Have you ever spent NYE at Times Square? Before I die, I want to do this

[greenbriar]

at least once.



Have any of you ever done this? What was it like?

[JI7]

1. no, and i have no interest in doing it

and would avoid it if i was anywhere near there.

[greenbriar]

5. I know it would be crowded, but I bet it is electrifying

I would want a hotel room right on the strip so I could just walk up when I needed to.


I have only been to New York once and it was really neat, but it was April and pretty quiet.

[JI7]

8. i would love to go to NY but i'm just not a person that is into crowds

especially when it's a huge gathering like that.

watching from a hotel room might be ok though.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. You want to stand in the freezing cold with a brazillion other people

and freeze while waiting for midnight?

Have fun. I'll be at home in my Snuggie :)

[madaboutharry]

3. I heard there is nowhere to pee.

:eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And if you want a good spot you have to get there hours early

Definitely a Depends event. :)

[Gabi Hayes]

24. sure, there are:

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Really cool. Nothing but happy people having a blast.

The train back to CT had revelers riding in the luggage racks it was so packed.

[greenbriar]

7. it is just one thing I want to do....bucket list if you will

I then want to spend NYE on a caribbean cruise...

That would be cool to see fireworks shot off the bridge into the ocean

[JI7]

9. i hope to go to Antarctica before i die

and every other continent and nation. but i think if i can get to Antarctica the rest would be easier.

[girl gone mad]

10. It always looks so horrible to me.

crammed butt to gut in the middle of a crowd in cold weather, nowhere to go, and now you can't even drink. I'm more of a fireside poker with a few good friends kind of girl myself.

Good luck to you, though!

[Twillig]

11. I flew over it in a 747 on my way to Iraq in '90/91

yes at midnight.

Whee!

[KatyaR]

12. Yep--December 31, 1977.

I was a junior in college and was on a group theatre trip sponsored by the school. I was with two of my roommates at the time and one of my very best friends in the world. Said best friend had gotten pretty drunk before we left the hotel, and he was a handful to deal with. The crowd was chest to chest, we were trying to move one way when the crowd moved another way, and at one point I was literally swept off my feet in a different direction. The most memorable thing other than that was afterward when we were trying to get back to the hotel. We were walking down the street when some cops yelled at my friend and asked him how he ended up with so many dates (I think there were 4 of us girls). He wasn't able to give a coherent answer, and we were terrified we were gonna get arrested, but one of the cops laughed and said they'd let us go if we gave them a little kiss (on the cheek, nothing gross). They were just having a bit of fun with us hayseeds. Anyway, we made it back to the hotel in one piece, and now I can say I've done it.

Said best friend is gone now, died from suicide 16 years ago. I still miss him so much my heart aches, and this is one of my fondest memories of him. He never remembered that night, and when I wanted to get him going, I'd start taking about how he almost got the lot of us arrested that night. Good times . . ..

I also learned that night how to open a wine bottle with a coat hanger--it's not "opening" it so much as it is poking a hole in the cork. You get corky wine, but if you're desperate enough, it'll do.

It was fun, but if you don't like crowds, I don't recommend it. It's nice to be able to say I've done it, though--it's up toward the top of my list of life things for me. But really, at this point, I'd rather stay home and watch it on TV.

So go, do--you'll have a great time.

[nickyt]

41. Oh, so sorry your dear friend is gone, Katya...but glad he was there that night

for good times and excellent memories -

[alfredo]

13. I did it 65-66. You have to have stamina. Oh, and

don't do anything stupid that will get you on camera. Your parents might be watching. Trust me on this. OK?

[Texasgal]

14. I did it once and

it was a horrible experience for me.

But, I think you should at least experience it once. I am glad I did despite being robbed and felt up!

Happy New Year GB!

[greenbriar]

17. thanks happy NY to you too

I don't know when or if I will ever get to do it. I know it will be cold and packed, but I want to experience it just once.

[Cleita]

15. Hmm, not for me. It's like going to the Rose Parade. The best seat is

in your living room in front of the TV.

[greenbriar]

27. Just like watching Chiefs games better at home

but fun to experience in the stadium at least once

[cal04]

16. I did and it was a lot of fun

got there early to get a good spot, which is ok if it's not too cold
everyone had a great time

[Brickbat]

18. Never wanted to; I've been in a million-person crowd and the dynamics were exhausting to me.

I don't get energy from something like that.

[Dorian Gray]

19. I live in NYC....

and NO FREAKING WAY! Too crowded and filled with annoying crowds. I leave the city every year for New Years. No way will I be in Times Square. Ever!

(I feel very emphatically about it!)

[spanone]

20. tennessee is close enough for me

[ashling]

21. I was in NY about 10 years ago visiting my brother in the hospital

On that particular night I left the hospital around 6, took a bus back to my hotel, which was within earshot of tm sq. The bus let me off about 5 blocks away ... I stopped in a buffet place long the way and got some Chinese food. The next block was tm sq. I walked across the street but the cops already had the other side of the street blocked off and some gruff NY cop gave me a hard time and told me I couldn't get through. It was 3/4 block from my hotel and he said I would have to go down another gazillion blocks and around.

I told him that I was from out of town and was there visiting my dying brother in the hospital, I had been at the hospital all day and just wanted to get to my room and go to bed. He still wouldn't let me through.

Finally another cop on a horse came by and let me through.

When I got to my room I just went to bed ... it was awfully noisy, though.

[Turk 182]

22. I did it when I was 16

1962 w/ my best friend- we had a blast. Took the LIRR into the city. Party all the way there and back. U gotta do it when you're young. Wouldn't do it now. Too cold for these old bones.

[pipi_k]

23. good lord, I can't even stand seeing that many people on my TV....

Never mind hanging around in the freezing cold for hours on end breathing in God-knows-what germs and not being able to pee.

My son and an ex girlfriend did it one year and they said it was fun, but I'm thinking you have to be like, under 35 at least for it to be tolerable. I'm too old for that shit.

[thatgemguy]

25. Planning for NYE 2010

My wife and I are planning to spend New Years Eve at Niagara Falls. It's kind of like the Canadian equivalent of Times Square. Besides the falls and Casinos, they have a big free concert in the park with network TV coverage, and fireworks.

We've been traveling to Niagara a couple of times a year, and did Christmas '08 there with a fallsview room. It was an incredible experience!

I just wish they would roll back the passport requirements for crossing the border. I have a passport, but many others who don't, shouldn't be deprived the opportunity to visit our neighbors to the North.

[greenbriar]

26. that sounds really neat too

I had never thought of that possibility

thank you


another one added to the bucket list

[THUNDER HANDS]

28. done it twice and hated it both times

they should move New Year's to June or something. It's freezing in January.

[liskddksil]

29. Not in the times square bubble-but I've walked to Sixth Avenue

around 11pm where you can see the fireworks at midnight, and some of the confetti flies over.

[Neecy]

30. I did a couple of times in my early 20's

It was cold, crowded, filled with drunks and stupid people. And it was pretty fun. Everyone shares their booze at midnight :)

I wouldn't do it again, but it was fun when I was young enough to stay up all night boozin'.

[greenbriar]

33. Just want to try it once

but I want to have a hotel room right on the strip so I can pee

[phasma ex machina]

31. Earthcam's always been good enough for me

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/?cam=lennon

Total amateur hour during the late '90s with a foul mouthed emcee on a 2nd story balcony shouting down to revelers telling them how stupid they were to be there. (Duh. Project much?)
:rofl:

Anyhow, it looks like earthcam went all up market with a fancy new iPhone / iPod app.

R.I.P. low bandwidth, low rent, low brow humor.

[Karenina]

32. GO FOR IT!!!

ONCE is probably enough if you're sane; just to be able to say, "I WAS THERE!!!"

I did it, late teens, alone. Took the F train in from Queens '69 or so. Emerging from the station, I felt like an extra in a Fellini flick. Didn't venture out again AT ALL for the next 5 years and still rarely do so. That night, watching the revelry of which I was a part, informed me of the depth of our artificial constructs.

Having seen the "fireworks" rained down on so many people this past year, I'm in no mood for "Oh, the COLOURS!" The smoke irritates my nasal passages, the noise works my nerves and the entire CONSTRUCT is... whatever.

THIS night's rolling over of the clock will find me watching lectures on http://fora.tv One a wonk, always a wonk.

Suffice to say I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world! IT WAS FARKIN' SURREAL!

[Individualist]

34. Being herded into pens like cattle is not something I ever want to do.

[B Calm]

35. I've heard pick-pockets love going...

[scarletwoman]

36. I spent New Year's Eve 1970 in Paris, watching the fireworks from my hotel balcony,

drinking real French Champagne. Good enough for me.

Salut!

sw

[Synicus Maximus]

37. Did it once. It was kind of exciting but a total zoo. It is something

that everyone should do once but there ain't no reason to do it twice.

[marmar]

38. Did it once.....and it really wasn't that much fun.

My most vivid memory is the scent of beer and vomit permeating the Metro-North train ride back to Westchester.

[seabeyond]

40. scent of beer and vomit ... lol. let me add that onto my list why there isnt a chance in hell

i would do this, lol

[seabeyond]

39. oh geeez, you couldnt pay me for anything in the world. not a chance. nope

claustrophobic amongs people, wouldnt be able to take care of my many needs, and those are priority. cold. nope.