A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-28-07 to 1-1-08....New Year's Eve In Times Square

Aquamarine

[Aquamarine]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31st, the eyes of the world turn once more to the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square. Anticipation runs high. New Year's Eve is in the symbolic center of New York City "The City That Never Sleeps".

New Year's Eve in Times Square is chaotic, crowded, and out of control. People begin arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 6:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. Between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic.

Times Square has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and has become a symbol of its home city. Times Square is principally defined by its animated, digital advertisements. Known simply as One Times Square, it is famed for the "ball" which "drops" from a tower on its roof every New Year's Eve.

The "New" New Year's Eve Ball

Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball. At 11:59 p.m., the Ball begins its descent as millions of voices unite to count down the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams.

On October 4, 2007, the co-organizers of New Year’s Eve in Times Square (Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment) unveiled the new LED Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball at a press conference at Hudson Scenic Studio in Yonkers, New York. 2008 year marks the 100th birthday of the New Year’s Eve Ball, a universal symbol of celebration and renewal.

Auld Lang Syne - Traditional

The world holds its breath...and cheers as the clocks strike twelve. As the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends from the flagpole atop One Times Square, an estimated one million people in Times Square, millions nationwide and over a billion watching throughout the world are united in bidding a collective farewell to the departing year, and expressing our joy and hope for the year ahead.

WATERFORD CRYSTAL created an exclusive “Let There Be Light” design for the crystal triangles on the new Ball. Designed and crafted by Waterford artisans in Ireland, “Let There Be Light” features a dramatically stylized, radiating sunburst on each of the 672 crystal triangles. Due to the new design and technical innovations, this represents an increase of 168 crystal triangles from last year’s Ball. And, for the first time, the crystal triangles will feature cutting on both sides. The double cutting maximizes the light refraction within the crystal triangles.

The new Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is more than twice as bright as the old one, with enhanced color capabilities and state-of-the-art LED lighting effects. Waterford Crystal crafted a beautiful new design for the crystal triangles on the Ball. Philips Lighting provided new solid state lighting technology that substantially increased the brightness, energy efficiency, and color capabilities of the Ball. And Focus Lighting developed a spectacular and unique lighting design for the new Ball on its 100th birthday.

Times Square at 12:00 AM January 1





We will open the book.
Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called "Opportunity" and its first
chapter is New Year's Day. ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce



History of New Year's Eve In Times Square
About The New Year's Eve Ball
Countdown To 2008 - In Video


Happy New Year 2008!

The Best Is Yet to Come
I've Got The World on a String
That's Life

Click on titles for music

03-27-07 ~ Hall of Fame #19 ~ Final

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-24,25-07...Merry Christmas 2007 12-26,27-07...Warm Fuzzy Wednesday & Thursday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[MEG33]

;o)

I am not fond of big crowds..I’d like a window table overlooking the crowd,too..and a dance floor large enough to really dance.

[jaycee]

I haven’t removed anything yet. Still enjoying the downstairs, where I spend most of my time.

I will do mine the 2nd and since I didn’t put out as much as usual, it won’t be too hard, I hope!

It does look different when you put things away even though it has a cleaner look!

[GodBlessUSA]

Exactly! A delicious dinner served following the cocktail hour. ;) In a beautiful atmosphere right next to a window. Low lovely lighting and some dancing with mellow nice music. That’s what us ladies here at The Finest are dressed for. Right? ;)

I can’t believe how many people are out there. Some years it’s been freezing but they still gather. :)

[MEG33]

I was anxious to box each area and label the spot where it came from..I am usually at my daughter's for Christmas and haven't really decorated much in years ..I had to figure it all out again and I did some areas I had not done before.

Now at least I will know what goes where..and must just do the arranging. I had to leave the bookcase cabinet top decor ..I love the little white lights...and it won't take long to box it all up. I started decorating the week after Thanksgiving and have loved having it.

My bouquet I received from my husband's family has stayed so fresh..I had to remove two red carnations today, the first...I moved it to my bedroom when I took the table leaf out so I can enjoy it while on the computer.

[jaycee]

G.B., I have never seen a bird like this before. Isn't it gorgeous. I would faint if I saw one! Here is a picture even though you and Meg know what they look like!

[MEG33]

Exactly!

[jaycee]

I looked at the map and they are in this area. They love fruits on a fruit tray feeder it said. Apples, raisins and currants. We know they love the red berries and I have plenty of those.

If a person would put out a feeder they may come!

[jaycee]

Sounds so romantic I can’t stand it! ~~sigh~~

[jaycee]

Flower arrangements from the florist do last pretty long. And don’t they make your life cheerier?

[MEG33]

Lovely..I remember last winter looking out the glass door at the sky and seeing a flock of birds..and thinking... “Could it be Waxwings!” Minutes later they dropped out of the sky..scared the cat..amazed me..and they drank my birdbath saucer dry..I had to keep an eye on the water while they were here..I had both Robins and Waxwings emptying it .I put out another big saucer. I was in birdwatching heaven!

[GodBlessUSA]

I know, I wish we could all do that. :) Someday, I would like to do something like that for New Years.

[GodBlessUSA]

SO Gorgeous. I went searching one time. There is a nearby wildlife area. They were seen there. We searched. I never saw them, just heard them. Someday. :)

[jaycee]

I don’t know how Waxwings bathe but I could watch my robins all day. They take the best bath...it just feels so good, they will get out and get back in and I so enjoy it! I watch them from my kitchen window. Seems I am there a lot. My hummingbird feeder is right outside that window too so I really have a good place to watch the little hummers!

I love birds and squirrels and anything outside. I have those little tiny critters...can’t think of their names. Some people call them ground squirrels....can you tell me what I am trying to say~~LOL~~they are darling and fast as lightning!

[MEG33]

Indeed..and I did not have to get red berries everywhere making a table arrangement for my dessert gathering. I started changing the water and placing it in the garage every night to keep it as long as possible..Of course I forgot a couple of nights..but it is still lovely after about 9 days..IIRC.

[MEG33]

Are they chipmunks? I don’t have them here but they are precious.

[MEG33]

5:51..I can see sunset and it is dark out there..It is later setting.

[jaycee]

Yes, little chipmunks! Precious....One summer I named one “Brad”, don’t ask me why that name? I would put some seed on the brick wall at the end of the patio and a little thing of water. If I would sit real still, it would come and eat and drink but if I moved an eyelash...dash, it was gone!

[MEG33]

I may try the fruit bit..Perhaps they would stay longer.
Some years I don’t see them..Last year was a treat.

[GodBlessUSA]

I need to figure the best time to do this. I would put out the fruit. I think it is March. I will have to look it up. I’ll have to give this a try! I put fruit out for Mockingbirds, Robins, Orioles and Catbirds. I haven’t since most have left, late fall. If they don’t come maybe another bird will. :) Funny the Mockingbird doesn’t eat what I put out in the winter. It's like he knows it's out of season ;)

[GodBlessUSA]

That’s terrific. It was dark at 4:45 here. That is nice almost 6. :)