Summer Fun in January
By Robert Levin
Special to amNewYork
The Russian & Turkish Baths (RJ MIckelson/AMNY)
Unless you really love winter, the months of January and February are the bleakest on the calendar. The holidays have ended, spring is still far off and bitter cold greets anyone brave enough to step outside.
Fortunately, these NYC spots have come up with ways to cheer you up — taking your mind off the freezing weather with reminders of warmer, happier days.
New York Aquarium
502 Surf Ave. at W. Fifth St., Coney Island, 718-265-FISH
Adults $13, seniors $10, children (3 to 12) $9, groups (reserved two weeks in advance) $6, children under 2 and members FREE.
The diverse collection of marine life on display at the New York Aquarium offers the perfect opportunity to pretend you’re taking a walk on the beach or snorkeling somewhere in the Caribbean.
Russian & Turkish Baths
268 E. 10th St., btwn Ave. A and First Ave., 212-473-8806,
$30 for one-day admission pass.
A classic communal bathhouse experience, this East Village institution (around since 1892) boasts a Russian sauna, a redwood sauna, a Turkish room and an Aromatherapy room. It offers a great opportunity to escape the cold in a unique environment.
Hawaiian Tropic Zone Restaurant
729 Seventh Ave at 49th St., 212-626-7312
With its tropical decor, bikini-clad wait staff, special events such as The Summer Never Ends party and menu filled with high-caliber beach food, this restaurant offers as comprehensive a sense of summertime as you’ll find in NYC.
Brooklyn Surf Bar
139 N. Sixth St., btwn Bedford Ave. and Berry St., Williamsburg, 718-302-4441
Decorated with surfboards, leis and figurines in wetsuits, Surf Bar lets you drink and eat in an environment that’s more Key West than Brooklyn.
Chelsea Piers Recreation Center
Sports Center, Pier 60 at W. 23rd St. and the Hudson River, 212-336-6000,
$50 day pass available
Purchasing a day pass gets you access to the entire Sports Center at Chelsea Piers, which includes the indoor pool, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, fitness classes and weight rooms.
Max Brenner
841 Broadway, btwn 13th and 14th sts., and 141 Second Ave. at Ninth St., 212-388-0030
The dessert sensation features a rich and rewarding menu of chocolate favorites, including Choctails, hot chocolates and multiple varieties of fondue. You pretty much can’t go wrong with any option and if you’re looking for a place to warm up after a cold day outdoors, it’d be hard to do better.
