New York, made simple.
New Year's Eve
Overview
There are two ways to experience Times Square on New Year's Eve: spend a lot of money to reserve a space with a view or brave the crowds outside in the cold for hours and hours.
Update: Since you've decided you're going with the outside crowds, we'll build this chapter up around those plans.
Update #2: Dinner at Landmarc (Time Warner Center) beforehand
Dinner at Landmarc (Time Warner Center) beforehand. Skating in Central Park before that.
Update: Since you've decided you're going with the outside crowds, we'll build this chapter up around those plans.
Update #2: Dinner at Landmarc (Time Warner Center) beforehand
Dinner at Landmarc (Time Warner Center) beforehand. Skating in Central Park before that.
Comments:
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Thanks for the details, Greg, this is excellent. The maps are really helpful. We'll try to get there as early as possible.
- Mark, Dec 22, 10:33 AM
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Good luck! Have a great time!
- Greg, Dec 23, 1:54 PM
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Pre-Event Dinner
Landmarc (•) is in the Time Warner Center, at Columbus Circle (the southwest corner of Central Park). It's easily walkable from Wollman Rink: just walk to the corner of the park (or west on Central Park South). It's about a 10 minute walk.
You won't have reservations, so get there early. I recommend 4:30 at the latest. If the restaurant looks too chaotic, consider some of the restaurants on 9th Avenue listed in the Dining section of this guide.
Once you're done, you're in the perfect location to move out to Times Square. Columbus Circle is where the crowd will *end*, so simply start walking down Broadway until you can't go any farther (alternatively, you may have to walk down 8th Avenue, then cut across at an appropriate point). This should take no more than 15 minutes.
You won't have reservations, so get there early. I recommend 4:30 at the latest. If the restaurant looks too chaotic, consider some of the restaurants on 9th Avenue listed in the Dining section of this guide.
Once you're done, you're in the perfect location to move out to Times Square. Columbus Circle is where the crowd will *end*, so simply start walking down Broadway until you can't go any farther (alternatively, you may have to walk down 8th Avenue, then cut across at an appropriate point). This should take no more than 15 minutes.
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The Event
The official Times Square New Year's site is here and will continue to update with event / schedule information as New Year's come closer. It's the best resource for up-to-date information.
The ball drops at 42nd Street (•) at midnight. Crowds begin lining up from 42nd St northward up Broadway and 7th Ave (blue lines) starting in the afternoon. There is no set schedule, but the process is highly organized: street by street closes off northwards as people fill up areas. The pre-midnight events occur in the center of the square between 42nd and 47th Streets.
Here is how the schedule worked out from last year:
• 5:30 PM: crowds filled up from 42nd St to 48th St
• 6:00 PM: crowds filled up to 52nd St
• 10:00 PM: crowds filled up to 58th St
• 10:30 PM: crowds filled up to 59th St
So the earlier you arrive the better. The "prime" viewing area is between 42nd and 48th St. Television screens are set up on the streets farther north (where you may not be able to see the ball directly).
Note restrooms are not provided. Nearby shops will be open and have restrooms, but will be extremely crowded. Be prepared for a chaotic adventure.
The ball drops at 42nd Street (•) at midnight. Crowds begin lining up from 42nd St northward up Broadway and 7th Ave (blue lines) starting in the afternoon. There is no set schedule, but the process is highly organized: street by street closes off northwards as people fill up areas. The pre-midnight events occur in the center of the square between 42nd and 47th Streets.
Here is how the schedule worked out from last year:
• 5:30 PM: crowds filled up from 42nd St to 48th St
• 6:00 PM: crowds filled up to 52nd St
• 10:00 PM: crowds filled up to 58th St
• 10:30 PM: crowds filled up to 59th St
So the earlier you arrive the better. The "prime" viewing area is between 42nd and 48th St. Television screens are set up on the streets farther north (where you may not be able to see the ball directly).
Note restrooms are not provided. Nearby shops will be open and have restrooms, but will be extremely crowded. Be prepared for a chaotic adventure.
Comments:
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Based on this info, I recommend leaving dinner no later than 5:30. You'll still have a pretty prime spot even if you're as far up as 52nd St (I was in the area last night and was scoping this out, so I can vouch for this personally).
- Greg, Dec 23, 2:15 PM
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I'm sure we'll have a good time no matter where we end up. We'll probably play it by ear and show up whenever we show up, but we'll try to make it early.
- Mark, Dec 24, 10:31 AM
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That sounds like the right approach. Good luck. Whatever happens it'll definitely be an experience.
- Greg, Dec 24, 12:48 PM
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