The Times Square Ball

Well, another New Year's Eve is now behind us, and the famous ball high above New York's Time Square has dropped the 141 feet in 60 seconds yet again, heralding the beginning of another year. While most of the world is no doubt quite aware of this annual event in the heart of midtown Manhattan, one is sometimes prompted to ponder to how many people have actually experienced the dropping of the ball in-person.

Now, I am not at all advocating such an experience as necessarily a good idea. Aside from the logistical issues of getting into New York City, enduring the bitter cold and the huge crowd of people - many of whom are quite drunk, such an endeavor is clearly not for the fainthearted or physically challenged.

As for me, I have never seen the ball drop from the perspective of actually being there, but rather, more often than not, from the much more comfortable and civilized position illustrated here, from my own bedroom.

As a flâneur who has devoted a blog and website extolling the virtues of social interaction in enhancing the quality of one's life, I can state unequivocally that choosing an alternative location to be, other than at Times Square on New Year's Eve, is not a bad move.

Sometimes solitude, on certain nights of the year, can be a very good thing indeed. Particularly with a glass of wine - or better yet, bourbon, on the nightstand.

The tradition of the ball drop at New Year's Eve in Times Square actually began 110 years ago, with the 1907-08 holiday season, which was instituted by Adolph Ochs, who at that time was the publisher of the New York Times. Prior to that, he had used fireworks to herald the beginning of each new year at the newspaper's headquarters at 1 Times Square.

To date, there have been a total of six balls used over the past 110 years, with the original one being five feet in diameter, constructed of wood and iron, and illuminated with 100 incandescent light bulbs. The original ball was manually hoisted up the pole by a team of six workmen, and weighed 700 pounds.

The current Times Square Ball has been in place since 2009, with a diameter of 12 feet, weighing 11,875 pounds. It has an aluminum frame configured in the form of a geodesic sphere lit by 32,256 LED lights with 2,688 Waterford Crystal panels.

While this ball has been constructed to be weatherproof and is, for the most part, in position year-round, it is generally inaccessible to the public - unless you can get an invitation to a special event to see it.

Believe-it-or-not, you actually access the private elevator lobby on 42nd Street to ascend to the ball, through the Walgreen's drug store on the ground floor at 1 Times Square. From the level the elevator leaves you, you ascend at least another half dozen flights of stairs, and then you can finally access the platform on which the ball is situated.

Is it worth it? I think so. At least once, anyway.

The line for the Waterford Crystal cocktail reception queued along 42nd Street to the private elevator lobby. The photo at the right would be the author polishing the Waterford Crystal panels with a flourish using his pocket square. No Windex, however.

All of this is to say, that the Times Square Ball has a rather interesting history, and is frankly worth checking out if you get the opportunity - but not on New Year's Eve.

For me, I prefer a quiet New Year's Eve, normally in the solitude and comfort of my own home. I like to reflect on my blessings of the closing year, and to plan for the new year in a way that will allow me to improve as a human, and to make the most beneficial, productive use of my time - as our tomorrows are never guaranteed.

Parties with good friends are always great. But for me at least, not on Amateur Night - which occurs regularly on December 31st.

And so, to all of my family, friends and readers, I wish you all a healthy, happy, safe and prosperous New Year, filled with all of the blessings life can bring.

© 2018  David Nogar   All Rights Reserved