FAMILY FUN
5 Places to Go
Ice Skating
in the DMV
BY LINDSAY C. VANASDALAN
O Silver Spring Ice Skating at
Veteran’s Plaza
8523 Fenton Street, Silver Spring | Mondays
through Fridays Noon to 10 p.m., Saturdays
and Sundays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Stop in for a skate at Veterans Plaza’s
pavilion-covered rink when you’re out shop-
ping or grabbing a bite in downtown Silver
Spring. Lessons are available on weekends,
and the rink can also be booked for small
groups, fundraisers, birthdays and large
groups for special rates. The season runs
through mid-March. Reservations are
required; they are available up to two weeks
in advance.

Tickets start at $10, skate rental $5
silverspringiceskating.com Rockville Town Square
131 Gibbs St., Rockville | Mondays through
Thursdays Noon to 10 p.m., Fridays Noon to 11
p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sundays 10
a.m. to 10 p.m.

At 7,200 square feet, this open-air skate
in the Rockville Town Square is the largest
between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.—
and the largest in Montgomery County.

Choose between hockey or figure skates
when booking a time slot or schedule. The
8 Washington FAMILY JULY 2022
skating season runs through mid-March.

Reservations are required.

Tickets start at $10; skate rental $5
rockvilleiceskating.com Harris Pavilion Ice Rink
9201 Center St, Manassas | Mondays through
Fridays 3:30–9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays
11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Skate under the Harris Pavilion in Historic
Manassas and explore the history, shops and
restaurants in the community. Families can
grab a photo together at the iconic Virginia
“LOVE” sign at the nearby Manassas Rail-
road Depot, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
in January except for Jan. 3 and 17 (On those
days, hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Harris
Pavilon offers both private and group les-
sons. Reservations are required.

Tickets start at $8, sskate rentals are $5;
group rates are $12 per person.

manassasva.gov The Wharf Ice Rink
760 Maine Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C.|
Wednesdays through Fridays 4-10 p.m., Satur-
days Noon to 10 p.m., Sundays Noon to 8 p.m.

Try out D.C.’s only over-water ice skating
rink! The Wharf Ice Rink is open through
WEYO / ADOBESTOCK
h the weather outside may be frightful, but the
glistening ice from these outdoor winter skating rinks
is all too delightful. Town squares and shopping centers
in the DMV offer picturesque views in locations convenient for a
family outing. Stop in for an hourly skate, book a lesson or come
with a group!
Don’t get cold feet just because you don’t know where to start.

Here are five ice skating rinks that are open and accessible to
everyone in your family, from beginners to seasoned pros!
February, with special holiday hours. Skaters
of all ages and skill levels are welcome, from
first-timers to Olympians. Go for a skate,
and grab hot beverages and other seasonal
specialties at nearby shops and restaurants.

Tickets start at $10, skate rentals and skate aids
are $7 each.

wharfdc.com/wharf-ice-rink Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice
Skating 1201 S Joyce St., Arlington | Tuesdays through
Thursdays Noon to 10 p.m., Fridays Noon to 11
p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays
and Mondays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Renovations in 2013 made this rink the
largest in Northern Virginia—and the sec-
ond-largest in the state at 6,840 square feet.

A dual-sided stone fireplace keeps things
cozy in between skates. Group skating and
youth and adult lessons are available. Rent
hockey skates (advanced), figure skates or
double blades (for young children).

Tickets start at $10; skate rentals are $6
Pentagonrowskating.com n
Heather M. Ross contributed to this story.




DIY
warm up winter with
W TERMELON FUN
STORY AND PHOTOS BY FAMILY FEATURES
SNOW: IRINA GUTYRYAK; WATERMELON GRAPHIC:
MARIUS AUZELIS/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS
T he cold chill of winter may have
you feeling trapped indoors with
nothing to do and nowhere to go,
but fun activities fit for the whole family can
add excitement and chase away those winter-
time blues. Paired with an appetizing snack,
at-home crafting provides a relaxing way to
keep your mind and body moving.

Warming up with family-friendly activ-
ities starts with a versatile (and delicious)
option like watermelon, which can be your
sweet superstar all year long. As a center-
piece for evenings at home or gatherings
and get-togethers, its versatility creates
zero food waste with endless creative uses
in the kitchen, from rind-smile snowmen to
handheld snacks.

When this year’s first snowfall offers a can-
vas for creativity and entertainment, gather
your loved ones to make this Watermelon
Snowman. Fresh-cut and personal-sized
watermelons are the predominant options
in wintertime, and they’re perfect for putting
together this festive work of art. All you’ll
need is a collection of kitchen knives, an ice
cream scoop, melon ballers, skewers, some
decorative “clothing” and blueberries for a
fruit salad served right out of the snowman.

While you’re hard at work, ease your
appetite with a quick and easy snack like
Watermelon Glazed Meatballs. Start with a
homemade watermelon puree mixed with
barbecue sauce. Then, saute frozen meat-
balls and top with the sweet glaze for a
perfect wintertime treat. Along with its deli-
cious taste, watermelon is also a nutritious
hydration source, which is just as import-
ant in winter as it is during warmer months,
and provides an excellent source of vitamin
C with 25% of the daily recommended value
in each 2-cup serving to support immunity.

These tasty morsels also make for a simple,
shareable appetizer while hosting through-
out the season. Just lay them out on a serving
tray and pop toothpicks into each meatball so
guests can grab and go while mingling.

To find more family-friendly crafts and
sweet snack ideas, visit watermelon.org.

4 U sing mini melon baller or paring
knife, scoop out holes for nose and
mouth. Carve one piece of water-
melon into triangle for nose and fill
mouth holes with blueberries.

5 6
7 On platter, using large wooden skewers,
connect all three watermelons.

Insert y-shaped sticks in middle
watermelon for arms.

Fill bottom sections with fruit salad of
melon balls and blueberries. Decorate
with scarf and hat.

WATERMELON SNOWMAN
kitchen knives
1 round seedless watermelon
WATERMELON GLAZED
MEATBALLS Servings: 8
2 personal-sized watermelons, one
larger than other
watermelon purée:
ice cream scoop or large spoon
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
melon baller
24-36 frozen prepared mini meatballs
mini melon baller or paring knife
1 cup prepared barbecue sauce
blueberries 1 cup watermelon purée
1 fresh watermelon
large wooden skewers
y-shaped sticks
scarf hat
1 U sing knife, cut 1/4-inch slice off
bottom of round seedless watermelon
and both personal watermelons to
provide stable bases. Use smallest
melon for head, second largest for
torso and largest for lower body. Set
aside smallest watermelon.

2 C ut tops off large and medium
watermelons to create bowls. Using
ice cream scoop or large spoon,
scoop out flesh.

3 U sing melon baller, scoop eyes out of
smallest watermelon. Invert melon
balls and reinsert.

TO MAKE
WATERMELON PURÉE:
1 2
3 4
R emove seeds from watermelon and
cut into large chunks. In blender,
process until smooth.

I n large, heavy saute pan over medi-
um-high heat or electric skillet set to
325° F, heat oil.

Saute mini meatballs until browned
and hot. Reduce heat to low.

M ix barbecue sauce and watermelon
puree. Pour over meatballs and
simmer 2-3 minutes. Serve hot. T
Source: National Watermelon
Promotion Board
WashingtonFAMILY.com 9