My guide to: ~Wintering in NYC

The exact steps and formula to how I've tricked myself into loving winter more than any other New York season

January to March in New York are always about survival. What about enjoyment? Why are we trying to rush through these months to get to something better?

I’ve been reading up on the art of embracing and loving winter in Scandinavian countries and how it’s the time to rest, heal, and basically hibernate- SO here’s how we’re doing that around here:

1. Othership Sauna + Ice Bath

My friends are so sick of me talking about this place. I’ve quite literally forced everyone in my life to join me here because leaving a session here is the best you will ever feel—It’s a glow I can’t explain until you try it yourself. I recommend using ClassPass to book a session here because booking through their website will cost you about $60 per 75 minute session (comically expensive) but you can book for like 11-13 credits on ClassPass which is a way better deal.

I enjoy the ‘free flow’ more than the guided classes because I don’t want to feel pressured to stay in the ice bath and would rather chat with a friend in the sauna than be forced to do breath-work for an hour (even though lord knows I need this, lol). The sauna is MASSIVE and will be a social hour on a friday night- but no fear- I’ve seen lots of complete strangers go alone and approach others and make friends here. It’s sort of like the best exposure therapy (or the only?) I’ve ever had.

2. Go to a cozy restaurant (with steamy windows) for an early dinner

We are saving money this winter, but we also are doing a few cozy dinners with the people we love EARLY in the evening so we’re in bed by 10. Think small neighborhood spots with dark and sultry lighting with those trendy little table lamps- bonus points for a fireplace. My top picks for this exact scene are:

1. Sunsets (La Cantine) in Brooklyn for natty wine and incredible desserts

2. Libertine in the West Village, a tiny French bistro with a mean duck au poivre and STICKY chocolate mousse (Le French Diner on the East side also does the trick)

3. Rosella in the East Village for creative sushi rolls/nigiri in the coziest, funky space

4. HiLot if you’re drinking this winter- velvet couches and lava lamps with passionfruit martinis

5. Pearl box if you want to put on tights and a cute outfit and have reasonably priced caviar in a red townhouse

6. Chelsea Living Room, Le B, and The Nines are also peak places to sip cocktails and listen to a live pianist in the winter, but are a bit dressier than a neighborhood spot

7. Win Son in Brooklyn for some saucy Taiwanese noodles, dumplings, and scallion pancake everything (not the bakery, the restaurant)

3. Having friends over for tea and chat

Just like the cool British folks. Low commitment, inexpensive, and oh so warm and cozy. I got an electric tea kettle for Christmas so tea has become my fixation- especially if served in a clear glass mug. Drop by for an hour and sit under a blanket and have have a cup of tea with me- we can catch up on life and then end the night at a reasonable time because there’s no expectation for multiple rounds of alcoholic beverages or food. Bonus points if you have cats.

Kettle I’m obsessed with

4. Starting personal projects

To set the scene: it’s 8pm on Friday. Instead of rushing around to get ready as your WFH friday bleeds into the weekend, we’ve already showered and put pajamas and socks on. There is literally no fomo because you’re reserving your night to dig into all of those exciting personal projects- like writing your Substack- and getting started on all of the stuff you said you would and never did.

It feels better than anything in the world, especially with a little CANN 2mg THC+CBD seltzer to get the creative juices flowing (absolutely not an ad, just something I’ve enjoyed on a solo night in), and my favorite pairing to this entire scenario is takeout sushi from Tomo 21 - it’s cheaper than Sushi 35 and probably all of the other places you’ve heard of and the nigiri pieces are huge.

5. Chilling out on the workouts and sleeping in

I swear I’ve actually been feeling more confident lately (probably delusional) and seeing results by letting my body rest. I’ve been removing one or two of the 6am workout classes and getting an extra hour of sleep- it almost feels indulgent, but so necessary. No one can shut up about the “winter arc” and silently becoming your fittest self in the winter but I swear this has been working(!!)

Giving myself grace during the week has made me really look forward to enjoying a long heated workout on the weekend, some of my favorite low impact classes/studios have been (most are heated):

1. Practice Room

2. CorePower (duh)

3. Avea Pilates

4. Fuzehouse (but for the love of god, never do this hungover)

5. Bode (the hardest hot sculpt IMO)

6. Spencer’s Spa

Ok hear me out, I love a $50 1 hour massage in Chinatown, but the best massage I have ever gotten in my LIFE is at Spencer’s in Soho. They also always have 50% off deals and a monthly membership where any treatment is $98 (including 90 minute treatments)- so you’re paying $40 or so more than you local cheap massage, but it is so worth it. I highly recommend Viktorija, she is a visionary. Their relaxation room is also equipped with tea, chocolate, fuzzy slippers, and chess? If you’re into that?

If you liked this post, share it with your friends and then shoot me a message :) - I’d love to give you any and all personal NYC recs for supporting my ~very early substack endeavors!