#ThrowbackThursday - NYE Edition

With New Year’s Eve less than a week away, we think about this day as the coveted holiday where people may break away from the family obligations and cut loose bringing in the New Year with others that matter most. There are many cities that can help you bring in the New Year right and CNN.com cites London, England  and New York City among 10 great places to spend New Year’s Eve and in this week’s blog, TTT is reminiscing on their time in London and NYC for NYE!

LONDON

I had the pleasure of experiencing the spectacle of New Year’s Eve in London back in 2008.  I was younger, single, and ready to explore. Me and my girlfriends from college wanted to experience something new for New Year’s, and London was our destination!  Food? Not so good. Shopping? All I can say is Harrods! Culture? Lot’s to explore – we took in museums and a musical on London’s West-end, Kensington Palace, Oxford Street, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.  Stay? Notting Hill (yes, like the movie starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant). It was a great location as our hotel was about a block from the Tube (London’s subway system) and we weren’t far from Portobello Road a street market known for its unique finds of antiques, food, fashion and books. 

TRACEY + THREE OF HER COLLEGE FRIENDS ENJOYING LONDON DURING NYE.

NYE Party scene? EVERYTHING!!! I can remember going to a ticket book located in a central place and having to pick from several parties and picking one where we ended up spending the whole night.  I’m sure we had intentions of finding our way to the London Eye for fireworks, or Trafalgar Square which is like the Time Square of London, but we were having too much fun at the party! To this day, my NYE in London is the best on record!!!  Highly recommend.

If you’re planning here is a resource that will help! 

NYC

Growing up, if we weren't at church ringing in the New Year, we were at home in the living room, around our TV watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve! In the rain, snow, and freezing cold, we would watch as hundreds of thousands of people would cram into Time Square to celebrate, reminisce, and countdown the New Year. From watching year after year, I knew this would be a moment I’d eventually want to experience. 

As me and my girlfriends were getting closer to graduating from college, we thought this would be the perfect way to ring in our graduation year and finally do NYE in NYC! Me + two of my best friends planned, packed, and decided to make it happen! 

Exploring all parts of New Jersey + New York was amazing; even in the freezing cold! We took in all the sights and visited got together with many of our friends. On New Years Eve, we decided to explore the local area before going into the city. With festivities starting around 9p, we decided to head to the city on the subway around 8p. While the subway was packed, it was nothing compared to the crowds we would encounter once stepping foot in Times Square. 

People. Literally. Everywhere! Just imagine 1 million people crammed into roughly 8-10 blocks; CRAY-ZY!  **I will say with a low of 28°F that night, the more people, the better.**  

NICOLE + TWO of HER best friends standing in Time Square in 28°F weather.

The energy, excitement, and celebration that we + everyone around us were experiencing was simply unexplainable. People from all walks of life; from near and far, young and old, and of all shades coming together sharing the common goal of celebrating with those that we love.  

Being there in person was truly just as I imagined it would be growing up while watching it on TV with my family. It was nothing short of amazing and a memory that I'll always cherish. 

If you’re planning to visit NYC for NYE  here + here are resources to help guide you! 

With 2020 bringing a new decade, where are you planning to ring in the New Year? Tell us by Commenting below!