Olympic hopefuls and skating newbies gather here to glide their way to the next Winter Games—or the next available arcade game.

Though a large banner boasts the arena as home to Trifun Zivanovic, a '99 US National silver medalist, first-timers are no less welcome than Ice Capades addicts and puck buddies. The arena offers public skating every day of the week (including late-night skating for snow owls), in addition to times reserved for stick-time hockey (open to all who want to practice), and pick-up hockey (when actual games are played). For those who haven't skated since the ice age, the Culver City Skating School holds courses in figure and hockey skating for beginning, intermediate and advanced skaters. The rink is also available for birthday parties and late-night games of hockey or broomball. Heat lamps thaw out the benchwarmers, and the coffee shop serves hot chocolate, chili burgers, fries and other warm, greasy fare. Bruised bums might be more comfortable in front of the arcade games or in the pro shop, which sells skates, jerseys, mittens, helmets and cute little skating outfits to hide those black-and-blue patches. —Elisa Jacobs