For NYers, Ball Drop Only Part of Celebrations

New York, NY —

For New Yorkers seeking a New Year’s Eve celebration tonight, Times Square is just the beginning. Isaac-Davy Aronson looks at some of the city’s other festivities.

For something mellower, you might opt for Times Square’s sister celebration at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza. For good views of the fireworks there, and in Central Park and the other boroughs, you could join the annual “Brooklyn Bridge Walk into the New Year.” The even more athletic New Year’s reveler could hop on the Time’s Up bike ride from Washington Square Park to a party at Belvedere Castle, and the annual Road Runners Club 4 mile midnight run, starting at Tavern on the Green and including champagne at the halfway point.

Earlier in the evening, catch some Bach at Bargemusic, New York’s “floating concert hall” or sit in on the Cathedral of St. John the Divine’s annual concert for Peace. Some events require registration or tickets – but they’re all free of the Times Square madness.

For WNYC, I’m Isaac-Davy Aronson.