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New Year’s Eve 2009


On December 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, but events are subject to change, so call ahead!

The Classic: The Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration and Ball Drop (www.timessquarenyc.org) is the most famous celebration in the world. Hundreds of thousands throng to this event as a billion watch it on TV. If you’re planning to go, dress warmly, bring something to eat, and arrive before 5pm. This year, they’re dropping a new ball?that’s more than twice as bright as the old one, with enhanced color capabilities and state-of-the-art LED lighting effects. The new ball will be on permanent display in Times Square, giving visitor’s another reason to visit the “Crossroads of the World”.

The Dinner With Friends: If you’d like to celebrate a little more intimately, many restaurants offer special New Year’s meals. The beautiful Benjamin Steak House (52 E. 41st St., 212-297-9177) is featuring a four-course New Year’s Eve menu ($250) with six entrées, open bar, party favors, and a midnight champagne toast. The Spanish restaurant, Tio Pepe (168 W. 4th St., 212-242-9338), will celebrate New Year’s Eve with delectable food, party favors, and a champagne toast. If you are looking for French cuisine, Madison Bistro’s New Year’s Eve dinner has a choice of five appetizers and five entrees for $70. Desert is their New Year’s Eve “Follies”—baked Alaska, flambéed with Grand Marnier. 238 Madison Ave. (at 37th St.), 212-447-1919. Mickey Mantles (42 Central Park South, 212-688-7777) will be having regular hours with regular seating on New Year’s Eve and day. At Mantle’s, there will be no minimums on the Eve, and with 32” HDTVs, the restaurant is a great place to watch the ball drop and then see the fire works in Central Park. At Pranna (79 Madison Ave., 212-696-5700; www.prannarestaurant.com), a Modern Southeast Asian, restaurant in the Flatiron district, New Year’s will be celebrated with a prix fixe dinner and an open bar until 2:30am. For more information call 212-696-5700, or email Grace at grace@prannarestaurant.com

The Club: Dress to impress and join the “in crowd” at Home & Guest House (532 & 542 W. 27th St., 212-273-3700; www.homeguesthouse.com). Home will feature a world-renowned DJ spinning hip-hop, rock, and ’80s music, and Guest House will have the city’s best house-music DJ. Tickets grant access to both clubs, and include hors d’oeuvres and a premium open bar from 9pm-3am. VIP tickets include reserved seating. For tickets ($130-$185-$225, $60 for 12:30am admission), visit their website.

In Brief: Other events include B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 W. 42 St., 212-997-4144; www.bbkingblues.com) is hosting Chuck Berry performances at 8 and 11pm; Broadway Comedy Club (318 W. 53rd St., 212-888-5233; www.broadwaycomedyclub.com) will have special guests and a New Year’s toast; Comix (353 W. 14th St., 212-524-2500; www.comixny.com) is celebrating New Year’s Eve with Greg Giraldo; the Annual New Year’s Eve Concert For Peace at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Ave., 866-468-7619); and New Year’s Eve Bell Ringing at Trinity Church (74 Trinity Pl., 212-602-0800).

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