How to Spend New Years' Eve at Times Square

On December 31, 2005, we stood in streets of downtown Manhattan with millions of other people, counting down to 2006, watching the famous ball making its descent. When the lights of the ball went out and the top of the building flashed 2006, we all screamed and cheered. Unlike millions of the people standing on that street, my friends and I were warm and had full stomachs. You too can do the Times Square celebration without freezing your butt off. Let me explain how.

First of all, I think I should explain what is necessary to spend New Years’ Eve in Times Square. The day before New Years’ Eve, we had a discussion with one of New York’s finest, a NYPD officer, in Times Square. He explained that the street would be completely closed to traffic around 5 or 6 p.m., but that people begin getting there around 12 noon. Since you are not allowed to stand in the street that early, people just stay in Times Square, go in shops, stand on the sidewalk, and hang out.

As they start to close off the street, they section people off into pens. Basically, it is one pen per block, and there are a few hundred people per pen, except for right by the stage in Times Square where they allow a bit denser crowd. As one pen fills up, it just moves farther down the street.

Before you are assigned to a pen, you go through a very detailed security checkpoint. No backpacks are allowed, basically nothing bigger than a large purse. Any bags you do have, including shopping bags, will be searched. Think like the airport; do not bring anything that could be considered a weapon. Then a NYPD officer will scan you with a metal detector, and then you will be let into a pen.

Once you are in a pen, you are in that pen for the duration of the evening. You cannot leave to go to the bathroom, and even if you could there is no where to go anyway. You also cannot leave to buy food, and the traditional street vendors from the day are not there. If you want to eat, you must bring your own food.