Nathan's Insights

Saturday 1 January 2000
Highlights:  New York Cinema, ‘Stand Up New York’ comedy

Despite no drinking the night before I still felt like I had a hangover with very little energy after a very long night and then waking in a new century 🙂  The major pain was having to change hostel rooms once again which meant having to check out and wait to check back in.  As a result we visited Times Square again and watch the massive clean up job already underway.

To kill time and experience another typical New York event we paid $9.50 (expensive!) to watch ‘Galaxy Quest’ which was very funny and enjoyable.  Cinemas in New York are expensive but also an event, the cinemas we visited had seats like business class on a good airline.

Later that night we attended the ‘Stand Up New York‘ comedy venue. We avoided the cover charge of $12.00 as hostel guest get in free but you still must buy two drinks (total $15).  The five comedians were truly brilliant, bringing tears of laughter from Jon and me.  Uncensored live New York comedy is a must for any visit.  A great night out and a great start to the new century.

Friday 31 December 1999
Highlights: New Year’s Eve 1999 in Times Square!! 💥

Finally it’s New Year’s Eve 1999, the most talked about event for the last few years, the hype, the Y2K concerns, the end of world predictions and I’m here in New York City home of many famous celebrations for the new year!!

There were heaps of terrorists warnings in the days leading up to today.  We kept hearing assurances that the computers will not break down and nuclear weapons activate, I guess they didn’t since I’m still here 🙂

We got up early to get down to Times Square to celebrate Australia’s New Year which is one of the first places in the world (New Zealand beat us) and occurs at 8 am NY time.  Quite a few people were already in Times Square including heaps of Aussies.  Watching on the big screen it looked like a lot of fun in Sydney with no apparent problems.  We played up in front of the TV cameras.

(Update: a few days later it was confirmed we made the TV news back in Australia!!).

We went back to the YHA Hostel to rest up and have an early lunch.  At noon we returned and got possibly the last great spot in the central area watching the temporary stage and the New Year’s Ball.  Times Square was filling very fast, this wasn’t going to be a typical 500k crowd but millions for this year’s event.  Our spot was around 46th Street and Broadway.

Every hour, and sometimes half hour, we counted down another country’s New Year’s Eve with dancers on the stage representing that country or region until after 12 hours of standing in the colour time came around.

For the USA / New York countdown the Mayor appeared and the countdown began at T minus 60 seconds.  The countdown got louder and louder, it was impossible to think and then the explosion of sounds, light, fireworks and streamers welcomed in the new century.

 It was an exciting moment to experience, very colourful and very very loud.  It was estimated 2.5-3 million people were in attendance.  Despite the concerns there were no problems other than the ripe off mark ups of prices (Wendy’s $1 burgers were selling for $20.95!!). There was also no alcohol with security making sure of that and no movements out so you had better had gone to the toilet earlier:)

Both Jon and me had leg problems at this point.  Standing in freezing temperatures for 12 plus hours with little movement is not great for the blood circulation.  We didn’t stay for the West Coast countdown instead we literary liked back to the hostel and I believe I got a preview of how I’ll be walking as a very old man, still want and AWESOME moment!!!