New Year’s Eve in Times Square: Have you always wanted to go?

This can be a revised model of a put up that initially appeared on New 12 months’s Eve 2016.

After I was a child I used to look at the New 12 months’s ball drop in Instances Sq. on TV. Dick Clark was the host. Man, he was outdated, however I assume remembering him makes me outdated now, too. It’s a bit odd that the present remains to be referred to as “Dick Clark’s New 12 months’s Rockin’ Eve,” regardless that Ryan Seacrest took over in 2006, when Clark stepped apart, and at the least now Seacrest has his title added to the title. (Observe: It’s very simple to make enjoyable of Seacrest, however he was a riot in “Knocked Up” and clearly doesn’t take himself too severely.)

After I watched Dick Clark’s present, I keep in mind pondering how a lot enjoyable all of the folks there have been having, at the least from the appears to be like of it. I’ve a way now that possibly, simply possibly, the oldsters within the manufacturing truck might need been ensuring to not present photographs of individuals huddling, shivering, not having the ability to go to the lavatory (you can inform as a result of they had been doing the pee-pee dance, or, effectively, let’s not focus on the choice), and muttering that they’d fairly be dwelling on their couches, like I used to be on mine.

I’ve been dwelling in New York Metropolis for the reason that finish of the final century. Instances Sq. is only a subway trip away. But even earlier than I had children, I by no means went. I undoubtedly considered it, however I by no means did it. And COVID-19 actually modified the equation, at the least for the previous couple of years, and possibly longer.

I’ve been dwelling in New York Metropolis for the reason that finish of the final century. Instances Sq. is only a subway trip away. But even earlier than I had children, I by no means went. I undoubtedly considered it, however I by no means did it. And COVID-19 actually modified the equation, at the least for the previous couple of years, and possibly longer.

I received’t say I’ll by no means go, however I’ve a sense the probabilities of me going sooner or later have, shall we embrace, dwindled. Let’s get actual. I haven’t even made it to midnight with my eyes open the final variety of years. The social gathering we normally go to (hopefully, the invite is on its means) winds down not too far past the opposite facet of 10 PM. I’m sure that my children are much more doubtless than I’m to make it to midnight and ring in 2024.

This 12 months, once more, I’ll simply need to reside with seeing the spectacle nearly. How about all of you? Have you ever ever accomplished New 12 months’s Eve in Instances Sq.? Have you ever ever wished to? Does it sound just like the worst attainable concept on this planet? Or simply possibly the perfect? Come on in and share your ideas, and let’s have fun collectively. Completely satisfied New 12 months!

And in that spirit, right here’s an awesome photograph to take pleasure in from what I hope, for all of you, is a heat, comfy spot.

Ian Reifowitz is the creator of The Tribalization of Politics: How Rush Limbaugh’s Race-Baiting Rhetoric on the Obama Presidency Paved the Method for Trump (Foreword by Markos Moulitsas)