How to Celebrate New Years Eve in Times Square
For several decades Time Square in New York City has been the place to be for ringing in the New Year. Everybody should at least once experience the ball drop in person. There are, however, a few guidelines to make the experience more enjoyable. There should also be some clarity on the expectations for the night. Overall, it is definitely something worth doing.
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Instructions
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Budget accordingly. The holiday season is peak for visitors to the city. If you are budget conscious, you may have to stay out in New Jersey or Long Island for affordable rooms. Reserve a hotel within close access to the New York City subway.
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Dress accordingly. Layer! On one New Year's Eve visit, there was no snow, however, a chilling arctic wind descended through the canyons of Manhattan. Expect snow.
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Schedule accordingly. Note that the Times Square event is usually filled to capacity by visitors spending their holiday in the city. Locals generally avoid this event like the plague. Plan to be at Time Square by mid-afternoon on the 31st.
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Dine early and consume large quantities of food. Once you are "in the pits" on the street, there will be no food access.
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Plan a bathroom visit before leaving the restaurant. Once "in the pit" there are no port-o-potties. Six to 7 hours is a long containment period and will challenge even the most steadfast constitutions.
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Be on the street in the early evening and watch for city officials to start clearing the square of vehicle traffic. They will begin to set up barricades for the revelers to stand in. These barricades are heavily guarded by New York's finest.
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Grab any goodies provided by the event sponsors. The goodies generally include oversize hats, tacky glasses, noisemakers and balloons, all which make great souvenirs.
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Observe that the network emcees that are broadcasting the event are safe and snug in the studio watching through a large window. The networks only send out a crew to film those bracing the weather. The cheering usually is the loudest when the camera is on. Some fortunate souls have connections in the apartments above the street revelers.
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Note that when the cameras are turned off, many of the revelers huddle or sit on the street trying to stay warm. Occasionally some performance artist will mingle through the crowd to entertain and amuse.
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Leave the pit and risk not returning to the saved spot. Police discourage leaving but will allow it if pressed. They will only allow a return if they recognize the face. This is quite the risk when after four hours of waiting for the countdown, necessity persists, and one is not allowed to return and therefore misses the entire event.
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Find a restaurant, if one must leave the pit, but note that the restrooms are for patrons only. Ask for a take-out menu, order anything, and use the restroom.
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Buy a pizza slice from an entrepreneur if desperately hungry. Some capitalist will gladly sell pizza by the slice at extremely inflated prices.
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Prepare for the firework noise and the confetti drop at midnight. Leave quickly to the nearest subway stop. Be aware of pushing masses behind.
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Tips & Warnings
Note that any coolers or alcoholic beverages will be confiscated.
