Photograph of sledders, inside Prospect Park on the long meadow Convince your boss to let you take an extra long lunch today: The Parks Department just sent out this press release: Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe invites New Yorkers to come out to a neighborhood park for some winter fun. White-capped hills around the city are open for sledding, snowman-making and more. Parks & Recreation will provide sleds and hot chocolate at selected......

Okay, it's freezing. Not just freezing -- bone chillingly bitter. We've been at our desk for hours now and still can't manage to fight off the chill from our morning commute. This kind of weather makes us crave warm, cozy comfort food -- hopefully at least one of these options is close enough to you for a quick dash out, or even better, to deliver to you. Soup: Get a warm and cozy homemade soup......

If you’ve got a sweet tooth and a couple hundred bucks to blow, you’ll want to mark your calendar for Friday November 16th, when the Food Network throws New York’s “largest dessert party ever.” Called Sweet, the event will unleash a massive tsunami of temptations from some of NewYork’s top pastry chefs, confectioners, cheese makers, bakers and chocolatiers. To wash it all down there’ll be a wide selection of champagne and wine, including samples from......

Hot chocolate aficionados are likely well-aware of The City Bakery's on-going Hot Chocolate Festival through the end of February, but for the layman of the hot chocolate world, Gothamist reminds you to stop by for a cup of the coma-inducing cocoa. With a new flavor each day, including Monday's (2/19) beer, Thursday's (2/22) cinnamon, and next Monday's (2/26) chili pepper varieties, there's sure to be a cocoa for any type of chocolate lover. Notoriously......

Ah, Cinco de Mayo. We finally learned the backstory this year. Apparently, several decades after Mexico gained independence from Spain, France sent 6,000 of its soldiers to invade Mexico in 1862. On May 5th of that year, 2,000 ill-equiped but passionate Mexican citizens defeated the French army. Every year, on May 5th, it has been traditional to honor those brave fighters by partaking in a night of music, tequila and authentic Mexican cuisine, and we......

Sweet Serendipity: Delightful Desserts and Devilish Dish by Stephen Bruce (Universe, 2004) This winter, Gothamist developed a serious hot chocolate habit. All that snow had us pining for steamy, melted dark chocolate--the stronger, the better. But now that (sort of) warm weather is here, and truly hot temperatures are just around the corner, we started searching for a new way to get our chocolate fix. When visiting friends recently tried to go for dessert at......

Foodies have been flocking to DUMBO for quite a while now. It's no surprise. Who can resist the siren's call of the spicy, New Mexican-inspired breakfast burrito at Superfine? Or a piping hot pizza pie with house-roasted peppers at Grimaldi's. Or the Curried Mussels at Five Front? And, then there is the biggest temptation of them all - Jacques Torres Chocolates, chocked full of decadent, Wonka-like confections for children and adults alike. But is Jacques......

It's been pointed out (thanks, Joe) that some people have been scamming people (tourists, New York natives) into buying tickets to see Christo and Jeanne-Claude's The Gates. The Gates is a free exhibit, as their website clearly spells out. However, this doesn't mean various other cottage industries haven't popped up to take advantage of this event. Newsday looked at how the city and businesses are hoping to profit. The city, which isn't paying for the......

You may have some in your well-stocked pantry, but if not, never fear. It's time for the 13th Annual City Bakery Hot Chocolate Festival! Apparently this year to commemorate the occasion, on January 30th from 12-4, Maury Rubin is going an extra step -- shutting down 18th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, bringing in snow to pile up on the sidewalks, and installing a portable ice rink. The day comes complete with free skating......

Upon entering Time Out New York's Eating & Drinking event at Splashlight Studios the other night, Gothamist felt a little like we had wandered into a fashion event rather than a food event -- stark white walls, dj_cat's 80's music blaring, and tall, thin, beautiful people who certainly looked like they didn't spend all that much time eating. But after we got over feeling a little like Team Party Crash and getting over the fact......

Say the word "chocolate" and Gothamist swoons with thoughts of deep, dark rich pleasure. Mention the name Jacques Torres and we're lost in memories of his decadent, gourmet chocolates, hand-crafted in his DUMBO factory and retail shop, Jacques Torres Chocolates. From Torres' dark chocolate-encased Earl Grey Tea ganache to his Wicked Hot Chocolate, spiked with chili heat and subtle spices, his sweet conconctions have won fans - including intrepid foodies that bike or hike......

We know how you feel. We live here too. So, we�d like to take this moment to remind you of some of the more positive aspects of this chilly weather that simply won't go away. For one - gloves. They shield your hands from slimy door handles and snot-covered subway poles. When spring arrives the gloves come off you'll be forced to surf the subway again. To do this correctly (on the inside of......

According to New York Magazine and many others, the best hot chocolate in New York is made by Chef Scott Campbell, at his restaurant, @SQC, on the Upper West Side. Made from Valrhona chocolate and nicknamed "Life in a Cup" on the menu, it's also available at Campbell's other Upper West Side restaurant, Avenue. What: Hot Chocolate, $4/cup, @SQCWhere: 270 Columbus Avenue between West 72nd and West 73rd Streets.Extra: The recipe for Scott Campbell's Hot......