New Years in Boston
 

Hi..we have booked a 3 night trip to Boston for New Years, and are looking for advice on the best things to do for New Years eve.We are a couple in our late 20's/early 30's) We will be arriving around 1 PM on 12/31 and staying at the Park Plaza hotel.Thanks in advance!

First Night is Boston's big celebration for New Year's. It starts at 1 pm and goes past midnight - you buy a First Night button and by doing so gain admission to all of the performances that are going on around the city that night. There are fireworks, too.
Check out:
www.firstnight.org
You might also try skating on Frog Pond in the Common during your stay.

Thank you!

If you want a nice dinner on New Years Eve, plan ahead - ask here (I don't have an answer) since many restaurants sell only New Years packages with limited menus for that night. What we have done is have a nice dinner earlier than usual, and then take in First Night activities.

Since you have three nights, i would plan for good meals on the non-newyear's eve nights. Unfortunately, most boston restaurants think more about short term profit on new year's than their long term reputations. most new year's eve diners are one-timers...and the locals have lowered expectations on new years (limited menus, "special pricing", lower quality food, poor service). i don't think this is unusual to boston but since boston is a new year's destination for many out of towners, it is worse than some other places in this respect. if it were me, i would do a simple meal (e.g. chinatown) on new year's eve and save better meals for the other days.

private parties excluded, most people either:

-go to first night (and choice of going to the different events with your pin, or just the free, outdoor stuff). or

-go to a club or bar...most will charge a substantial fixed entry fee and queues are always big so bar hopping is not really practical. unless you can go to a more exclusive place, expect huge unruly crowds.

Head to the Cantab to listen to Little Joe Cook!
http://www.cantablounge.com/joe_atomic.html