Looking for something fun and romantic to do on New Years Eve in NYC

December 5, 2011 10:09 AM

My girlfriend and I are looking for something fun and romantic to do on New Years Eve in NYC. Obviously, it can't be something that requires more than 3-4 weeks advance notice.

Definitely interested in anything that involves good food and music, but would also be down for oddball/non-traditional things.

* Not interested in dance clubs.
* It's okay if the event is dressy; we're down for dressing up.
* Would generally prefer a crowd in their 20s/30s.
* Also open to fun things a couple can do that don't necessarily involve other people
* I can spend a decent amount of money on this, but it can't be like ridiculously extravagant

I did live in NYC for a number of years, so you can assume I have a good knowledge of the city.

posted by Afroblanco to travel & transportation around New York, NY (7 answers total)

My husband and I always go to the fireworks in Central Park. There’s also a 4 mile race that you can sign up for. There are plenty of people of all ages without it being too crowded, and lots of space to spread out. It’s extremely romantic and fun.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:19 AM on December 5, 2011

The road race in Central Park also is sometimes a COSTUME event (so you'll see people running while dressed up as walruses and baby New Years' and belly dancers and such; it's kind of wild).

There is a low-key, unusual, and totally free thing in my own neighborhood -- the Brooklyn campus for Pratt University has a steam boiler, and the guy who maintains it also has a collection of steam whistles from locomotives, old steamships, and such, and also has a steam-powered carillion. He drags them all out onto the quad on December 31st, and then spends the hour before midnight giving a concert on the carillion -- and then at midnight he blows all the whistles at once. Then he leaves them out for another hour, letting people in the crowd take turns pulling the cords to blow the whistles themselves.

Not really a "private-romantic-moment" kind of thing -- there's always a crowd of students, families with their kids, and the like -- but it's unusual, cheap, and cool.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:28 AM on December 5, 2011

Check if The Top Of The Rock is doing anything, it has much more spectacular views then the ESB
posted by The Whelk at 10:35 AM on December 5, 2011

Top of the Rock's web site says:
New Year’s Eve; Saturday, 12/31: 8:00am-10:00pm (last elevator at 9:10pm)

Some of the higher end cocktail lounges throw a party with open bar (proper cocktails and champagne), passed canapes, and live music, for something a little bit more on the classy side.

Last year I know that Lani Kai, Mayahuel, Raines Law Room, Little Branch had parties. Typically they are $100-150pp or so.
posted by kathryn at 11:10 AM on December 5, 2011

The fireworks in Prospect Park are really nice as well. At the rate the weather's going, could be a nice time to be outside.
posted by mlle valentine at 11:32 AM on December 5, 2011

Here's a off-the-wall, do-it-yourself idea. Take her to some of the film locations from a movie like Serendipity, or similar romantic comedy set in NYC (if you haven't seen the film together, rent it and watch it with here first, and then surprise her later). Would take a bit of effort on your part setting it up, but how much you spend is up to you. Could be kind-of-neat, something you won't forget kind of thing.
posted by Land Ho at 7:51 PM on December 5, 2011

Here's a off-the-wall, do-it-yourself idea. Take her to some of the film locations from a movie like Serendipity, or similar romantic comedy set in NYC (if you haven't seen the film together, rent it and watch it with here first, and then surprise her later). Would take a bit of effort on your part setting it up, but how much you spend is up to you. Could be kind-of-neat, something you won't forget kind of thing.

If you choose to do this, just make sure you plan ahead and avoid the entire Times Square area starting around 1 or 2pm (between, say, 37th and 59th Street, between 6th Ave and 8th Ave).

Cabs also are hard to find on New Year's Eve dependent on where you are.
posted by kathryn at 10:17 PM on December 6, 2011