BYO Disney ice-skating outfit.

While most people were likely nursing a hangover on January 1, others hit Chicago's John Hancock Observatory for the debut of the world's highest ice-skating rink. Skating in the Sky, which sits on the 94th floor of the famous building, puts its ice more than 1,000 feet up in the air.

This isn't the Hancock's first time offering a rink. When the building first opened, there was an ice rink in the sunken plaza out front. Unfortunately, those Windy City winds picked up debris from nearby construction areas and threw them at the skaters, putting an end to that idea. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-01-06T08:31:04-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/9/7/172918/5795

Like it isn't bad enough that the coast of Lake MIchigan freezes over during the winter, Chicago's John Hancock Center has announced that they'll have an ice skating rink installed on the 94th floor. This news comes from TimeOutChicago, who doesn't neglect to point out that an ice rink more than 1,000 feet up makes it the world's highest ice skating rink.

Expect to rent ice skates and do some figure-eights as soon as January 2011. The rink will be the newest entry in a list of recent upgrades at the Hancock's Observatory: "Over the last couple years, the observatory has rolled out a cafe and full bar, augmented reality telescopes, and a sleek design." Perhaps to compete with the Sears Willis Tower's tourist-attracting glass ledges on their 103rd floor? We bet!

We love the response of our friend—who lives in the John Hancock Building—to the new ice skating rink plans: "WTF that is insane. What are we—Dubai?"

[Photo: Jaunted]]]> JetSetCD 2010-09-07T17:33:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/4/35518/26048

Chicago is trying to prevent people from hibernating this winter by enticing them to boogie on down at the new Chicago Winter Dance Festival, which debuts this month at Millennium Park. Best of all, you can shake it for free.

Modeled after the city's super-popular SummerDance series, the month-long festival offers an hour of dance lessons and time afterward to work your new skills. But the festival will add another perk by allowing you to show off your moves at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink with skating lessons, ice dancing demonstrations and nighttime themed ice parties.]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-02-04T15:55:21-05:00 41.8821051 -87.622957 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/12/3/15333/3639

In Los Angeles, where this story is being written by a window with sunlight streaming through, it is a comfortable 65 degrees outside. Not a raindrop, not a flurry, and certainly no snow storms to speak of. The same is virtually true of San Francisco, so neither can claim being winter wonderlands, at least not in the traditional sense.

Ultimately, what is there to complain about? Bright skies allow us to shed bulky layers, and access to a wealth of ice rinks means we're not precluded from participating in chilly holiday activities. Just in time for winter's impending arrival, we're updating our list of worthy California ice rinks. Finding that hot toddy is up to you, though.

Check out the full list after the jump! ]]> Heidi Atwal 2009-12-03T17:54:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/12/2/143022/025

As we learned the hard way last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving earned its ominous nickname for good reason. We decided to brave the crowds in San Francisco's Union Square on the busiest shopping day of the year, only to be shoved and given the occasional dirty look by those supposedly bubbling with the spirit of the season.

The madness was due in part to some of the bargains to be had, and the tree lighting ceremony that took place that evening. News vans, families, and tourists from all over elbowed their way past each other to secure a viewing spot, but by 6:30 that night, most decent vantage points were taken and onlookers had to settle for a place on the sidewalks across the street. Standing at the intersection of Powell and Geary that night, our only thought was, "This must be what hell looks like."

Check out the pictures, after the jump! ]]> Heidi Atwal 2009-12-02T15:34:58-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/28/0216/41363

Oh lovely, dreamy ice skating. In Manhattan, it's like the default activity suggestion for cutesy second dates, suburban friends come to visit, and wide-eyed children. Thanks to the movies and tourist brochures, many people believe that the sunken skating rink in Rockefeller Center is the hot spot for ice, when in actuality the city is dotted with other far more affordable, far less crowded frozen ponds.

Inspired by the dry, cold weather in New York and the absence of Christmas decorations, we've revamped our list of two years ago for the best ice rinks of New York City:]]> JetSetCD 2009-01-28T11:08:16-05:00 40.7590000 -73.979000 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/10/132848/432

A rare, week-long stretch of subzero temperatures has transformed the canals and lakes of Holland into a frozen wonderland, prompting more than two million Dutch citizens to don their blades and participate in the age-old pastime of ice skating across the flat country. An interesting Reuters item explains that increasing global temperatures have made thick natural ice rare in the Netherlands, so when an opportunity to skate for miles and miles along the interconnected canals comes up, plenty of people take advantage.

If the ice remains thick enough, officials hope to hold the Elfstedentocht (Journey of Eleven Cities), a daylong ice skating race in which skaters complete a 200-kilometer loop that begins and ends in the city of Leeuwarden. The race hasn't been held in a decade due to flimsy ice, but Dutch skating fans like Queen Beatrix would be especially pleased if the weather cooperates this year, as 2009 marks the race's centennial.

Visitors to the newly-sanitized city of Amsterdam, however, will need to make for the countryside if they want to try their hand at canal skating. The urban ice isn't quite thick enough yet to support skaters, but something tells me there will be a few folks just loopy enough to try.

[Photo: AP via Yahoo! News]

Related Stories:
· Dutch Take to Skates as Cold Snap Freezes Canals [Reuters]
· Elfstedentocht [The Holland Ring]
· Ice Skating Coverage [Jaunted]]]> Victor Ozols 2009-01-10T13:28:48-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/