Monday, January 11, 2016

New Year's Eve: New York Time Square Part I

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Christopher (front) and Nico sitting on the Pier of the Intrepid in New York


January 11, 2016 - New blog for the NEW Year


Series Story

“No, I wouldn’t go to Time Square for New Year’s Eve," said the man at a bar near World Trade One,  “I mean, maybe, if they were dropping money instead of confetti but other than that, no way! But that’s just me. I hate dealing with people. And there are so many people there I would be miserable.”

“How can you hate people?” I asked.

“I deal with hearing people’s problems all day and pretend I’m interested.  The last thing I want to do is rub elbows with other people in that soup bowl of Time Square. I ride in from Jersey.  I don’t want their problems to rub off on me.  I get enough grief here.  Anyhow, I’ll be back with your drinks.”

I watched him walk away. His muscular figure slowly fading in the dimly lit bar area where he would enter our drink orders.  Is a bartender allowed to hate people?   If he wasn’t interested in solving my problems maybe the two red wines and a double shot of Makers Mark Whiskey, would do the trick.

“Maybe he needs a drink himself,” I thought to myself with a chuckle.

I was at O'Hara's Restaurant and Pub right next to World Trade 1 where the World Trade Buildings used to stand.    My girlfriend, boys, and myself decided to have a New Year’s Eve meal after visiting the World Trade Center Memorial.  I was contemplating a visit to Time Square for New Year’s Eve and watch the ball drop at midnight.   It was only 5 hours to the big ball drop, that would be seen from around the world, and my anxiety built into a frenzy about whether or not we should go tonight. 

But it wasn’t like I schemed this idea up during the course of my seven day visit to Manhattan. I had been thinking about Time Square since December 30, 2014. I was in Mid Town Manhattan that day with my girlfriend after a drive up from a Washington D. C.  Her and I were amazed by the amount of energy from the people of an event that was still a day away.  Besides, the electricity in the air.  The atmosphere was intoxicating.

If you have ever been to a a major sporting event, this feeling was more intense.  I kicked myself for not staying that night and just ride out the last day of December 31, 2014 into 2015.  This was no coincidence that I was sitting here in New York one year later.  

But this time things were different than the year before because I was a year older, a few pounds heavier, and a tiny bit wiser also, I had my six and seven year old boys with me, Nico and Christopher. 

For the past two days leading up to this day I tried everything to talk my way out of it.  I found myself  asking waitstaffs, police officers, average New Yorker’s, people who don’t speak English, and anyone else willing to listen to me if I should go to Time Square for New Year’s Eve.  The most common answer from many locals was, “Dude, I live in New York and I don’t even go to Time Square when it’s NOT New Year’s Eve.”  Surprisingly, even the non English speakers said the same thing. 

I knew deep down those comments wouldn’t deter me from this quest but I couldn’t shake this feeling of being a bad father for dragging those boys there.  I feared that the million person crowd would swallow my kids’ whole. Do I really go to New Year's Eve Time Square?

“I hear that the Brooklyn Bridge is nice to walk because at midnight all the fireworks can be seen throughout the surrounding areas,” I told my traveling companion.

“Sounds safe,” she said, “since when do you play it safe?”

She was right. I never played it safe. You’re talking to a guy who won’t wear a bicycle helmet.  There was more to being spontaneous, adventurous, or a regular Crocodile Dundee!  There was a responsibility to these children of keeping them safe. Right?  

Okay Chris, stop trying to justify this with the reader.  It already happened.  

“The boys’ I just can’t. Let’s just do the Brooklyn Bridge.”  This over thinking is exhausting.  

I buried my face in my shepherd’s pie and picked through the mashed potato’s to get to the meat.  I was suppressing my urges.  Maybe a Nike commercial would come on and inspire me to “Just Do It.”

“Time Square, hell ya,” a man exclaimed. 

I looked around when I heard that announcement. The joyous comment came from the person seated directly behind me. I stared at him. He was an older guy, he was seated with another couple. He was nicely dressed, more than likely a person from money. They were sipping campaign while he thumbed his iPhone.

“Let’s go to the Marriott, I just got a room,” he said, “I just want to be able to say I saw the ball drop in New York City. The room was only $500.00.”

“ I’ll split that with you,” I said.

“Really, that would be so generous of you.  Okay complete stranger, who I have never met.  Grab your wife and kids and let’s head out.”

“Sounds great!”

My girlfriend nudged my shoulder. “Don’ t stare. It’s not polite.”

My imagination was running away from me.

The bucket list check, the television history of Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest, Anderson Cooper, Carson Daly, Kathy Griffin, oh my!

My passion was getting the best of me as I recalled being a kid and  witnessing the history of Time Square, New Year’s Eve from my living room.  

This decision would be no easy feat.  The logistics of getting there alone 5 hours before the clock strikes midnight would be an adventure in itself. My loved ones have no idea about the swells of people that are waiting for them once we get off that subway train.

We didn’t come all this way to play it safe.  No, we’re in the big city! 

“Enough talking!” I announced, “let’s get our damn drinks then head out!”

“No need to be so rude,” the bartender quipped as he placed our drinks on the table.  

“Er, no I didn’t umm...”

“ Take your shot.  Take 2 if you’re headed to Time Square.  You’re going to need it..”

He may be right. 



You are here: CLICK HERE FOR PART II » New Year's Eve: Only 4 Miles to midtown Part II


Captain, Nico (left) and Christopher before the Intrepid Museum



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