Text by K. Cecchini
Ringing in the new year naturally is bogged down with great expectations for the eve -and, not to mention, the 365 days to follow.
New Years Around New York
If you haven’t completely tired or given up on the grand spectacle of New Years in New York, then wherever you are in the area, you are likely to countdown with Ryan Seacrest (if you are older than 30, you will do this while lamenting Dick Clark’s heyday) and mark the Times Square ball drop with a champagne toast and a kiss.
As other New Years around the world are beamed into our TV sets while the globe turns, I am sure many of you have seen the Times Square extravaganza on your televisions as well. If you haven’t, here’s a quick synopsis; the freezing square is filled with thousands of revelers looking out the newest redesign of the glasses to fit the year – the ‘2015’ design was lame- while packed into gated areas like sardines and cheering when prompted. On the stages are underdressed and overproduced performers that fit two categories; the newest musical flavors or past stars whose flames are flickering.
If you are in the crowd, you have to hold your spot for hours (ignoring the call of nature) around folks that are probably swiftly becoming intoxicated -and intolerable. As the crowd disperses, leaving tons of litter for the city’s sanitation crews, you reconvene with your fellow, drunker revelers to pack in on subways and trains.
Last night, those fortunate folks donned pink top hats with lipstick kisses courtesy of CoverGirl and Cosmo.
Yet, the rest of us are not jealous.
While local college students use it as an excuse for yet another party, folks in their early twenties will often opt to buy an overpriced ticket to a bar or club that delivers a lukewarm buffet, hours of sweaty dancing and a plastic flute of champagne at midnight.
Us older New Yorkers opt for either a nice dinner out -some pre fixed and costly to mark the occasion- or get together with friends and families in someone’s living room. While, as John Oliver noted, you watch the hummus dip slowly brown on a coffee table, you are glad to have let some of the hype out of the night to hang with the people you love.
To be sure, at some point, someone will tune into a countdown (as it is 2015 and my friends are sans cable, we watched a live stream from the web) while one person hesitantly pops the sparkling wine cork. And many folks, from Rutgers University to the bars in New York to the living rooms all around the Tri-state- clank their glasses to herald in the new calendar and pucker up their lips for a kiss. After our own toast, we were treated to fireworks over Central Park from our window.
No matter where you are, here’s to a brilliant 2015 and “may she be a damn sight better than the last…”
Tonight at Dawn 
Hi Kimberly,
We always wanted to spend a Xtmas in New York but never the NYE. For us NYE matchs with a warme beach.
This year we were in Bangkok and decided to join the locals on the street. Was great fun 🙂
Happy 2015!!!!
Thanks for reading, Robson! And I completely agree, what have I been doing wrong all these years! 🙂
Would dig hearing more about your NYE in Bangkok!
I grew up in Connecticut, but even in my early 20’s I never wanted to join the mayhem in Times Square: too cold and too crowded and too drunken! Home with friends and family and a bottle of champagne is the place to be! Happy New Year to you too!
Thanks, Rachel! I am so with you – at home with friends and family is a perfect NYE!
Can’t wait to hit NYC, but not sure NYE is the right time for me!
To put it into perspective, this year we milked cows and drank rum! 😉
Here’s to a great 2015!
I’m a bit of an agoraphobe when it comes to being in large crowds like that–I end up getting annoyed with everyone else around me and terrified that something awful’s going to happen and I’ll get trampled to death. (I know, such sweet words with which to ring in the new year!) I’d much rather tune in for the countdown on TV after spending the evening with family and friends…and with easy access to a toilet. 🙂
I definitely hear you, Natalie! When I walk through Times Square on a regular day and get agitated with the crowds, I tend to keep my elbows a little further out because sometimes it feels like bumper cars. haha Thanks for reading!
Kim, this was a great experience! I really would love to be in NYC for NYE one day! I hope you can also share some photos. 🙂
It is great to be around NYC for NYE; there’s great energy without even being in the crowds as you are a part of the city that never sleeps-(even if you do)! Thanks for reading!