New Years Eve in NY
 

My husband and I are visitng NY over the forthcoming festive period and are trying to decide on our plans for New Years Eve. What would you recommend? Should we stay in Times Square to watch the Ball drop or should we head for Central Park?

Any top tips would be much appreciated. Thanks

The best place to watch the ball drop in Times Square is from a television. Unless you are 18 years old and don't mind standing outside for hours (you'll lose your place if you leave) and too few bathrooms, I'd go to the festivities in Central Park.

There is a wonderful concert on New Year's Eve and several people from the board came last year and had a great time.

It is the Annual Concert for Peace at St. John the Divine. There is a full orchestra, chorus of 200, with guest stars and this year singing with us again will be Lauren Flannigan from the Met Opera.

Harry Smith from CBS is the host for the evening and it's a great way to start off the New Year.

The concert is starts at 7pm and we are usually out by 9ish so you can head elsewhere for dinner or other plans you might have.

The cathedral is the largest in the US and one of the largest in the world.

The tickets are free and the church is packed. Singing in the chorus we are given tickets for friends and family so if anyone is interested please let me know.

We always sing Beethoven's 9th (Ode to Joy), and were part of the ABC Millenium Celebration, not sure what other music is being done yet. We start rehearsals on Dec 26th.

The end of the concert everyone has a lit candle and we all sing together, so it's a really nice way to end the year and welcome the new!!

If it sounds like fun, please let me know and I will get the tickets for you.

Times Square is distinctly for the youngest crowd. Security is massive - and starting in the am arrivals are herded into blocked off areas (pens) by the police and not allowed to leave until the ball drops. Resources within each pen are limited - there may be a restaurant - or not. You cannot take in any alcohol and all bags etc are thoroughly searched. Then you get to stand there all day and shiver. If you plan on going in the evening - after an early dinner? - you will be several blocks from Times Square at least. IMHO this event (which has changed a lot since 9/11) is really for the crowd who will line up with sleeping bags 2 days in advance to get concert tickets. (And no, I'm not really that old a grouch - did this a couple times while I was in college - and it was fun - but I was much younger - and it was a lot easier.)

If you must, watch it on TV. You have been given some much better suggestions above.

Wantsomesun, the concert sounds absolutely wonderful (well,divine,actually,but I didn't want to be too punny. ) If I weren't spending February in Italy, I'd plan a trip to NY and ask for those tickets! But I'm on a strict no trips before Italy diet!

Hello wantsomesun! My husband and I will be in NYC on New Year's Eve and the tickets you mentioned would be perfect for us. If you still have tickets available, please respond here and I will send you my contact information. Thanks in advance!

Wantsomesun - ditto Stagic's message.

TIA,
Nina