The New York Tribune featured this celebratory scene on their front page showing New Yorkers celebrating 1908 in a mysterious massive restaurant. more ›

In Priceline's world, the Lower East Side is the 46th best spot in the United States to celebrate New Year's Eve. In a "news release" the company sent out, spotted by EV Grieve, they say their "top destinations list is based on thousands of hotel booking requests made by customers for the New Year's weekend." The neighborhood comes behind places like Orlando, Minneapolis, and Miami's International Airport Area... but then again, that neighborhood has less hotel rooms to offer. more ›

Count down to 2012 with Donnie, Joey, Jordan, Jonathan, and Danny. more ›

While we no longer need to fear the Snooki Ball this New Year's Eve, that doesn't mean Times Square is free from danger tonight. City officials are ramping up security as they brace for nearly a million people to show up for the ball drop (streets will close at 3 p.m. today). The decision to strengthen the police presence was made after the failed Times Square bomb discovered in May of this year. According to the Daily News, "counterterrorism officials, FBI agents and thousands of rank-and-file cops will patrol the area with bomb-sniffing dogs and snipers on rooftops." More barriers will be added to the area, and all mailboxes and garbage cans have been removed from streetcorners, and on top of all that, manhole covers are being sealed up. more ›

Was the Snooki Ball just an evil plot to lure the Jersey Shore star into a death trap by stroking her ego? Probably! But we'll never know, because the Snooki Ball is no longer happening on New Year's Eve. The glass hamster ball contraption that Snooki was going to climb into around midnight in Times Square has been banned, and a source told Popeater, "At midnight, the crowd and the media will be watching Mayor Bloomberg, Dick Clark and the official ball drop, not a cast member of the Jersey Shore." more ›

What is the deal with New Year's Eve in NYC?! Doesn't anyone want to keep getting wasted until 8 in the morning anymore? Because that's when the magic happens, when Amateur Night fully devolves into Disgraceful Novice Night. But in order for that shameful metamorphoses to occur, bar and nightclub owners must apply for a special permit to stay open past 4 a.m. And fewer proprietors are doing it! Why bother even celebrating 2011 if you can't count on your night climaxing with an inebriated, broad-daylight assault on an ATM to cover a 7:45 last call? more ›

Courtney Love rang in the New Year performing at the Standard Hotel's Boom Boom Room. We were told "no press allowed," but luckily Love loves to Twitter everything. Yesterday she linked to this video of her last-minute rehearsal in her hotel room overlooking the High Line. Here's another rehearsal (which may give a glimpse at the heavily guarded Boom Boom Room) and another. more ›

Are you tired of hearing about New Year's Eve yet? The Daily News reports on another little corner of the celebration, where some overachieving high school seniors will aid Mayor Bloomberg in dropping the ball tomorrow. Bill and Hillary Clinton helped him out last year, and often celebrities are invited — but this year it's all about the kids. Karnisa Aya, a student government president at the High School for American Studies at Lehman College in the Bronx, told the paper, "It's still sort of surreal. I think it will be pretty cold, but it will be a really fun time. The fact that we get to meet the mayor is pretty cool too." She was chosen through a system where principals from twelve public schools made a list of top students. more ›

Click on the film stills for more details and reviews on this weekend's new releases and repertory screenings, which include Case 39, The White Ribbon, The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond, Old Partner, The Chaser, The Muppet Movie, and Taxi Driver. more ›

Yesterday the 11,875-pound Times Square ball was successfully adorned with 288 new Waterford crystal panels that contain images of lapel ribbons, angel wings and flames in honor of the theme "Let there be courage." And with every year, the famous ball gets more green; the Daily News reports that the crystals will be lit by 32,256 LED lights creating a kaleidoscope of over 16 million colors. These replace the halogen bulbs of the past, and are said to "use about the same amount of energy it takes to fire up two traditional home ovens." more ›

We're you worried you would have to celebrate the coming of a new decade without tacky, numerically-shaped glasses? Good news for you: NYMag reports that even though the Seattle-based maker who bestowed upon us the annual eyewear "decided to end his glorious run because of 'the aesthetic challenges of making a pair of glasses for 2010'" — someone else has found a way to make it work! Basically, just widen the 1, duh. However, from far away it just looks like 2000. more ›

2009 will start with a bang in Times Square, where former President Bill Clinton and incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will push the "ceremonial" button to signal the lowering of the New Year's Eve Ball at 11:59 p.m. The indomitable power couple will be joined on the Nivea Countdown Stage by Mayor Bloomberg, who said in a statement, "I can't think of anyone I would rather stand at the crossroads of the world at the beginning of this new year than Bill and Hillary Clinton." (Not even Caroline Kennedy?) Other luminaries expected to be in attendance include Carson Daly, Ryan Seacrest, Ludacris, Jonas Brothers, and the "world-famous New Year's Eve confetti." It's also supposed to be windy with temperatures in the teens, so dress warmly if you're going to join them! more ›

Just when you thought you could sit this New Year's Eve out, the Knitting Factory pulls you back in. It's no easy task dragging us out of the apartment on amateur night, but this full-club show, curated by Akron/Family, boasts a lineup we couldn't refuse: Dirty Projectors, Deerhoof, Megafaun, Deer Tick and a cast of thousands will invade TriBeCa for what's sure to be an unforgettable night of idiosyncratic alt-indie revelry. It's also the last concert ever at the Knitting Factory's storied Leonard Street location; next year the owners will move to the promised land, across the East River to Williamsburg. Earlier this week, we spoke with Miles Seaton from Akron/Family about the upcoming gig, the forthcoming album, and the best New Year's Eve ever. more ›

When it came to New Year's Eve countdown broadcasts, we were traditional and stuck with Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve. Which means we missed out on $275-million man Alex Rodriguez counting down with Carson Daly on Daly's New Year's Eve program. more ›

New Year's Eve wasn't all confetti, LED-lit crystal balls and...diapers; despite the impression Dick Clark gives to the world at large, there's always just as much excess, overcrowding and diminished expectations to be found outside of Times Square on Amateur Night. more ›

2008 showed up a little early today as a shiny new addition to the New Years Eve celebration in Times Square traveled there by subway from the Bronx, where it was constructed. The 500-lb number "8" will complete the "2008" sign that will be a part of the midnight festivities. Standing at 7 feet tall, the "8" and it's three other numerical companions will be on display through the 19th at the Times Square information... more ›

2007 is just around the corner, and we've got a little tip sheet on where to be when the clock strikes midnight. more ›

The Times Square Alliance is getting ready for New Year's celebrations. They have been testing confetti for "airworthiness" - an especially important step since there will be 7,000 pounds of confetti dropped onto revelers. more ›

Even as we lie feverish in our sickbed, done in by a New Year's cold, Gothamist refuses to let the drunken spirit of New Year's 2006 end. Witness this amazing linkery: more ›

It's 9:18pm on New Year's Eve, and that means hundreds of thousands of people are already massing in Times Square. We'll be following the action from the warmth and security of our apartment-- but if you're out and about and want to share your experiences, send phone pictures to photos@gothamist.com! And if you're not going out, check out these links: more ›

It's that time of year again. The time of year we spend entirely too much money on going to a bar or party or club that any other night would cost nothing to enter. But we go, we pay and we fight the Bridge & Tunnel crowd for a spot at the bar. Why? We don't know. It's just part of NYE in NYC. This year we're fleeing the country, but for those of you staying on the island here's a list of parties to go to (that is, of course, if none of your friends will have you at theirs): more ›

Speaking of New Year's Eve, it turns out that it is going to be one second longer than usual this year. The scientists in charge of maintaining world time have to insert a "leap second" for the first time in seven years, in order to keep atomic time sync'd up with the Earth's rotational time (um, what?) The point is that your New Year's Party can be extended by exactly 1000 milliseconds this year, which is perfect for doing one last shot of vodka before ringing in 2006: more ›

Yuck! New Year's Eve is only two weeks away, and that means everyone you know will soon be asking about your plans. Normally we stay indoors on December 31, better to avoid being vomitted on by drunken tourists streaming towards Times Square. The Ask.Mefites seem to have similar feelings-- you won't be seeing them anywhere near 42nd Street. Upcoming.org has a growing list of NYE activities-- but nothing seems all that appetizing. If you really must go out, here's our top five suggestions right now: more ›