Happy Friday! We've been busy little elves, and continue to make the rounds (this time quite literally) of Atlanta holiday events. Last Saturday, we were invited to go skating as a family at the Astor Holiday Ice Skating Rink at the St. Regis Hotel Atlanta. This is much more than just skating...it's a special experience your whole family will likely remember for years to come. Upon entering the hotel, you'll see the beautifully decorated lobby filled with holiday cheer. I wanted to open all the boxes under the tree myself, because they looked an awfully lot like "Tiffany" to me! Unfortunately you can't see them in this photo....
The boys were in awe over the model train (we really do love our model trains). And the life size "gingerbread" house may not be real, but it sure is fun for kids to pop inside. I told my boys to be careful though - I didn't want them to end up like Hansel and Gretel!
After you get your fill of the decor, step into the VIP Holiday Lounge to get your wristbands and parking validation and then head up to the ice rink, which has taken the place of the swimming pool for the season. It's tented, so there's no need to worry about the weather. Simply get your skates from an attendant and your off to glide amidst the twinkling lights and holiday music.
The rink is small - only 30 people can skate at one time. But it's the perfect size for small children who have never skated before, and the intimate atmosphere makes it that much more special, especially for families. It wasn't until we were on the ice that I realized I'd never skated with my husband, and we've been together for ten years! Turns out he's a bit of a pro (learned a lot on those frozen lakes in New Jersey apparently)! This was a good thing - at 4, Jack was a little young to skate on his own, but once his Daddy held him, they glided around together like a figure skating pair and even did a few tricks (okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration - but Ken did a great job with his lifts!). Drew and and I were perfectly happy holding on to the wall and seeing how many times we could go around without falling.
When we were done skating, we put our shoes back on and headed over to the bar for some truly delicious hot cocoa, and sat by the open fire looking up at the sky as dusk approached. S'mores were an option too, but that hot cocoa was so rich we were full! It was a wonderful day, and we were ready to head home and relax.
The Astor Holiday Ice Skating Rink will only be open through January 3rd, so if you're interested in the experience, don't wait too long! Advance reservations are highly recommended. Call the St. Regis Holiday Desk at 404.563.7797 to schedule your session. Hours are 12:00pm - 9:00pm Monday - Friday, and 11:00am - 9:00pm Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $30 per hour for adults and $18 per hour for children under 16.
For more information on the rink, as well as other holiday events at The St. Regis Atlanta (such as Children's Tea with Santa), visit the website by CLICKING HERE.
The boys say they are ready to skate again, so our next stop is The Rink at Piedmont Park. It's open 'til the end of February so we have a little time!
Now on to this week's issue! Not too many new events to report, and I'm sure everyone is busy finishing up their holiday shopping, decorating and other to-do lists. Just a reminder that if you're in need of last minute gift ideas, take a look at our gift guide! Some of our vendors are offering nice discounts for subscribers! AND, giveaways come to an end on the 20th with the GRAND PRIZE drawing for a two night stay at Callaway Gardens. If you haven't entered yet, now's the time!
Saturday night we're taking a break from the holiday-themed events and will be attending Disney's Phineas & Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! The boys are SO excited. Note in the discount section and also in This Week's Pick's there information on how to save $5 or $10 per ticket if you'd like to attend one of the five performances!
Enjoy your week! And if you feel like I do right now, good luck!Michelle
PS - SUBMIT AN EVENT! When you visit the Macaroni Kid website, you'll notice we have a new button on the top left! You can submit an event for possible inclusion in the newsletter (subject to editor's approval). If you feel like something should be included, give it a try!
