller, immersive pavilions, and all kinds of pieces of art. I myself haven't seen it. Have you seen it, Simon?

[Simon Close]

I haven't seen it, but I feel like I have given how much Malik has talked about it. So this is definitely a very sincere, earnest and enthusiastic recommendation from Malik.

[Kate Hines]

Yeah, I've heard a lot of raves. And Malik's other two suggestions are Winter Wonderland at bright Bryant Park. They have shops open now if you're looking for any last minute holiday gifts. I can't imagine you are. I'm sure you're well ahead of the game. I'm certainly not. There's also, oh, a food hall and a curling cafe and bar. I don't know if that means there's actually curling, but I'm intrigued.

[Simon Close]

Big, big curling.

[Kate Hines]

I know maybe 2025 is the year we all take up curling. And then Malik wants us to know that the Whitney Museum of American Art is free every Friday evening from 5 to 10pm there's art, drinks, special programming and music. There's an exhibit called Edges of Ailey that is open right now. We also spoke about it on the show and it's a really great exhibit that brings together visual arts, live performances, music, a range of archival materials, and a video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey. Let us talk to Will in Jersey City. Hi Will.

[Will]

Hi.

[Judy]

Thank you for taking my call.

[Kate Hines]

Sure. Tell me about what you're doing this winter.

[Judy]

So my years ago after a blizzard, they have to wait until the morning after a blizzard and go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the morning when all the schools have been canceled. You'll be one of the only people there and it's glorious. It's wonderful. You have the place all to yourself and just a wonderful experience.

[Kate Hines]

That's a great suggestion. I love when the city kind of shuts down and feels empty and you're walking and you're the only one in the world. It feels like it's really neat. I want to hear from our colleague Amanda Murphy. Now. She lives in New Jersey and has some ideas for what to do this winter.

[Amanda Murphy]

Hi, I'm Amanda Murphy, WNYC's director of employee Engagement. To keep you and your family engaged, especially if you have young kids. Here's my metro area advice. The Turtleback Zoo in Essex County, New Jersey has a beautiful holiday light display that includes a train ride. This event is free with the suggested donation of a toy or non perishable food and runs through the end of the month. Another activity we love is the holiday market at Bryant park. And for an indoor option, if these shortest days of the year are causing early evening cabin fever, get your kids to the nearest Ikea. Take them through the maze of furniture, asking them along the way which display rooms are their favorites. Then sit down to an affordable meal of meatballs and lingonberry. Don't skip the chocolate cake. It's so good and I think about it all the time. Then grab a spatula, light bulbs, whatever you need on your way out and head home for bedtime.

[Kate Hines]

How well I remember those days with small kids. I used to take my kids to ABC Home and Carpet when it had all the floors and we would go upstairs to the carpets and the staff would just let them like roll around on the carpeting. It was amazing. We have a couple of texts. Someone says go to afternoon tea. I had a friend in town and we went to a cute spot in the West Village that served tea with finger sandwiches, scones and jam and cakes. Our producer, Andrea Duncan Mao, is pretty sure that the person is talking about tea and sympathy. And Andrea also wants to shout out King's Carriage House. And both Crosby and Whitby hotels have festive afternoon teas. Andrea's our resident tea expert.

[Simon Close]

Residency expert. Yeah.

[Kate Hines]

Someone else said, oh, my birthday's on January 8th, so I can't go to Joe's Pub, unfortunately. Well, you could celebrate at Joe's Pub.

[Simon Close]

I mean, you could still get an album, though.

[Kate Hines]

Then we have another text that says, going to a spa on Governor's island on my actual birthday. Hey, happy birthday. I hope you have a great time. Let's talk to Craig in Morganville. Hey, Craig. Welcome to all of it.

[Will]

Hey, how you doing?

[Simon Close]

Good.

[Will]

I told the screener, go to the go to the Frick, but it's closed. But also go to the J.P. morgan Library, one of the most underrated gallery museums in the city. And you get a tour of the J.P. morgan's house. And also walking on the High Line, there's lots of outdoor coffee kiosks and hot chocolate places. So it's a great way to see the city. And at the end of the line is the Whitney.

[Kate Hines]

Perfect.

[Simon Close]

Great.

[Kate Hines]

So at the Frick, Craig, what is the one thing you recommend people don't miss? Or a couple things.

[Will]

I haven't been there a while because it's been closed, but they're gonna be having rotating galleries there soon on the second floor. And also I think they still have the Whistler collection.

[Kate Hines]

All right, those are good. Thanks so much. So let's hear now from our colleague David Fuerst, whose voice you know from this show and also from the Weeknd. And like Amanda, he's got another Jersey recommendation.

[David Fuerst]

This is David Fuerst, Weekend Edition and this Week in Politics host at wnyc. Naturally, when I think about winter, I think about hitting the Jersey shore. My indoor, outdoor and free activities are all basically the same. A trip down to Cape May, New Jersey. If the holiday decorations in the lobby and that little shopping hallway at Congress hall aren't enough to get you in the mood, head outside this classic hotel to take in the carousel and the big Christmas tree just steps away from the beach and the freezing cold Atlantic Ocean. And then bundle up for a stroll around town past all of the historic Victoria, all done up in seasonal style. So, yes, I would say it's time to hit exit Zero for some Christmas crab cake.

[Kate Hines]

Have you ever been to Cape May, Simon?

[Simon Close]

I don't think I have been to Cape May.

[Kate Hines]

It's really amazing. It's a lot of fun. And everybody knows probably what I'm gonna say next, but it is a birding paradise, of course, especially during fall and spring migration. I haven't been there in the winter, but I would imagine the winter ducks at Cape May are amazing. So I highly recommend that everybody drive to exit and go birding in Cape May. And then. Yeah, you could do everything else. David said.

[Simon Close]

I was gonna say the winter ducks are probably.

[Kate Hines]

The winter ducks are insane. I'm sure they're amazing. We have a text that says Diker Heights Christmas lights, a New York City tradition. Someone else wrote. Last summer, my dad was in the hospital, and for a midday break, my daughter and I went to Target and did a scavenger hunt with items selected by my parents. For example, like a size small red bathing suit. It was surprisingly fun. I like that idea. And it works for winter as well. Let's see what else we've got in the. Oh, we got Shemar. Our colleague, Shemar Griffith has some winter suggestions. Hey there.

[Listener Support]

This is Shemar Griffith chiming in from New York Public Radio's Major Gifts philanthropy team. With the winter solstice, there's so much available to us in our great city. If you want an indoor activity, check out your local bar that decorates the entire space for the season. And what better way to get into the holiday spirit by enjoying a holiday spirit and supporting your local pub. If you prefer the outdoors, I recommend Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, which currently has a light show presentation that I enjoyed recently with my family. And it gives artists in this medium their time to shine. And finally, because New York offers many free activities for everyone, I'm fond of hanging out in Industry City, where many times they've had different events, performances, and even a little ice skating rink, if my memory recalls. The best part is there are so many local workshops in the place that if you forgot to grab a gift for that someone, you don't have to look too far. With so much more to do here in our city, here's hoping you and yours enjoys this winter solstice.

[Kate Hines]

Oh, thanks, Shemar. I don't get to Industry City enough. That's a great suggestion.

[Simon Close]

I don't go down that much. I did celebrate my birthday last year there, though. And so this is a recommendation that's sort of curling adjacent. I hope the bar is still there, but it's like a bocce bar or boule. I don't know. They have another name for it, but it's that game where you throw a ball into a sand pit and you want to get close to the rest of them. And I had a lot of fun there. So I don't remember what it's called, but there's a part down there that has bocce and I recommend it.

[Kate Hines]

Listeners, if you know what Simon's talking about, text us, call in, let us know. Let's talk now to Neil in Brooklyn. Hey, Neil. Welcome to all of it.

[Will]

Hi, good afternoon. So about 15 years ago, some theater graduates of Penn State came up with the idea of performing a trolley brown Christmas with flesh and blood act just doing the same thing as in the TV special, complete with a live jazz band for the soundtrack. This is the 15th year now. They're all working in theater in New York City, but they are still doing it this weekend only at a music club called Shapeshifter Lab on Union street in Park Slope. They're doing it. It's one hours at noon, two and five each of Saturday and Sunday. This weekend only.

[Kate Hines]

That's amazing. One more time, give us the information.

[Will]

It's called It's a trolley bound Christmas with flesh and blood actors performing to a live jazz soundtrack hosted by Shapeshifter Lab on Union street in Park Slope, Saturday and Sunday afternoon only.

[Kate Hines]

Thank you so much. Neil, are you going?

[Will]

I'm going to try to get a child to go with me.

[Kate Hines]

Good luck with that. We've got some from the control room. Welcome to the Corot Club. It's not.

[Simon Close]

Yes, yes, that's it.

[Kate Hines]

It's not bocce. It's patank.

[Simon Close]

Petank. Thank you. Yes, thank you very much.

[Kate Hines]

Let's hear it. Thank you, listeners. Someone else wrote in just vibing off of the Cape May conversation. Also, there are 6, 12 and 24 hour whale, seal and bird watching opportunities at a research vessel at Cape May in the winter, which to me sounds awesome. Maybe not the 24 hour one, but yes to six and even 12. I could do 12. Yeah, but you know why? Because you got to get way out there if you want to see the really pelagic seabird. Simon, you have to go way off.

[Simon Close]

Don't I know it.

[Kate Hines]

You know it. Well, someone else suggested best outdoors walking the promenade at Riverside park from 96th street to Riverside Church at night when it's empty is the best time. Let us take. We only have a few minutes left. I would love to talk to Tilly in Bushwick. Hey, Tilly, you're on all of it.

[Judy]

Hi. Love your show. I want to tell you about one of my favorite places in New York. It's called Verse clothing for people. And tomorrow there's going to be the Freaky Flea with all different really wild vendors. But the space is amazing all the time for local handmade fashion creations and it's a community space with all kinds of things happening. So programming like workshops and clothing swaps and pop ups, it's really adorable. Versus BK NYC is the spot in Bushwick.

[Kate Hines]

Can you spell that for me?

[Judy]

V, E R S B K NYC is where you find all the information.

[Kate Hines]

Beautiful. Thank you so much. I love a clothing swap. I'm just going to put that out there. It's fantastic. I also want to we only have a couple minutes left, but I want to hear from one more of our colleagues, Sophia Edmondson, who is the Associate director here at New York Public Radio of Diversity and Inclusion.

[Sophia Edmondson]

Happy Holidays everyone. This year I'm keeping it local for all my New Jersey folks. There's so much to see and do this year that won't break the bank. This coming Saturday, December 21st from 1 to 4pm is the last chance to see the annual tradition Dickens Village. Every year various scenes from Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol are brought to life in miniature houses in Recallton Square in Maplewood, New Jersey. Santa's there and there's music and if you're in the mood, you can take a horse and wagon ride. If you want something more, you can visit Prudential center in Newark, New Jersey for their Winter Village where they have ice skating and ice go karts. You can even reserve a private heated igloo to sip on your hot chocolate. Admission is free, but of course a bit extra for the activities. Finally, if nature's your thing, check out the holiday Light show at Turtle Bag Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey. From 5 to 9pm you can stroll the 50 plus illuminated winter scenes and there are ice sculpting demonstrations on select days. So have a fun, safe and happy holiday season.

[Kate Hines]

Simon, how fast are you going to a heated igloo this winter?

[Simon Close]

What are ice go karts?

[Kate Hines]

I don't know.

[Simon Close]

The only ice go karts I know are the like penguin level in Mario Kart.

[Kate Hines]

I other we are so going to find out. Let's do it. We have wheels have time for only one more call. Let's hear from Marjorie in White Plains. Hi Marjorie.

[Judy]

Hi. I'm a birder and I have two suggestions for people who bird and like beautiful mansions. We have a mansion in Tarrytown on the Hudson called Lyndhurst and they have these one and two act performances. I believe one of them is A Christmas Carol and you go through the different rooms and the play is performed usually in different rooms throughout the this lovely mansion. So that isn't free but visiting this historical home is. And then if you go way out on the back to the actual river you can see a lot of eagles flying over. And Croton Point park also is a fabulous place for seeing eagles and osprey so Westchester is a great place to come visit.

[Kate Hines]

Thank you so much. I also want to give a thumbs up to Croton Point Park. It is where I've seen some of my lifers including a snow bunting. So yay. Thanks to everyone who called. We really appreciate all of your suggestions and thank you so much to Simon for riding shotgun with me.

[Simon Close]

Thank you very much for having me.

[Judy]

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[Simon Close]

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[Judy]

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