Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you need to stay home, coats were invented for a reason, go grab it from the back of your closet.

By: Katie Kallahan

“Winter in NYC” is not a total rom-com cliche, there are tons to do with your significant other to get you out of your seasonal depression and into the seasonal spirit. 

1. If it wasn’t already the most obvious, now it is… a walk in the park date.

It’s cold out so your first stop should definitely be a Starbucks for some hot chocolate or peppermint mocha hot coffee. Then grab your boo and take a walk through the park, all the leaves are changing color and it’s so beautiful. Added bonus: crunchy leaves to step on!! 

• Central Park
• Prospect Park, Brooklyn
• Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island

2. Candlelight concerts

Ranging from $30-$50 you and your date could have a romantic date listening to live performances of classical music all over NYC. You can pick your date and buy tickets on the Fever event website. 

3. Holiday shopping in NYC

Bryant park ice skating is its own cute date, but we all know someone who loves to shop. The Holiday Shops are open in Bryant park until January, so now is the time to get a head start on Christmas shopping, or find something to treat yourself. 

4. Art date in the city? A classic. 

Hit up any of the many museums:

• Whitney Museum of American Art
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The Museum of Modern Art
• New Museum
• Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

…or take a trip to an immersive exhibit, the Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel exhibit will be open until January. 

5. NYC Winter Lantern Festival 

This year’s winter festival has a location at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Grab your boo and some hot coffee to walk around and see over 1,000 lanterns in all different amazing shapes in this immersive experience. 

6. Santa’s secret immersive winter wonderland 

This year, Santa’s coming to NYC. You and your boo can go through six immersive exhibitions that lead up to Santa’s speakeasy. Tickets are now on sale on Fever and range from $45 to $69 from now until January 2022. 

7. Pumpkin arch at south street seaport 

Ready to introduce your new man to social media? Well, this fall season is perfect, get your Instagram worthy photos with your man under the pumpkins. The arch is beautiful in the day and has lights to make it glow at night. 

8. Max Brenner Hot chocolate date 

This chocolate oriented restaurant has nine different types of hot chocolate. Be warm in the cozy restaurant and try to conquer all nine with your date. They have original hot chocolate, Italian thick, Mexican spicy hot chocolate, mocha, marshmallow, peanut butter, hazelnut, Oreo and salted caramel. My first choice would be marshmallows. 

9. Visit the tree in Rockerfeller center 

What says Christmas like being crammed with hundreds of other people to watch a 79 foot tree get lit up like the Fourth of July? This year’s Christmas lighting will take place on December 1st from 7-10pm. You can take your date for dinner in the city before cuddling up to watch the tree light up. 

10. Heated Outdoor dining

Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you have to cut out the outdoor dining option. Many NYC restaurants are offering a heated outdoor dining option. They have heated standing and floor lamps to keep you warm while you’re outside until your dinner comes.