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November 21, 2013

Making Memories at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park

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No matter what I do throughout the year, I always make time to be home for the holidays and that’s because this time of year in New York City is my absolute favorite. Yes, it’s cold, and yes, it’s crowded, but man oh man, is it festive, fun, and awesome.

We recently went to celebrate the opening of the rink at Bryant Park. With the support of new sponsorship from Bank of America, the holiday attraction at Bryant Park is named Bank of American Winter Village at Bryant Park – or Winter Village for short…or The Rink, for locals.

These are all things I love and my family has enjoyed over the years. My kids have grown up visiting Bryant Park throughout the year. They have enjoyed exploring the shops and drinking hot chocolate. They have visited during the various winter events, including the family movie nights displayed on the big screen behind the rink. We make sure to take it all in.

The rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravel The rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravel

Though the name has changed, all the things we love about Bryant Park in the Winter has remained the same, such as the free skating (there is a fee for skate rentals), and Celsius, the restaurant and bar overlooking the rink, and the pop-up holiday shops that surround the area, and the Christmas tree! Also? The hot chocolate – really, we can’t forget the hot chocolate.

The rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravelThe rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravel

But our latest visit was even more special because it was the first time they had the courage to actually get on the ice and skate without being held. In general, it’s a proud moment for everyone, but it’s made even more special because it happened at Bryant Park.The rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravel

The rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravel The rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravel

And as we smiled and delighted in the joy of this new achievement, we got to witness another fabulous moment: a wedding proposal on ice. As Elvis Presley sang “Falling in Love With You”, a couple was invited on to the rink under the pretense of having won a prize. Suddenly, as everyone watched from the rink’s sidelines, he got on one knee and held up the ring. She clutched her chest, a huge smile of surprise on her face, and though we couldn’t hear what he said, we all could read her lips when she said, “Yes!” 

The rink at Bryant Park_girlgonetravelThe couple takes their first skate around the rink as newly engaged.

There was so much magic in the air this time of the year, I couldn’t erase the smile off my face, even if I tried.

To read more about the Winter Village, check out the official website for shops, events, and rink information. And get out there, my friends, the holidays are in full swing in New York City!

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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6 Comments
  • Linda Merchant
    November 21, 2013

    how neat of a place to take the family.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Linda Merchant
      November 21, 2013

      Truly one of our favorite spots.

      Reply
  • Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz
    November 21, 2013

    Sounds magical!
    My recent post NickMom Stories of Hilarity and Why We Eat Out for Thanksgiving

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz
      November 24, 2013

      It was! Hope you get a chance to stop by when you visit : )

      Reply
  • Erin@MommyontheSpot
    November 23, 2013

    Beautiful photos!
    My recent post Speaking at the Rochester Writers’ Conference and Training for a 5k

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Erin@MommyontheSpot
      November 24, 2013

      Thank you!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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Follow @girlgonetravel

A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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