Bryant Park Winterland Wonderland - A Vegan Heaven (with Discounts!)

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I may be somewhat partial, however, there’s no place like New York City during the holiday season. During this annual festive period, the streets and shops are buzzing, the iceskating rinks are filled with figure eights, arabesques and camel spins, while onlookers cozy together sipping on hot chocolate or mulled hot apple cider.

At Bryant Park you may witness such events and perhaps even partake in them. The park is set up like a fairytale winter wonderland, with a sparkling tree, a delightful skating rink, beautiful holiday decorations everywhere, and holiday, artist and food vendors in charming kiosks throughout the park -- these do beautifully add to the holiday spirit of the place, you will see (while you are sipping on your hot apple cider with cinnamon stick).

MOREOVER, AS IF ALL THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH, BRYANT PARK IS -- AMAZINGLY -- A VEGAN WONDERLAND. HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE. (AND WHERE YOU WILL EAT!): One 100% Vegan food vendor (Chimney Cakes), right next to another 100% Vegan food vendor (Soup for the Soul), right next to another 100% Vegan food vendor (Blossom Du Jour). Across the way is another 100% Vegan food vendor (Lucky Sailor), which is a few feet away from Raaka Chocolate (100% Vegan chocolate). Very nearby is Two Tablespoons 100% Vegan soup. Near Two Tablespoons is a delightful newcomer: This Pie Is Nuts - they are 100% Vegan! Across the park is Vegushi -- 100% Vegan sushi! And one of my longtime favorites -- Big Apple Cider, hot apple cider, with or without a cinnamon stick -- I say with! -- which is also of course 100% Vegan!

And, we've arranged some discounts for our Meetup group! We are getting $1 off per order at both Chimney Cakes and Soup for the Soul, and 20% off at Vegushi (100% Vegan sushi)!

Is this the future of the world? Yes, it is!! But how did it happen in 2014? Two words: Frank DiPrisco!

Frank DiPrisco is Executive Director, and one of the owners, of the company that organizes the Winter Village at Bryant Park. He is a vegan. And he loves welcoming vegan businesses to Bryant Park!

Frank is my new hero. More than 80 of the the 127 vendors at Bryant Park sell all-vegan items. (This also includes vendors who sell merchandise rather than food.)

Frank will actually be leading us on an eating and shopping tour of Bryant Park! He is thrilled and very pleased to be doing this for us. I say: Thank you one million times Frank, for what you are doing to help the animals, for what you are doing to improve New York, and for what you are doing by expanding all of our minds: giving us a glimpse of a vegan future yet to come!

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Where To Meet: We will meet at 6:30pm right on the corner of 42nd Street and 6th Ave (the Bryant Park corner of this street intersection). I (David Greene) am 6' 4" will be wearing a black parka, and I will be holding a sign that says "MEETUP". We'll be waiting on the corner till just 6:45pm, so don't be late! At 6:45pm we will enter the park and will be given a vegan eating and shopping tour by Frank DiPrisco, Executive Director of the Winter Village at Bryant Park!

I am so looking forward to this beautiful holiday evening. Come join us.

David