Added: 12/16/2005 |
Celebrate Your New Year New York StyleMention New Year's Eve in the United States and most people will immediately say Times Square in New York City is the place to be. This area in New York City has been the traditional place where people gather to watch the beautiful Waterford Crystal Ball descend second by second to signal the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one. In order to celebrate your new year New York style you should start the evening by enjoying food and drink with friends and family. This holiday is all about waving goodbye to the past and embracing the new with traditional New Year's resolutions.
The best way to enjoy this outdoor event in New York City is to get to Times Square early. The area is cornered off around 6:00 PM to allow partygoers to claim their spot for the big event. As the surrounding areas begin to get crowded, police officers will corner off larger areas starting with 43rd street and working their way outward. If you are close to Times Square you will be able to see the giant video screens that will show commentators and of course the giant Waterford crystal ball. Remember that this is the best spot to enjoy the New Year New York style but dress as warmly as possible and wear comfortable shoes because you will be spending six hours here.
Around 9:30 PM The Times Square Business Improvement District's Sanitation Crew is sent out into the crowd to distribute confetti, American Flags, pompoms and balloons to the people spending their New Year in New York. At 10:00 PM partygoers are treated to the live celebration, which is televised nationally, and the official countdown begins. This is a big part of the New Year New York style celebration. Music is piped through a wireless sound system for the partygoers to enjoy. The crowd begins to swell at this point in the celebration as individuals who are coming from private parties and balls begin joining in.
At 11:59 the sixty-second countdown begins. The ball receives a signal to begin descending the seventy-seven foot pole to the ground below. The crystal ball weighs in at a hefty 1,070 pounds. The geodesic crystal sphere is six feet in diameter and is covered in 504 crystal triangles which starting in 2006 are engraved with those lost in the World Trade Center attack. The ball also has 696 colored light bulbs, 96 strobe lights and 90-mirrored pyramids. Once the countdown reaches zero the lights in the ball are turned off and a giant numeral sign of the year is lit high above Times Square. This is followed by a huge pyrotechnic display for revelers of the New Year New York celebration to enjoy.
After the celebration has ended the celebrants wander home to get some well-deserved sleep and to warm up from the chilly New York City air. The day following the New Year New York celebration is spent enjoying food, friends and by watching the obligatory parades and football games on television. Luckily this is a non-working day for most employees and most individuals stay home and enjoy their time off. Unfortunately for the sanitation workers in the city their work has just begun. It will take most of the day to clean up the confetti and other party paraphernalia that has filled the streets after the celebration is over.
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