New Years Eve '88. I was stationed at Griffiss AFB/Ft. Drum and some buddies said, "Hey, let's go to NYC". I, of course, said, "OK".

It was quite the trip. Rented a room at the Loews Summit for $200/night. The most I'd ever spent was $29/night...thank you Tom Bodett.

Crazy night. Hundreds of thousands of people packed in nut-to-butt and shoulder-to-shoulder into a couple of square blocks of city. A dirty, crime and rat infested city, but dang did we have fun. I even had a very large black woman pull me into a doorway and ask if I wanted a blowjob. I'm pretty sure "she" was a tranny and politely declined.

After midnight was the best part. All of those people leaving that area was like ants leaving a nest. Just pouring down the streets, and the cops did...nothing but watch. People walking up and over cars/taxis/limos/whatever, breaking windows (not common but it happened), topless chicks in the freezing weather, people screwing on the NYPD sawhorses...didn't matter, the cops just watched.

Yeah, it was quite the experience. As good of a time as we had, in the 36 years hence, I've had no desire to repeat it. Getting old sucks. I'm usually in bed by now on what dad called Amateur Night.

Anybody else got stories?

I was there in 90. Cold, wet, drunks puking.
Oh the good times.

Been there done that, never again.

Yeah, in 1996. It was 15 degrees and we froze our asses off. Never again.

Never did NYC, but I did Charles Bridge in Prague in 2001. People packed nut to butt like you described, but on a bridge over water, so there were only two exits. Fireworks getting thrown into the crowd, bottles flying, getting sprayed down with booze in the freezing cold, drunks staggering around everywhere and almost falling over the side...crazy stuff. I also remember having to protect the girls in our group from getting felt up or assaulted by a number of drunk assholes. On the way out there were fights, people puking everywhere, and my buddy got kissed on the mouth by some Italian guy.

The fireworks were cool over the water with the city all lit up, and at the time it seemed like a fun thing to do with friends, but I was young and too stupid to think about the potential consequences of being in that situation. It was definitely a unique life experience, but not something I'd do again or recommend to anyone else.

This year my wife wanted to have a party so she got some friends together down the street at her mom's house. I went for a bit but I had to be up for work at 4:30, so I left early, hung out with the dog in front of the fire for a bit, and was in bed well before 10:00. I guess I'm a lot less exciting these days lol.

Yep - 1982.
Went with an aerobics instructor from my gym who casually mentioned that she was going to Times Square for NYE. I told her she was crazy to even consider going there alone, and I was duty bound to go with her for her own safety.
That was our first date.

Took me about 6 months to figure out that she'd engineered the entire scenario to get me to ask her out. Clever one, she was.

We just passed 39 years of marriage, and she's still manipulating me on a regular basis.

I’m about an hr. east of NYC. Never done NY Eve, never will, I’m no parade guy either, hate drunken crowds and refuse to be penned in with drunks pissing all over the street. Took my wife to see the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center and the Rockettes years back. Won’t be doing that anytime again soon. With the legalization of pot now at least the place smells better than piss, like it used to. Filthy sewer of a place. I know a few cops who work, crime worse than the news reports.

Definitely go to the bathroom before arriving at TS. Be careful not to drink too much to avoid needing to pee. Find someone nice to converse with. Sharing a snack will be appreciated. The big surprise was the rain of beer, wine, champagne, vodka, whiskey, and what-not at midnight. Raining actual booze.

I walked times square October 2023 with a friend when I had to NYC for a work trip. No freaking way I'd get out in the middle of that mess on New Years Eve.

No way.

I rode a bicycle through TS back in October...that was a mistake.
While there's a designated bike lane and NYC drivers are generally solid drivers...the amount to tourists standing around, gawking, aimlessly unaware of what's going around them is stunning. Can't tell you how many people would stop & stand in the middle of an intersection, bike lane, exposed on a corner until they're nearly clipped by a turning car. ...it was crazy how many people turned their brain off.

Growing up in NYC I did Times Square many times, but never New Years. I did the parades and other events, but New Years was a big NOPE.

The largest event I did was the Bicentennial Fireworks at Battery Park in 1976, looking out at the Statue of Liberty. As mentioned, nut to butt and pure pandemonium when it was time to go home. The show was incredible though, well worth it.

BTDT, did not enjoy myself.

I was too concerned about my safety and security surrounded by the druggies, thieves, pickpockets, and other members of the mass of humanity present.

F' that noise again.

Went there a few times while in NY for fleet week back in the day. It was ok, but I’m not a big city person. And I was stuck wearing dress whites every time.

I'll also say the place reeked of weed when I was there. I mean it seemed like half the population was smoking.

Never been there and no desire to ever checkout times square at any time of the year.