I’ve never understood
why anyone would want to go to Times Square and see the ball drop. It’s freezing (35 at the moment, with the chance of snow at/by midnight being 60%), crowded (up to one million people), and just generally horrible. You have to get there in mid-early afternoon, and then stay in your blocked-off, bathroomless (imagine how many people just piss right there, now imagine the smell) pen until the ball drops (you can leave, but can’t go back). There are no food or beverage vendors. There are no bags or backpacks permitted. There are open container laws, so there is no alcohol permitted either, which doesn’t mean you can’t drink anyway, but it does make things generally shittier. All for watching a giant glowing ball descend less than 100ft (the full process of which takes roughly a minute) culminating in ten seconds of “excitement” immediately after which you begin what can only be a nightmarish journey home. Where is the appeal?