Roller skating has long been a part of NYC culture. Some New Yorkers chose to skate to work during the city’s historic 1966 transit strike. Many laced up the skates to boogie the night away in the days of roller disco. And today, you may see skaters executing spins on the asphalt near the Sheep Meadow in Central Park. In fact, the design for the modern quad skate, with its two side-by-side pairs of wheels, was patented in 1863 by James L. Plimpton, a New York furniture dealer and inventor, who went on to open some of the first roller skating rinks in the U.S. here in New York City.
There’s no more fitting place for roller skating than Rockefeller Center, a city icon where the ice has been replaced with a smooth surface that welcomes both gliding wheels and summer breezes. Residents at the no-fee Manhattan apartments at ARO can now include roller skating at Rockefeller Center on the long list of world-famous experiences awaiting them just moments from their front door.
Why not grab your skates and make a day of it? Check out the Matisse show at the Museum of Modern Art, and get those stiff gallery legs moving at the rink. Do a shop and skate, where you hit all the hottest flagship stores in Midtown. Or, stop by the Catbird outpost, just next to the rink, where you can layer your neck and wrists with delicate, recycled gold links for the perfect retro disco queen ensemble.
Open from now through October, the Rockefeller roller rink comes with a history of its own. It is operated by Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace, a Los Angeles institution begun by Ian “Flipper” Ross in 1979, and now overseen by his daughter, Liberty Ross. The arrival of the roller skate to The Rock allows New Yorkers to revisit a time when the free spirit of the skating dance party energized crowds of revelers.
While the original Flipper’s attracted the likes of Elton John and Cher, this new incarnation is a place where celebrities and locals brush elbows. There is room for everyone — from the beginner still shaky on their wheels to the expert who makes dancing on skates look like gliding through the air. More than just a place to skate, the rink offers a full lineup of programming, including meditative morning skates, disco nights, activities for kids, and gospel Sundays. The rink is open seven days a week, and the party rages on until midnight from Thursday through Saturday nights.
As a place that promises to be a lively social hub, the rink is yet another exciting destination for residents of the no-fee NYC rentals at ARO — whether it’s a unique spot for a date night, a location for celebrations with family or friends, or just an opportunity to get some fun and stimulating exercise. Not least of its thrills is the pleasure of letting down your hair right in the beating heart of the most famous neighborhood on Earth.
Only a limited amount of residences are available, there’s no time to waste. Contact the team at ARO today!