New Year's in New York

Times Square, New Year's Eve 2004

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I decided this year that since I was on the East Coast, I might as well go to New York for New Years. I figure it's something that everybody should do once. Besides, Chris and Katie were going up there, and my friend Dave and his wife just moved out there, and my friend Erin and her sister Megan flew out there as well.

Anyway, I got into New York very late on the 30th (well, it was actually the 31st) and slept at Chris & Katie's friend house in Jersey City. The next day I met Erin and Megan at the Pavonia train station, where they dropped off some luggage (Erin needed to get some stuff to DC). We went up to the 86th street station, only we got separated along the way because they got off a station before Lexington and before I could get off, the doors closed. So they had to wait for another train to get to Lexington.

Anyway, at the 86th Street station (the one on the East side of Central Park), I met Dave and eventually Erin and Megan again. Dave was walking his dog, and we followed him to his apartment, where he dropped off his dog with his wife Andrea. It was quite a small apartment. I was expecting bigger for some reason.

Then we went to eat at a Chinese place. It was pretty good. Erin and Megan were feeling pretty sick, though, so they didn't come to the Guggenheim as planned. Dave came with me instead, while we left them shopping at a store that was going out of business.

The Guggenheim was alright. Honestly, I don't see what's so big about it. It' got some interesting architecture, but it sure is small. We got through the exhibits in less than 2 hours. The main exhibit was by James Rosenquist. He did some interesting things, and I guess it was worth seeing, it's just not something I'll always remember.

After that, it was probably about 4:00 or so, and we went to see Central Park. Then we walked by the Met on the way back to his apartment. I like Central Park. Not nearly as big as Hyde Park, but still pretty nice. A pleasant break from the perpetual skyline. (You know what I've realized--I'm too claustrophobic for New York. I need open spaces. I'm becoming a West Coast person).

Anyway, Dave and Andrea and I walked their dog down to the Rockefeller Center (about 30 blocks or so away), and by the time we arrived it was dark, so we got to see the lights. They were nothing compared to Temple Square. Or even the lights at Central Park. Dave and Andrea went back home, and I stayed there.

It was about this time that Erin and Megan called and ditched me for the night. Well, sort of. They just weren't feeling very well at all. Looking back at things, we probably never would have found each other in Times Square anyways, but I was a little disappointed. Chris and Katie weren't going into Times Square either. But I figured I was in New York, it just wouldn't do to celebrate the New Year any other way. So I celebrated it on my own. It wasn't too bad really, I've done London and Vancouver on my own this year, why not New York?

The only thing that felt a little strange was going to the Rock Center cafe on my own. But I was hungry, and I wanted to do things right. Besides, I thought, what if terrorist strike during the celebration and this is my last meal. I know, I know. Stupid logic, but I really wanted the striped bass and some cheesecake, even if it did cost me $40. Amazingly enough, there were three or four other people eating there alone, including a lady in her 30s wearing a black formal dress sitting in the table in front of me. I wonder what her story was. Kind of odd to wear such a formal dress and not have anyone to eat with on New Year's Eve (I was in jeans, myself).

From there, I walked to Times Square. Or at least in the general direction. I thought I would be arriving early (it was about 8:00), but I was wrong. About 48th street, I realized that everybody was walking the other way for a reason, namely that 7th avenue and Broadway were already full up to about 52nd street, and because the police had to search everyone before they could enter the perimeter, the only way in was through 58th street.

So I went to 58ths street, and crossed over to 7th, where the barricade system began. There were about 3 different "floodgates" where they screened you at, and there was a lot of pushing and bad manners in the lines to get through those floodgates. I finally got through the last security check at 9:00, and found my place at about 53rd street, where I would stand all night. It was very cold and my legs were very tired. Standing room only. And once you were in your little barricaded section of the block, the police wouldn't even let you out for a bathroom break. Once you left, you were gone.

Still, it was interesting. Tons of people by themselves, so I didn't feel too left out. Tons of visitors as well. I counted like a dozen languages being spoken. I've never seen so many people, and the amount of security was amazing. Tons of planning must have gone into it to keep the crowd controlled so well. So much humanity. But it wasn't as wild as I'd hope. Pretty mild-mannered actually. The ball, meanwhile, seemed so small. I know we were ten block away, but I was expecting something bigger. In fact, I didn't even realize it was there at first. I kept looking at the antenna on another building, thinking they would be raising it there. Luckily, I had my binoculars.

Anyway, I caught the excitement in video and pictures, so you can see for yourself. It's not something I'd do by myself again. Maybe with some friends, though.

Within 5 minutes of the New Year, people started leaving. In the midst of all this, I made my way to within 2 blocks of Times Square before the police started turning me away. Which was kind of frustrating because I needed to get to the Port Authority for my bus. (I had purchased tickets on a Greyhound for a 3:45 AM bus to D.C.--my flight was leaving Reagan at 3:00 in the afternoon, so I wanted to get home for a few hours to pack). After a few zig-zags, a ton of people, and about an hour, I finally made it to the Port Authority.

I was hoping to sleep on the bus. Not much luck. I got a window seat, but the guy seated next to me smelled of the alcohol he had hidden under his seat, and kept falling over on my shoulder. It was kind of disgusting. And he kept arguing with his girlfriend the next seat over. So it was a long bus ride.

But it gave me some time to think and work on my law school applications. I think I've got something now. Actually, it's inspired by the bus ride. I got to watch the first sunrise of the New Year on the bus, all the way from the first hint of purple, to the bright bulb peering over the Atlantic as we ascended a raised highway in Baltimore. It was a perfect moment for reflection on the New Year and resolutions. I think I'm going to use that moment at the start of my essay. And then I'll talk about the scene in New York; how I was intrigued by the force that held us all in check--that kept us from an inevitable chaos vulnerable to violence in terror. This force wasn't the police. We could have stormed over the barricades at any time had we wanted (and in fact, this happened on the way home). No it was respect for the law. Respect for a social contract. And I'm fascinated by this unseen force. I want to learn more about it.

Anyway, I got back to DC safely, and then caught the metro out to Vienna where a very tired mom picked me up. She had just dropped dad off at the airport--he's coming to Salt Lake to help out with Sharla--and she hadn't slept much. So I packed, caught the flight home, didn't sleep much there, worked a little on the law application, and caught a ride back to my house with Becky and Wayne. If you include my layover in Chicago, I've been in a lot of cities today. It's good to be home again.

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Posted January 01, 2004 (11:18 PM) | Comments (1)