Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Watermark: A Dream in New York

Every year we reach the same time of the year. Halloween was upon us but we were already shopping for the Christmas holidays and season. It has become a habit we do not give up or forget. It is the tradition of what we expect after the year we have just had. It is the time of thinking and planning, and even taking out the items we need and what to do. And for some of us, it is a time to go shopping when we go out to eat. And drink.

Being in New York this is natural for us to do. We can go into the City itself and walk down Fifth Avenue to see the sights, the tree in Rockefeller Center, and the store windows. The lights. The music. The people. It is all here. Even the restaurants are preparing for this special time and people are stepping inside for an evening of drinking and eating and talking.

You will find this all over the city itself, from Harlem down to Wall Street. It is all here. But if you go a block over and to a place you might not have thought of you will find a different place. A place that few might know of unless you work in the area. That could be a good thing for you. It is more private and not filled with tourists. It truly becomes a winter wonderland for you to visit.

Welcome to the Winter Wonderland at Watermark. It is a good start to the season ahead.

Winter Wonderland at Watermark: Step inside and see what awaits.

The Winter Wonderland at Watermark is near the South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan. It is on Pier 15 which is at 78 South Street. You step inside and onto the dock. It is a space that has been there for decades and is always filled with different things to do and enjoy. Having worked across from it for several years, it was always the place to be even for lunch to look out onto the waters and see the bridge. It was a true New York for all times.

At this time of the year, it now becomes your winter dream. You enter the area with a special ticket that is required if you want to experience it for yourself, your family, and your friends. There are things to do. Places to see. Food to enjoy. It is like a mini-version of the Holiday Markets you see when you visit parts of Europe this time of the year. The German markets are famous. A night of Gluhwein warm wines, brats pretzels, and pastry. You also see shops and listen to music and imagination as you walk past each stall and carry the wine with you.

The same is similar here, although not as large. It is smaller on several levels. But there is always a place to start. For that, get the warm wine. Or maybe a beer. That is ideal.

For the beer, we selected a Downeast Winter Blend. It had a taste of cider that was blended in and gave an interesting taste and flavor. It was a light beer at only 6.5%. It was ideal for a walk. 

We also knew we needed something warm, but this would wait for later like a dessert. This was having the NY Polar Express. An interesting combination of SKYY Vodka infused with Oreo and that chocolate touch. It also had a slate of Kamora Dulce de Leche and a Kamora Coffee Liqueur. Naturally, it had to have hot coffee mixed in. Together it was an interesting flare for taste. Something very different. It is not just a cup of coffee as you expect in New York.

As for the warm wine, this was not as easy. Instead, I ordered a Terrazas de Los Andres Reserva Malbec. It was full-bodied, fruity, and subtle from Argentina. It had a rich flavor. But, to make it a true Gluhwein, in my pocket, I had the spices I bought at the market when in Germany. Put a little in the wine and heat it up even by putting it near a warm pot or candle. In a minute you can create the true warm wine you would like to have as you walk through the glass houses. This is the delight of winter at the market.

It’s a time to eat it all in.

Naturally, as you are spending time out on the pier and having something to drink as the sun sets, it is time to consider what to eat. At a traditional holiday market in Europe, there are the selective items to get. These are standard. But here being in New York we do have a bigger variety to choose from. 

The first place to go is to get some Vegetarian Chili. This is a mixture of vegetables including tomatoes, avocados, corn, zucchini and eggplant. You need to add some dry chili pepper to give it some extra flavor and spice. It is served warm and is ideal when having the beer. It did come with some chips for dipping and to crunch.

Next up was some Dasher’s Truffle Fries. Good, fried, shoestring potatoes that are topped with some parmesan cheese and a touch of truffle Romano. It was good with a bit of dip to put the fries into as you enjoyed it with the beer. 

Of course, we needed to have something to go with the wine itself. This was the Soul Warmer Mac and Cheese. It is placed in a waffle cone for a different touch. This was a good choice as it is a combination of gouda, cheddar, fontina, and romano cheese placed in the cone and topped with some golden breadcrumbs. Interesting to hold and walk with. Requesting a small dish it was easier to eat separately at the table while wanting to see what was happening and drinking the warm wine.

Coming from New York, you need to have NY cheesecake for dessert. But to have a Creme Brulee Cheesecake does make a difference. Especially when you have your own cheesecake recipe passed down to the family. This was good, and topped with berries. A little freshening after the drinks and what to eat.

It’s a site to see.

Coming to the Winter Wonderland at Watermark is an experience unto itself. You come for the food and the beverages. To be with friends and enjoy. But, being in the South Street Seaport area it is a true experience. Here in the holiday months, the weather is a bit cooler. The water flows in and out. People come and go. But to see New York City, or look over to Brooklyn, is what it is all about.

You will find sleighs and reindeer and so much more. There are lights and trees and a step into an imagination of what a wonderland can be even in the city itself. It is a far cry from what you experience when stepping into the holiday markets for the evening in Berlin, Munich, and even Budapest.

The glasshouses here are different and have something to do. There are things to see and do, including stopping to see the place where there is holiday candy. You walk through connecting glass houses and paths that are all lit up with lights and bring a look to the sky above. In fact, looking through the strings of lights you can see the city itself aglow with stars as the sky above turns dark and the night opens up.

The glass houses are available for dinner. Reservations are recommended. There is a menu from which to order. It is a good place to have dinner and a beverage before heading out to the city itself. It is ideal to sit and look out from the city and see the world ahead.

For an evening of seeing the sites and having food, the Winter Wonderland at Watermark brings you the spirits of the holiday right there. For a more traditional holiday market you find in Europe where there is food, holiday shopping, and some Gluhwein warm wines, then head up to Bryant Park right behind the New York Public Library and experience what they offer. Either way, you can see what awaits.

I actually went to visit the Winter Wonderland at Watermark twice in a few days. I wanted to see what difference awaits each time you go. That difference is that you leave the city behind as you put your feet through the doorway and step inside. A special world awaits here. You just need to accept the chance and the experience itself and decide.

Of course, Santa is there waiting for you.

Cheers!

LOCATION:

Winter Wonderland at Watermark / Website

78 South Street, at Pier 15,
New York, NY 10038

November 8 to December 31, 2024
Ticket required.

Ron Rossi

“The Jaded Traveler”. Ron Rossi was born and raised in New York. A globalist at heart, Ron is a marketing director by trade, and has lived and worked around the world including Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Food is one of the best ways to learn about a country, a people and a culture. So, Ron is always looking for the best in mid-range to budget and street food. He is always on the hunt for a good meal anyone can afford. It is the food of the average citizen that excites him. And with having visited close to 100 countries on 6 continents so far, there have been some pretty good meals.