Contrary to popular opinion, I think winter is awesome! I love winter, and I especially love snow. Granted I’m not a big fan of sludge, slush or mucky snow, I still can see the beauty of a Moscow winter. So, you may not have sunlight, or much light in general, but at least you have the bitter cold… Oh… hmm. But look on the bright side: At least this bitter cold will keep the snow frozen which means you can partake in all those fun winter sports like ice-skating, skiing and snowboarding. Yes, believe it or not, you can snowboard and downhill ski in and around Moscow. Find out some places to go in our Top 10 and where to buy the hottest gear.

And if the great outdoors isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of other things to do in Moscow. For example, you can go to a concert! If you like pop-rock, make sure to head down to the Cardigans. Find out what they know about Russia. If you prefer something a bit different, don’t miss out on the Philip Glass concert. LifeStyle talked to the "father of minimalism" and got the goods on what drives a genius.

So you’ve spent all day running around working up an appetite? Or maybe you just want to fatten up to stay warm this winter? Whatever the case, there’s always a good reason to get out and grab a meal of food. The question that always arises, however, is where to go. Let LifeStyle guide you and help you decide where to eat and drink in our new Ratings section.

Well, now that I’ve warmed you up, so to speak, for this exciting edition of LifeStyle, I won’t keep you any further. Just remember to check out the last page because we’re putting together our annual Best of the Year issue and it would be a shame if you didn’t get your votes in, even heartbreaking. And also, check out the special article from my mom! Ingenuity runs in the family.

Until next time,