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Polar Brrrger Club Braves Cold, Snow To Feast On Burgers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The thought of snow-covered roads and freezing cold temperatures may send some running for the comfort of their own home, but for some New York burger fanatics, this latest snowstorm meant only two things: Hawaiian shirts and beefy burgers.

Members of the Polar Brrrger Club gather on the snowiest days of the year to get their burger fix while braving the harsh winter elements.

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Polar Brrrger Club event. (Credit: David "Rev" Ciancio/1010 WINS)

On Wednesday, following a snowstorm that blanketed New York City with up to a foot of the white stuff, burger junkies headed over to Burger Burger on Pearl Street to mark the fourth-ever Polar Brrrger Club event.

David "Rev" Ciancio, who hosted the event, said those who attended were encouraged to dress up in their best Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses, although the attire was not mandatory. The first 10 people to show up received free burgers and anyone who participated received a free soda.

The idea behind the Polar Brrrger Club started with another famous New York City tradition, Ciancio said. "The idea spurned itself from the annual New Year's Day tradition of the Polar Bear Club. Where people strip down to their skivvies and jump in the freezing cold water. Well, I'm not that daring, so the idea was let's just wear Hawaiian shirts and go eat burgers in the cold."

And Ciancio said club members really pride themselves on their dedication to enjoying burgers in the most arctic conditions. "Not just snow, but it has to be a significant snowfall. I think the popular term would be blizzard. You know, the idea being that just because it's cold we don't want to go get a burger, we want to go when it's at its absolute worst out."

The first-ever Polar Brrrger Club took place on Feb. 26, 2010, followed by events on Dec. 27, 2010 and Feb. 9, 2013.

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