How to Fall in Love with Winter

From a fellow winter lover.

Every day, more and more wreaths, twinkle lights, and red bows are popping up in the neighborhood. As a winter lover, this is one of my favorite times. It’s always strange because it indicates that another year has passed; that comes with its own set of weird feelings. But it’s also a time when I feel so much joy and gratitude.

The winter can be challenging for a lot of people. The days are colder, darker, and shorter. The holidays might not feel so “merry.” But here are some things I love during the wintertime that might help this season feel a little warmer and lovelier.

Wearing a Comfy, Beautiful Coat

Winter is significantly better when you’ve got a warm coat that you feel amazing in. I love my long, navy coat from Claudie Pierlot and my wool coat with a fuzzy collar I thrifted several years ago. I don’t buy new coats every year, but I recently ordered this wool coat from W Concept, which I’m excited to add to my coat rotation.

Evening Tea Hangouts

The other day, Aaron and I had friends over. Our friend brought us some peppermint tea and after dinner, I made some for everyone and added a bit of honey. Spicy, sweet, floral, minty — this season is the best time to explore tea flavors. It’s nice having an evening tea ritual, and I love this teapot. For tea inspiration, I like watching Julyssa’s tea tray videos on TikTok.

Slow-Roasting Something

The act of slow-roasting a nice meal is one of the most gratifying things you could do. It takes hours, and your house smells amazing, and afterward, you’ve got meat that’s falling off the bone and melting in your mouth. I always return to this Spiced, Braised Short Ribs with Creamy Potatoes from Alison Roman. I’ve made it several times, and every time, it’s perfect.

Have a Nice Weekday Dinner

Why wait till the weekend to go out to a nice dinner? I love going to cozy dinner spots on a random Tuesday during the winter. I don’t like how crowded restaurants get on the weekends, so this is the perfect time to visit your favorite places. I often return to Long Island Bar (get the little gems salad, deviled eggs, and burger), Yemen Café (casual, authentic Yememi spot), Frankies 457 Spuntino (delicious pasta), Allswell (the best chicken sandwich IMO), and Caza Azul (favorite Oaxacan food).

Going to Those Galleries You’ve Had Bookmarked

When you don’t want to do something outdoors, I highly recommend bundling up and going to those exhibitions you’ve saved. This past weekend, I visited the Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery and it was stunning.

Paying Attention to the Winter Light

One of my small pleasures is noticing the light shift throughout the seasons. It’s my first winter in my current apartment, and I look forward to 4 pm every day when the sun starts setting.

Going on a Perfume Tour

If you’re into fragrances or want to find a new winter (or summer!) perfume, I went to a Nolita Perfume Tour hosted by Asia Grant’s Scent Social Club. She’s a perfumer who hosts tours every weekend. We fill out a survey ahead of time, and at the start of the tour, she gives us personal recommendations for perfumes. We got to go to 3 different perfume shops. Our first stop was at DS&Durga and we even got to smell scents from the archives. It was 2 hours of sniffing and walking and meeting new friends — the perfect Saturday activity.

Light Up Some Candles

Candles really do make everything better. When the sun sets, I start my ritual of lighting the candles around the apartment. I’ve now been exclusively using these beeswax candles because last year, I made the mistake of buying random taper candles on Amazon and they gave me a horrible throat irritation. These beeswax ones, though, smell incredible, last a long time, and make my space feel more romantic.

Go to the Movies During the Week

Another weekday activity but I swear, going to the movies helps bring joy to the week. Get in your comfiest clothes, put on your warmest jacket, pack your favorite snack and beverage, and trek on over to your local movie theater. Movies are great all year, but there’s something about a winter watch.

Getting Tickets for a Live Performance

There is truly nothing better than getting ready on a random Tuesday evening during the winter and heading out to see a show. Whether it’s The Nutcracker, the Philharmonic, or a comedy show hosted by my friend Chandler, going to a live performance is a great activity year-round, but especially in the wintertime when you want indoor entertainment. I highly recommend

Rebecca Deczynski

’s newsletter Thinking About Getting Into because she highlights what’s going on in the arts.

I hope you enjoyed these little suggestions, and if you still aren’t the biggest fan of winter, that’s okay. We’re doing our best! I also found these winter poems from the Poetry Foundation worth reading regardless. <3

For Your Leisure

The In Praise of Shadows exhibition at the Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery is on view until January 11, 2025

Quarters is as beautiful as they say it is. Go, browse, sit on all the chairs and couches, and enjoy.

I stopped by the Not-So-Normal Market this past weekend. It’s at the old Barney’s department store and it was three floors of curated vintage. I came across Sirrah Archive and love how she adds gorgeous charms to vintage bags. I’m returning this weekend because there was much more to see.

Aaron and I have been scanning some of our favorite books from our personal collection and putting them together on a website. You can browse our books here. We’ll continuously add to it because we love seeing our books in one place.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this, please share it with a friend, leave a comment, and subscribe. And say hello on Instagram!