Skate the gray away Ahh – there you go, gliding over fresh ice, wrapped up in a scarf and hat, laughing with friends, sipping hot cocoa. ... Yep, it’s outdoor ice skating season, even in the mild Northwest. In fact, with new rinks open in downtown Tacoma and Puyallup, as well as favorites in Seattle and Bellevue, you might have too many skating choices.
Here’s the scoop (or maybe the slush) on location, atmosphere, price, food and ice quality to help you choose where to skate:
TACOMA – ART AND SKATE
Where: Franciscan Polar Plaza, Tollefson Plaza at South 19th Street and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma
When: 4-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 16; then 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 2, with skating until midnight Dec. 31.
Prices: $8 entry, $2 skate rental (includes $5 admission cards to Tacoma Art Museum)
Concessions: Coffee, cocoa, cider, water $2; cookies $1; face painting $3
Restrooms: No
Parking: $2 beneath TAM, metered street parking, free at the Dome with Polar Express bus
Location: f f f f
Atmosphere: f f f f f
Ice quality: f f
Information: polarplaza.com
The upside: Another great use for Tollefson Plaza. The new and long-awaited rink in downtown Tacoma has a lot of atmosphere, thanks to the location: Where else can you skate and watch downtown shoppers, lightrail trains and museum goers? The rink is open to the plaza steps, making a great hot cocoa sipping spot. On the way in, you can admire a mural and installation art in the pools. Entry also comes with a discounted admission to the nearby Tacoma Art Museum, plus a free Tacoma map and restaurant coupons. Painted benches cheer things up, and it’s very clean, with the cheapest drinks anywhere and face-painting for kids.
The downside: It’s smallish (100 feet by 40 feet) and the ice is rough and corrugated. Entry and watching areas are heated but small.
The scoop: Despite the ice, this is a great little rink, especially for finding people you know. You also can buy a Christmas tree just outside.
PUYALLUP – PLASTIC ICE
Where: Holiday on Ice, Pioneer Park Pavilion, 311 S. Meridian Ave., Puyallup
When: 3-11 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday (with 5 p.m. Santa parade), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Prices: $5.50 entry, $1.50 skate rental (noon-2:45 p.m. today $2.50 plus $1.50 rental)
Concessions: Hot dogs $3.50-$7, fries $2.50-$4, hot chocolate $2.50, cider $1.50, plus cookies, brownies and chocolate kettle corn
Restrooms: Yes
Parking: Free on the street and behind the library
Location: f f f f
Atmosphere: f f f f
Ice quality: f
Information: 253-840-2631 or puyallupmainstree.com
The upside: Pioneer Park Pavilion is a wonderful place for a rink, with a soaring roof, plenty of space and a park next door. Santa and Mrs. Claus are in attendance, there’s face painting and hot dogs and lovely clean restrooms.
The downside: There’s no ice. Actual ice, that is. This is Puyallup’s first time to try a rink. To save money, they’ve opted for plastic squares that link together like a 50-foot-by-50-foot kiddie playmat covered in wet silicone. The result? Something that’s pretty impossible to skate on, unless you’re age 7 and love dive-sliding (and getting plastic flakes on your clothes).
The scoop: Kids likely will love it. Grown-ups will, too, as long as they don’t try to actually skate.
SEATTLE CENTER – ENTERTAINING ICE CRUSH
Where: Winterfest Ice Rink, Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center (just south of the big fountain), 305 Harrison St., Seattle
When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 1 (closed Dec. 25; open till 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31)
Prices: $7 adults, $5 ages 6-12, $2 ages 5 and younger (includes skate rental)
Concessions: Espresso, hot chocolate, cider, soda $1.50-$3.79; snacks (pretzel, popcorn, chips) $1-$3; pizza, chili, hot dog, wraps $3.69-$6.99; salads $3.49-$7.99
Restrooms: Yes
Parking: $10 in garage, $4-$10 on street
Location: f f f f f
Atmosphere: f f
Ice quality: f f f
Information: 206-684-7200, seattlecenter.com/winterfest
The upside: The Seattle Center’s annual ice rink has a lot of good things going for it. You can combine skating with a show, museum visit, Monorail ride or Winterfest. You also can look out the big glass windows to see the lighted carousel and ice sculptures. Because it’s indoors, the plentiful sitting area is nice and warm. The entry is one of the cheapest. Good news for beginners: This is the only rink with gliding skate guides (arrive early to snag one).
The downside: It’s really crowded because the rink is small and everyone else thinks the location is pretty great, too. Cessions are varied, but they aren’t cheap.
The scoop: A fun thing to do if you’re already there for something else.
BELLEVUE – SKATE IN THE PARK
What: GroupHealth Ice Arena, Northeast First Street and 102nd Avenue Northeast, Bellevue
When: 3-9 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, 1-9 p.m. Wednesday, 3-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 8. Open Christmas Day. Stroller skating runs from 2-3 p.m. Thursday.
Prices: $7 entry, $3 skate rental
Concessions: Cappuccino, hot chocolate $2; cider $1.50; tea, coffee, water, soda $1; snacks (noodles, granola bars, popcorn, etc.) 50 cents-$1.50; candy, cookies $1
Restrooms: No
Parking: Free onsite
Location: f f f
Atmosphere: f f f
Ice quality: f f f f
Information: 425-453-3110, magicseason.com
The upside: Bellevue’s downtown park makes a beautiful skate setting, with trees behind and a holiday-lit tent overhead. At 115 feet by 60 feet, it is the largest of the four rinks, and it’s well-groomed. There are lessons offered and there’s even a stroller-skating session for those skaters who can’t walk yet. There also is a skate-sharpening service and a few helmets for loan.
The downside: It might only be a few blocks south from the snowflake glitz of Bellevue mall, but there’s not much in the vicinity; you’ll have to drive there from shops and restaurants.
The scoop: One of the best for skating, though not too convenient.
Rosemary Ponnekanti: 253-597-8568, rosemary.ponnekanti@thenewstribune.com, blog.thenewstribune.com/arts
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