By J.F. Mezo
NEW YORK, Nov. 20 – As
winter draws closer and the days get shorter, by 5 PM every day, Bryant Park
transforms into an unlikely winter wonderland with little kiosks blinking
welcomingly at passers-by, and an ice rink situated at the centre of the maze
of narrow paths that zigzag their way through the park. It doesn’t take long to
succumb to the spell of the place – just upon entering the park after passing
by the renowned New York Public Library, visitors find themselves walking
through a dimly lit terrace littered with cast iron chairs and circular tables.
Far from the café-like atmosphere the terrace has during the day, it is now mostly
empty with the occasional occupant checking their phone time and time again,
quite certainly waiting for a friend or perhaps an associate to join them.
‘It’s a good meeting
spot for business people’ says David Stein, while slipping his cell phone into
the side pocket of his chic trench coat. ‘It’s really convenient – all sorts of
people come here’ he adds, now seemingly lost in thought, just before he turns
around on one of those cast iron chairs to point towards a further corner of
the park, that is engulfed by darkness. ‘Little kids play bocce over there
during the summer; you know, the Italian game when you have to throw plastic
balls into a circle – it’s kind of like curling.’
But the park’s
popularity amongst kids doesn’t decrease during the autumn months, either. Just
a couple of minutes of walking away from the terrace, there is carousel sitting
at the intersection of two pathways, going round and round in a mesmerising mixture of mellow lights and accordion melodies. Most visitors seem to stop in
their tracks for a while, joining the small crowd seated around the area,
getting lost in the fantasy. Amongst them are Israeli-born Noa and her young
son who is visibly fascinated by the colourful display.
‘We have been coming
here for the past two years. Every evening, he just wants to watch the carousel
go round and round – he doesn’t want to go up, though. Just watch.’
But Noa’s son is not
the only one captivated by what Bryant Park has to offer. As one wanders closer
and closer to the rink, there is a growing number of vendors offering
everything from Christmas decorations to fancy jewellery in the shape of a
snowflake. People – tourists and New Yorkers alike – are drawn in by the
sparkles and the cheery Christmas tunes in the background, doing a fair bit of
window-shopping in the process. As one nears the rink, the booths get sparklier
and the music gets louder, until they reach a circle of food kiosks surrounding
a fountain that is situated right before the ice rink.
The crowd thickens
considerably by that point. Aside from passers-by, many are enjoying their hot
beverages by the fountain, while others skate to the holiday songs of Frank
Sinatra and Bob Dylan. This is the true heart of Bryant Park, with families,
couples and individuals chatting and snapping pictures wherever you turn.
Amongst them is Paul Sanchez, who quickly declares the park the ‘heart of the
city’, while also pointing out how safe the Bryant Park is. ‘The true
significance of the place lies in that you can just come here and enjoy
yourself. It’s extremely safe’ he says with a smile, while pointing towards the
Empire State Building which looks nothing short of a gothic castle with purple
lights climbing up its walls and the Moon in the background. ‘It’s also very
well connected. You can go anywhere – visit the Empire State Building or the
Library.’
And with New York’s
very own Grand Central Station just five minutes away to offer convenient
connections to locals and visitors alike, Mr. Sanchez might just be right.
However, this Tuesday night at Bryant Park is not in the least about the rush.
It’s about the magic of gingerbread houses selling sparkly holiday must-haves
by dimly lit pathways, young adults buying steaming hot chocolate from the
kiosks by the fountain, and families skating together on the ice rink. While life
in the city keeps rushing by, Bryant Park is truly a place to forget about the
hurry, relax, and soak in the holiday spirit.
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