New York New Year's Eve Celebration: Manhattan

Times Square in New York City is and always has been (at least in my lifetime) the place to be for New Year's Eve. Even if you can't be there in person, most likely you will be somewhere watching that ball drop and doing the countdown to midnight for the start of the New Year. This doesn't just hold true for Americans- people around the world watch the New Year's eve celebration in Times Square on their television sets!

This is a Dick Clark New Year's eve, where the host almost every year for as long as I can remember has been there on the television set, announcing the time left until midnight, and hosting the New Year's eve celebration. Whether you go to a bar, a dance club, a restaurant, or just stay at home, your eyes will be glued to the television for at least the moment before midnight when the New York City Times Square ball drops to bring in the New Year.

Many people decide to actually be part of the action and visit Times Square for New Year's Eve. I know this is what I did for 2005-06 New Year's, which happened to be the 100th anniversary of the ball drop in Times Square. I have to say, I learned alot about what to do and what not to do to enjoy this celebration.

Are you planning to visit New York for a 2007 eve New Year's, or 2008 or beyond? Are you going to join the New York New Year's eve celebration in person this year?

Here are my ten tips on how to watch the ball drop in Times Square, and have a rockin' New Year's Eve in New York City...

1. The New Year's Eve ball itself is situated at One Times Square, at 43rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan. It is raised to its starting place for the official ball drop at around 6 pm on New Year's Eve. The police start blocking off areas starting at 43rd street and going North, as each area starts to fill up with people.

The first tip is preparation, preparation, preparation. If you are going to do this, you have to be prepared and know what to expect in advance. If not, you will end up not being able to see the ball drop or even having much fun other than trying to get through a crowd of over a million people and not knowing what you are doing. The traffic will be a nightmare, perhaps causing you not to be able to even get to New York City!