For my sixth Turnstile NYC Thursday, and my final post of the year, I am going to write about something that entire world tunes in to see. Something that had been a tradition in New York City since 1907. It is the Ball dropping on New Years Eve in Times Square.
Every year hundreds of thousands, maybe even a million or two people cram into the few blocks in the Crossroads of the World, Times Square, and stand there for literally two days to wait to see the ball drop to ring in the new year. The hours leading up to the event are jam-packed full of exciting music. Usually the biggest stars of music of that year, will come on and sing a song or two. When Gangnam Style was the hit song of the year a few years ago, PSY sang that year. When Icona Pop had their big hit, they sang too. This year, artists like Adele, Nick Jonas, Taylor Swift, and John Legend will perform.
Ryan Seacrest has co-hosted it for years, and it used to be Dick Clark, from its inception back in 1974, to his passing away in 2012. He was a joy to watch, and an American legend. Even through his later years after his stroke, when he couldn't speak that well, made you feel kinda sad, it was still a joy to see him on the TV every December 31st, wishing us all a great New Year, and then shortly after the ball dropping, the annual scene of him kissing his wife was so beautiful as well.
But the ball is the main attraction. With the 12,000 pound ball risen 40 feet above Two Times Square's roof, ready to make its 30 second decline tomorrow night, it is truly almost time to ring in the new year. It is capable of making over 16 million different colors and patterns. It's insane. In the minutes before the ball drops. John Lennon's 'Imagine' is played almost as a type of sing-a-long. Then the ball hits the bottom of the pole, then the sign that read the year lights up with sparks around it, while millions upon millions of pieces of confetti rain down on Times Square. Each piece has a message that was written on it, about people's goals for the upcoming year.
I have never gone to see the ball drop in person, and I probably never will, because it is so not worth it. I am going to be honest here. You have to stand in your spot, without sleeping, eating, or going to the bathroom, for literally a day and a half. Not for me, I can tell you that for a fact! It is not built for New Yorkers, Long Islanders, or even people from New Jersey to go to. It is made for people who are not from around these states, or even from this country, or even from this side of the world! Whenever they interview these people it is so cool to see people from The Netherland, China, Japan, there was someone from Vietnam a few years ago. Incredible stuff!
So thats that. I hope you all enjoyed this post about New Years Eve in Times Square, and I hope that you all are ready to ring in the new year!
Have you ever gone to Times Square on New Year's Eve? Would you want to go?
Peace and Love,
DGS
Quotes of the Day: "Be as you wish to seem." - Socrates
"Write it on your heart, that every day, is the best day in the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every year hundreds of thousands, maybe even a million or two people cram into the few blocks in the Crossroads of the World, Times Square, and stand there for literally two days to wait to see the ball drop to ring in the new year. The hours leading up to the event are jam-packed full of exciting music. Usually the biggest stars of music of that year, will come on and sing a song or two. When Gangnam Style was the hit song of the year a few years ago, PSY sang that year. When Icona Pop had their big hit, they sang too. This year, artists like Adele, Nick Jonas, Taylor Swift, and John Legend will perform.
Ryan Seacrest has co-hosted it for years, and it used to be Dick Clark, from its inception back in 1974, to his passing away in 2012. He was a joy to watch, and an American legend. Even through his later years after his stroke, when he couldn't speak that well, made you feel kinda sad, it was still a joy to see him on the TV every December 31st, wishing us all a great New Year, and then shortly after the ball dropping, the annual scene of him kissing his wife was so beautiful as well.
But the ball is the main attraction. With the 12,000 pound ball risen 40 feet above Two Times Square's roof, ready to make its 30 second decline tomorrow night, it is truly almost time to ring in the new year. It is capable of making over 16 million different colors and patterns. It's insane. In the minutes before the ball drops. John Lennon's 'Imagine' is played almost as a type of sing-a-long. Then the ball hits the bottom of the pole, then the sign that read the year lights up with sparks around it, while millions upon millions of pieces of confetti rain down on Times Square. Each piece has a message that was written on it, about people's goals for the upcoming year.
I have never gone to see the ball drop in person, and I probably never will, because it is so not worth it. I am going to be honest here. You have to stand in your spot, without sleeping, eating, or going to the bathroom, for literally a day and a half. Not for me, I can tell you that for a fact! It is not built for New Yorkers, Long Islanders, or even people from New Jersey to go to. It is made for people who are not from around these states, or even from this country, or even from this side of the world! Whenever they interview these people it is so cool to see people from The Netherland, China, Japan, there was someone from Vietnam a few years ago. Incredible stuff!
So thats that. I hope you all enjoyed this post about New Years Eve in Times Square, and I hope that you all are ready to ring in the new year!
Have you ever gone to Times Square on New Year's Eve? Would you want to go?
Peace and Love,
DGS
Quotes of the Day: "Be as you wish to seem." - Socrates
"Write it on your heart, that every day, is the best day in the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson