Cool ways to stay warm this winter
Baby, it's cold outside.
Now that the temperature has dipped below freezing, Long Islanders are forced to battle the winter chill.
While it's impractical to soak in a warm bath or stay bundled up in bed all day, there are plenty of creative ways to thaw out from head to toe as fall turns to winter.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
GET PHYSICAL
Bikram Yoga RVC 10 S. Park Ave., Rockville Centre 516-432-7777 bikramyogarvc.com
Bikram Yoga Carle Place 143 Voice Rd., Carle Place 516-829-9642 bikramyogacarleplace.com
COST: $20 a class
Looking to slim down as you warm up? Bikram yoga, a 90-minute class that incorporates a series of 26 poses and two breathing exercises, is performed in a 100- to 105-degree room. The heat, combined with the stretching, increases flexibility as your body sweats out impurities, says Bikram Yoga RVC co-owner Yolanda Nash. It's suitable for newbies. "We have people of all ages, all sizes and all levels of ability in classes," says Nash.
ALSO TRY: Namaste the Yoga Spa in Plainview offers 60-minute "Hot Yoga Express" classes (two introductory classes for $19) three times a week (377B S. Oyster Bay Rd., 516-931-8443, ntyspa.com ).
RELAX AND UNWIND
Gurney's Inn Sea Water Spa 290 Old Montauk Hwy., Montauk 631-668-1892 gurneysinn.com
COST: $30 a day
Want the benefits of a day at the spa without the hefty price tag? The Sea Water Spa at Gurney's Inn offers a day pass that includes access to the saunas, steam rooms, Roman baths (giant Jacuzzis), Swiss showers (pressurized water from multiple jets) and the coed heated seawater pool. There's no need to make an appointment; just show up any day of the week after 8 a.m. and you can stay until closing (8 p.m., 9 on weekends).
ALSO TRY: Warm your fingers and toes with a hot milk manicure ($30) and double hot chocolate pedicure ($65) at Style Bar Spa (1 Bay St., Sag Harbor, 631-725-6730, stylebarspa .com ).
DRINK UP
Sally's Cocofé 273 Main St., Huntington 631-546-7541 sallyscocofe.com
In case you don't know what real hot chocolate is, stop at this hip cafe and pick from more than a dozen delicious concoctions divided into dark, milk and white chocolate varieties ($4.25-$4.75 for 10 ounces). There's a Mexican chocolate spiked with chile, nutmeg and vanilla and a caramelized hazelnut hot milk chocolate aptly named "Gianduja ecstasy." The menu also includes warm chocolate fondue in three sizes ($13-$18).
ALSO TRY: Prefer your warm beverage to pack more of a punch? For the rest of the month, Maxwell & Dunne's Natural Steakhouse (1600 Round Swamp Rd., Plainview, 516-694-6200, mdsteakhouse.com ) is featuring a hot buttered rum cocktail. It's free with any appetizer and entree, or $7 at the bar.
SIT BY THE FIRE
The Lodge 31 Race Lane, East Hampton 631-324-5022 thelodgeeasthampton.com
If you don't have a fireplace to cozy up to at home, sip a cocktail and nibble appetizers in front of a crackling fire at The Lodge. Need more of a reason to venture out? Free burgers are served 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.
ALSO TRY: Honu Kitchen & Cocktails (363 New York Ave., Huntington, 631-421-6900, honukitchen.com ) and the Garden City Hotel's Rein Bar & Bistro (45 Seventh St., Garden City, 516-877-9385) also have fireplaces in their respective dining rooms.
Or embrace the cold...
Long Beach Polar Bear Plunge Riverside Boulevard Beach, Long Beach 516-897-BEAR longbeachpolarbears.org
WHEN: 1 p.m. Feb. 1
Sign-ups are going on now for the Long Beach Polar Bear Club's annual plunge into the frigid waters of the Atlantic on Super Bowl Sunday. If you want to join them, you'll need to download waiver and sponsor forms online. Funds raised benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.
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