Even though it feels like the leaves are just now turning golden, the Christmas tree recently erected on the roof of Radio City Music Hall is a glittering sign that winter is fast-approaching. Along with the chilly winds and dreary weather, this season brings with it a wealth of cosy dates … sipping hot chocolate, cuddling by the fireplace and the classic — ice skating.
On Tuesday, Inter-Residence Hall Council hosted its 11th Annual Flurry,a free ice skating event for NYU students at Wollman Rink, also known as the perfect opportunity for NYU couples to break the ice. Couples new and old flocked to Central Park to strap on skates and glide — or shuffle — the evening away, surrounded by the beautiful uptown skyline.
For Silver School of Social Work first-year Sohee Lee — who came with her boyfriend of two months, LS first-year Sihun Han — ice skating is, indeed, the perfect winter date.
“Pros would be, like, if one person doesn’t know how to skate, the other person can teach or something,” Lee said. “It’s kind of romantic, you know?”
Han agreed, though he thinks that Flurry may not be the best setting.
“It is the perfect date,” he said. “But I feel like this would be a perfect date if there were fewer people here.”
Julia Hinckley and Renzo Rosales, both Stern first-years, met about a week ago but made it a point to mention that Flurry was not their first date. Although it was the perfect excuse to hold hands, it wasn’t as romantic as they imagined.
“Neither of us really know how to ice skate,” Hinckley said.
In fact, when asked if they would go on an ice skating date again if it wasn’t free, Rosales was quick to deny such a possibility.
“No, definitely not,” he said. “A big con is the possibility of me getting a concussion or breaking something.”
Steinhardt senior Brianda Hickey and Tisch senior Jaydn Gosselin have been dating for almost three years. This was their second time attending Flurry. When asked what made them come back, Hickey cited its proximity to her workplace and her affinity for ice skating while Gosselin appreciated that it was free of charge.
Like Hinckley and Rosales, it wasn’t the ice skating itself that lured them to Flurry. To them, it isn’t about a certain location or specific activity, it’s about bonding and connecting with each other.
“The perfect date is any time I get to have a solid conversation [and connect] past school or work or anything, but just talk about art, how much we enjoy each other or enjoy a new activity we found or something,” she said. “So movie dates? They suck.”
Indeed, Flurry seemed to be a cost-effective opportunity to bond and scratch that ice skating date itch for many NYU couples whether they were comfortable on the ice or not. However, do not despair if you and your special someone missed the annual event. As Hickey expressed, any date, winter-themed or not, can be a perfect one as long as it encourages genuine connection and promotes a true bonding experience.
Email Carol Lee at [email protected].
