Great Date: Ice Skating

I ice skated for the first time at the fantastic Wollman Rink in Central Park. It was the start of winter break during my freshman year of college, and two friends and I went to Manhattan for the weekend. Among our many adventures was an afternoon on the ice at the enormous rink, laughing and holding onto each other, looking at the surrounding buildings, and trying not to crash into our fellow skaters -- it's one of my favorite memories.

So it follows that my favorite winter date is an afternoon or evening of ice skating at Clipper Magazine Stadium. In addition to being fun and affordable, skating is exactly the right level of activity for a date -- I've got something to do, but I can still talk and interact with my companion.

And by "companion" I mean anyone I can drag out to the stadium. I've gone with girlfriends, guy friends, and my son and his friends. Pretty much everyone can skate a little and is willing to pretend they're Michelle Kwan -- or Brian Boitano -- for a couple of hours. Although, truthfully, no one does tricks; you just skate around and around the rink, enjoying the brisk air and music and watching everyone else glide, fall, and laugh. Every now and then some brave soul goes to the middle and spins, but since I can't even skate backward with any certainty, I've never tried that.

In past years, the stadium concession stands have been open, but this year, they've put a trailer on the field right by the rink. It's more convenient for skaters -- less taking the skates on and off or tramping up and down the steps -- and I imagine it's cheaper to run, too. They sell barbeque sandwiches, drinks, and snacks.

The rink is usually open on weekends from December to March. Admission is $6 and skate rentals are $3. You can skate as long as you'd like; I usually stay for about two hours. Take extra socks; the rental skates rub a little. For more information, visit http://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com/. Prefer to skate indoors? Try http://www.lancastericerink.org/.