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 the 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 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 the 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.

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 over looking the rink, and the pop up holiday shops the surround the area, and the Christmas tree! Also? The hot chocolate – really, we can’t forget the hot chocolate.

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.

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!” (You can see a very grainy phone photo shot on my Facebook page).

The couple take their first skate around the rink as a 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 shop, events, and rink information. And get out there, my friends, the holidays are in full swing in New York City!

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