New York in winter

Dear tourists: Save a grand flying roundtrip from Omaha in June and come enjoy the splendours of a New York winter. From ice skating in Bryant or Central Park or Rockefeller Center to enjoying a hot cocoa with friends in the Village, the city is oozing warmth this time of year.

True, you must pack that winter coat, a good hat and gloves, and another layer for every body part (I wore jeans and sweats yesterday). You must also check your vanity at the door, ladies -- caught my reflection and realized my face looked like a very white raisin. Remember to moisturize!

I recommend dining indoors, not out, even when restaurants offer heaters oitside. It is impossible to heat the entire space and you will freeze running inside to the bathroom. Book ahead if you really want a decent table. My favorite restautants include Butter (butterrestaurant.com) in Midtown and Balthazar (balthazarny.com) in lower Manhattan. But for simple good eating either buy a hot dog from a street vendor or pop into Whole Foods at Columbus Circle and make your own salad.

If you are a runner (I used to be), nothing is more invigorating than a jog through Central or Riverside Park (along the Hudson River) in mid February! First, you can whiz through paths and streets unencumbered by nasty crowds, enjoying the skylines of brownstones and Rhapsody in Blue in your mind as sweat forms and becomes little icycles. See earlier recommendation for hot cocoa, and finish up your run at Epicerie Boulud (epicerieboulud). I had the most delicious latte there on Valentine's Day, a small at just under a fiver. They also boast an array of pastries and sandwiches, affording front-row seats to the sidewalk ballet of shoppers and young lovers scurrying down Broadway.

Finally, if you are a sledder, Central Park in winter is for you.I have a trusty old sled, but am still looking for an eight year-old boy to race me down the hill.