It’s New Year’s Eve: a night for reflecting on the year that has passed, making pledges for the year to follow, and wondering how you can possibly stay up to watch the ball drop at midnight when your stomach is full of wine and cheese (maybe that last one is just me).
If you’re ringing in the New Year with friends and want to impress them with your holiday knowledge, try out one of these fun New Year’s Eve Facts:
- The first New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square was in 1904, when the publisher of the New York Times wanted a big extravaganza to mark the opening of his new 25-foot skyscraper at the corner of 42nd and 43rd street, 7th Avenue and Broadway (this is also why Longacre Square became known as Times Square). There was a huge fireworks display to celebrate the new year!
- Since 1907, Times Square didn’t have a ball drop to mark the new year only twice-in 1943 and 1944, when New York City was on a dim-out to preserve electricity and money during World War II. In honor of the soldiers at war, a moment of silence replaced the celebrations at midnight.
- If you’ve thought about going to see the ball drop from the comfort of a hotel room, you may want to start saving now for December 31, 2019! A room in Times Square with no view of the party will cost you $999. For a room with a view? Prices start at $3,000 per night.
- The LED modules on the ball contain a variety of pattern possibilities. Each module has 12 red, 12 blue, 12 green and 12 white LEDs, which means that the ball is capable of displaying a palette of 16 million colors and billions of patterns-like the biggest kaleidoscope ever.
- Over 2,200 pounds of confetti are dropped at midnight, which…makes an awful mess. When the party is over, the city sanitation workers have their work cut out for them: between the confetti, party hats, balloons and debris, there are 50 tons of trash to clean up!
Planning a New Year’s Eve party and don’t know where to start? We can help!
To wow your guests with your mixologist skills, try these cocktail how-to guides:
- Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold Weather Cocktails
- The New Cocktail Hour: The Essential Guide to Hand-Crafted Drinks
- Cocktails for the Holidays: Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season
For appetizers that will have everyone’s tastebuds celebrating, try these cookbooks all about small bites and hors d’ouevres :
- Cook’s Illustrated All-Time Best Appetizers
- Thug Kitchen: Party Grub
- The Party Food Bible: 565 Recipes for Amuse Bouches, Flavorful Canapes, and Festive Finger Food
Desperately seeking a soundtrack? Freegal Music has a ton of playlists to help you and your guests party on; all you’ll need is your library card number and pin!
- The Best Songs of 2018
- It’s a Celebration! A New Year’s Eve mix featuring Nina Simone, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, and Jennifer Lopez.
We wish all of our patrons a wonderful New Year’s Eve, and a happy and healthy 2019. Cheers!