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 Don't get us wrong—we love getting your e-mails, but before you send off with that question, check out our New Year's Eve F.A.Q. first
Q: Will Dick Clark be attending this year's celebration?  The ABC Building during New Year's 2005/2006 Q: What streets will be closed for the celebrations? As crowds build, the New York Police Department begins closing down access to Times Square starting at 43rd Street and Broadway and moving north as revelers arrive. As with every Times Square New Year's Eve, the times that these blocks close to pedestrian and vehicular traffic will depend on when the revelers begin arriving. It is likely that there will be no vehicular traffic on either Broadway or Seventh Avenue as of approximately 4:00 p.m. Vehicles will most likely have difficulty traveling across town after 6:00 p.m. above 42nd Street as far north as 59th Street. If you are planning to come to Times Square and join in the festivities, you are advised to enter from 6th or 8th Avenue. Your chance of getting a viewing spot near the Ball (at Broadway & 43rd Street) increases the earlier you arrive. The blocks will be closed off as they fill up northward, street-by-street, as the police deem necessary. Q: Where is the Ball lowered / What time do the crowds arrive in Times Square for the celebrations? The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball descends from a flagpole at the top of One Times Square. It can best be seen along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street.The best advice is to GET HERE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. Prime viewing areas may fill up early in the afternoon. Q: Will there be public restrooms available? No. There are no public restrooms available. Q: Will there be areas in Times Square designated for the disabled? Yes. The police will set aside a viewing area for disabled people, located on the northwest corner of 43rd Street. However, this area will fill up quickly, and it is advised that disabled visitors arrive early in the day. The earlier you arrive, the better your view and the closer you will be to the action. The sound system is set up in the bow-tie area (where Broadway and 7th Avenue cross). The video screens on One Times Square (where the Ball is lowered) are very visible. There is an additional screen set up at 7th Avenue and 53rd Street. Of course, even if you are as far north as 57th Street, you'll still be able to see the gleaming ball being lowered and the spectacular fireworks framing One Times Square. Q: Is alcohol or champagne allowed? No. Public drinking is illegal in New York City. Police will confiscate alcohol. Q: Will there be food and drink vendors in the square? No. There will be no licensed food and beverage vendors in Times Square. Many restaurants located in the Times Square area will be open on New Year's Eve. Please try to take whatever trash you have with you and deposit it in an appropriate receptacle. Q: Will there be restaurants open in the area Can revelers return to the same viewing spots after dining? Although some restaurants in and around Times Square will be closed on New Year's Eve, many will remain open. Please bear in mind that if you dine at a local restaurant, you will not simply be able to come out and watch the Ball lowering at midnight. Revelers will arrive in Times Square early in the day, and while you are dining, designated viewing areas will fill up on a "first come, first served" basis. Furthermore, no one is allowed to stand in the emergency lanes or on sidewalks. Please remember that if you leave your viewing area to dine in a restaurant, you will not be able to return to your spot in a viewing area. Q: Are theaters, stores and restaurants going to be open? Some Broadway theaters will be open on New Year's Eve. You can check the schedules for Broadway and some Off Broadway shows. Stores and restaurants will be open at their own discretion, so please call them ahead of time. Q: What is the best way to come to Times Square? The best way to come to Times Square is via public transportation. To get to Times Square, the #1, 2, 3, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, W and S shuttle trains all service 42nd Street. It is expected that the MTA will keep all subway stations open on New Year's Eve, however, some entrances and exits will be closed as crowd conditions require. After 7 pm on December 31st, the N and R train station at 49th and7th Avenue may be closed until after midnight. Trains may also bypass some stations, depending on how the crowd of revelers builds. Q: Are there still hotel rooms available in the Times Square area? There are more than 16,000 hotel rooms in the Times Square neighborhood - ranging from large hotel chains, to small quiet retreats or suite hotels for extended stays. There are also several youth hostels situated in and around the Times Square area. To avoid disappointment, book your hotel here right now! |
