Lace up your ice skates in New York or Los Angeles

New York City visitors can cut a fine figure on the Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center, which opened over the weekend for the 2010-11 winter season. But if you don’t want to travel so far to pretend you’re Michelle Kwan or Scott Hamilton, just wait a few weeks: “Downtown on Ice” at Pershing Square will open next month in Los Angeles and will run through Jan. 17.

Yes, I know New York City’s rink is more famous—and offers more appropriate ice skating weather. But L.A.’s rink has a lot going for it too. It’s thousands of miles closer and $20 cheaper ($8 for adults in L.A. versus as much as $28 in New York, including skate rental).

The 411 on both:

Rockefeller Center: I have to admit the Ice Rink at Rockefeller has tradition in its favor. The rink first opened on Christmas Day 1936, complete with modern amenities: night skating, a heated house for changing shoes, piped-in music and rink-side dining. Since then, the rink has become one of the most visited sites in the Big Apple. During its season, which runs through April, more than a quarter-million skaters typically visit.

The Rock rink’s opening marks the beginning of festivities leading up to the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, planned for Dec. 1 this year. Special events during the season include “Breakfast With Santa” for kids and “Engagement on Ice,” which allows private time on the ice for marriage proposals.

Patina Restaurant Group operates the rink and its surrounding restaurants, the Sea Grill and Rock Center Café. The rink is on 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th streets. For schedules and skate rental information, call (212) 332-7654 or visit the rink’s website.

Pershing Square: Starting Nov. 18, Los Angeles visitors and residents will be able to lace up their skates and glide around the downtown Pershing Square rink Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 10 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., said Vicki Israel, assistant general manager for the Department of Recreation and Parks.

During the three weeks of holiday school vacation, Dec. 17 through Jan. 9, the rink will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, she added. The rink will remain open on all holidays including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s.

The cost will be $6 per one-hour skate session and $2 for skate rental. In addition to ice skating, live concerts will be scheduled several times per week, and a free Winter Holiday Festival, with snow, will be held the weekend of Dec. 11.

For more information call (213) 847-4970 (Pershing Square) or visit www.laparks.org. Israel said her department plans to post details about this year’s “Downtown on Ice” program on the website as early as next week.