On the 31st, the clock will strike midnight, the Ball will drop, kisses will be exchanged, and the promise of a New Year will light up the night sky. New Year’s is a not only time to reflect on all that has happened and set goals for the future, but also a time to celebrate. New York City provides many merrymaking opportunities that night -- and if you’re here for the first week of 2011, they are many holiday shows and sights to see after all the confetti has been swept away.
The Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration and Ball Drop is the most famous celebration in the world, with hundreds of thousands attending the event as a billion watch it on TV. If you’re planning to go, dress warmly, bring something to eat, and arrive before 4 or 5pm: the opening ceremonies begin at 6. Visit timessquarenyc.org for more information.
If you ring in 2011 with Spirit Cruises, you’ll be watching the fireworks display by the Statue of Liberty as you dine on a grand buffet, enjoy a premium open bar, and dance the night away aboard their New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise ($235.90). Boarding is at 9pm, sailing from 10 to 1am; for reservations, call 866-483-3866 or visit spiritofnewyork.com.
Many restaurants are offering special New Year’s dinners. Click here for a wide range of options.
A number of the city’s seasonal shows continue performances after the New Year. (Click on the show titles for tickets and more information.) Shows running through Jan. 2 include: Momentum, a fiery fusion of physical feats set to unstoppable rhythms and beats; the New York City Ballet production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s glorious musical masterpiece, with Balanchine’s unforgettable, dreamworld choreography; and Wintuk, Cirque du Soleil’s smash-hit family show about a boy’s quest for snow.
Through Jan. 5, you can still see the city in Christmas mode as OnBoard New York Tours’ See the Holiday Lights! passes the Tree at Rockefeller Center and then cruises down Fifth Avenue, where department stores like Macy’s, Saks, and Lord & Taylor are outfitted for the holidays in classic New York style. Departing daily from Times Square at 7pm; call 212-852-4821 or visit onboardnewyorktours.com for tickets.
Two great NYC holiday traditions continue through Jan. 9: the 19th Annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden, where G-scale model trains puff along a half-mile of track in and around 140 landmark buildings constructed entirely of natural materials like nuts, tree bark, fruits, pinecones, and leaves. Call ahead for tickets; and the Big Apple Circus Presents Dance On! features a thrilling, all-new show under their intimate Big Top, where no seat is more than 50 feet from the ring. Call or visit website for tickets and show times.
With its closing scheduled for Jan. 17, these are also the last few weeks to see Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, on view at the Discovery - Times Square Exhibition. This marked the first time in a generation that a collection of treasures from King Tut’s tomb has visited New York City, with more than double the number of artifacts shown previously, including over 130 object of exceptional quality, rarity, and beauty that provide insight into the daily life and royal burial practices of the 18th Dynasty. For tickets, call 888-988-8692 or visit kingtutnyc.com.
