related items
It's beginning to feel a lot like August! Today's temperatures will soar close to the triple digits, effectively bringing your balmy, breezy and, let's face it, soggy summer to a close. To help ease you into the delayed dog days of summer, we calculated— scientifically, of course!—the mercury levels throughout the city to find the top 10 coolest places to freeze out fast. Not enough coolness? Check out our ice-cold picks from 2008 and 2007—although we can't vouch for their continued A.C. goodness.)
Touch Boutique at Citi Field
Sure, a Mets bikini isn’t for everyone. But during a sweltering afternoon at Citi Field, we discovered a respite from the humidity in Alyssa Milano’s sports apparel store for women, located near the Pepsi Porch on the Excelsior level. Obligatory joke: Inside, it was as cold as the Mets pitching!
Any hotel lobby in Midtown
They’re mammoth, way too expensive and catering to tourists whose idea of New York starts and ends in Times Square. Of course they’re going to offer up ozone-peeling A.C. – this is America! We can personally vouch for the Grand Hyatt about a block east of Grand Central – at least judging by the blast of Arctic air we get during our morning walk-by.
Fairway in Harlem
Reason 1,222 to heart Fairway: their 1,000 square foot walk-in freezer section at the Harlem location. Stocked full of frozen meats, this freezer section is not for the faint of heart. See those heavy jackets hanging by the entrance? Put one on and get ready to stock up on all of your summer’s barbeque needs.
Vlada
It is a tad ironic that one of the coldest bars in the city is in Hell's Kitchen. Tucked away from midtown madness, this gay bar takes its vodka seriously. Stone cold serious, as the thick ice bar mantle shows.
Megu Tribeca
Megu's received its fair share of press, from the theatrical decor to the menu’s soaring prices. And we're going to add another bit of buzz: their Budda ice sculpture, crafted daily from local Okamoto Studio. Arrive early to hang out by the chill Zen icon in the restaurant’s dark interiors.
Ice Sculpture of New York
Or if you really want to make an (icy) splash, commission an ice sculpture of your own at Ice Sculpture of New York, where prices start at $250. This might seem high, but consider all the money you just saved on air conditioning...and the bragging points you’ll score.
Ice Skating at Chelsea Piers
Humid days rarely inspire a work-out, but the mammoth-size skating rink at Chelsea Piers will bring out the Michelle Kwan in anyone. Act today thru Groupon’s special rates to cool off on the cheap.
Little Branch
The barkeeps at Little Branch know their liquor and their ice. Large blocks of chipped ice float iceberg-style in their delectable elixirs to keep the booze from diluting to fast. Plus, the cave-like space provides a welcome respite from the outside heat.
Midtown Chase ATMs
Before you hit up pricey Little Branch, we suggest you swing by the freezing midtown ATMs of Chase. Okay, so this is largely subjective, but these vestibules have other banks beat when it comes to plunging temperatures.
Igloo Ice Cream Cafe
This might not be the coldest place in the city, but this Queens cafe earns an honorable mention for its freez-tastic moniker and for being an ice cream café.
(Think you know of a cooler place? Please let us know: Nominate your freezing favorites by making a "Coolest places in New York" playlist!)
What other people are saying...
saraht - August 11, 2009 at 9:29 AM
But Chase ATMs also have the highest surcharges for usage if you don't belong to that bank - you'll be paying for the cold :)
Report This Comment