What are you doing New Year’s Eve?
And me? Glad you asked.
Nada, zip, zilch.
Oh, I might visit a nearby friend for a short while and have a sip of champagne, a tiny toast to the end of 2023, a year I’m pretty sure most people are not going to look back on with inordinate fondness. And I’ll toast with a fervent hope that 2024 will be a lot, lot better.
Staying up till midnight is no problem for me, since I’m a night owl and always have been. Actually, even when young, I had somewhat of an aversion to New Year’s Eve. To the idea of a night when you were supposed to have fun or else. A reminder of the speedy passage of time. With alcohol drinking. And the obligatory midnight kiss, which wasn’t a fun moment if you didn’t like your date.
Once or twice I went to Times Square to see the ball go down in person and not just on TV. Curiously, those were some of my better New Year’s Eves. Maybe it was the people I was with those nights. We ate at Tad’s Steaks, just for laughs, but Tad’s wasn’t bad at all.
And four years ago the very last Tad’s in New York City closed down. I had no idea any of them had lasted that long.
So let’s drink to Tad’s:
The cafeteria-style chophouse is known for hawking inexpensive meat-and-potato dinners on red trays — meals that cost little more than $1 each when the first one opened in 1957. A steak lunch today can be had for as little as $9.
At its height, Tad’s had eight New York locations out of 28 nationwide. But come Jan. 5, 2020, the red neon sign in the window advertising “broiled” steaks at 761 Seventh Ave. will go dark — as will the vast grill that played host to smoky “steak shows,” where dozens of cuts could be grilled at once during the thick of lunch hour.
Happy New Year, everyone! I’m very grateful for all of you. Here’s to a wonderful 2024, full of love, joy, and good health!
[NOTE: Some of this appeared in a previous post.]
Happy New Year to you and yours, Neo!
There’s a party down the street, and I really wanted to go, but a virus and cough say “no.” My husband will go down for a while.
Happy New Year!
My wife and are going to order take-out, watch a movie or two (TBD, but I stipulated they should be films neither of us have seen) and have a toast of sparkling white tea (we are non-drinkers) at midnight. I’m on the west coast, so much of the world already has entered the new year by they time it raches me.
The supposed “entertainment “ on New Year’s Eve TV just keeps getting worse and worse—inane commentary, and “people on the street” interviews of members of the packed in crowd by dull witted and sometimes drunken hosts, no name supposed or has been “stars” and groups performing their latest bit of screeching and cacophony, and a lot of apparently pre-recorded scenes from elsewhere around the country.
The late Dick Clark was almost preferable. The ol’ ball drop holds no fascination sufficient to make me stay up until midnight to witness it drop.
Personally, I’ll be glad to see this particular year just passed in the rear view mirror.
Mostly try to reassure our remaining poodle that the fireworks won’t get her.
What are you doing, New Years
New Years Steve?
Going no where as usual, have goodies and alcohol but won’t over indulge.
Wife wanted to go out for dinner, so heading to our newly found favorite northern Italian place. A bit pricey but using my soccer ref money. Going early so back to take care of the dogs in case of local fireworks which upsets them.
We’re going to sit out around the fire pit, watch the flames for a while, reminisce a little, have some spanakopita, and sip champagne.
Dinner with a host of good friends and then to a city-sponsored fireworks display over our local lake. All well before the clock struck midnight.
I am feeling blessed that the dog didn’t lose her mind whenever midnight hit because I’m sure someone would have launched a private backyard fireworks extravaganza…while I was sleeping.
I used to make a big thing about being awake to see the old year out & the new in. Now I trust it’s all in good hands & my watching it happen doesn’t really make much difference.
Blessed 2024 to all of you. I’m praying we see something that eluded us in 2023 (and a good few other years of this life)…an overarching sense of shalom in the fullest Biblical sense of that word. Until that happens, I will offer a simple reassurance: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him…” – Lamentations 3:22-25
The traditional New Year’s Eve meal of Dungeness crab and artichokes to start.
Then we’ll watch the football games. First, Pittsburg and Seattle, then Green Bay and Minnesota. (Mrs. J.J. loves to watch healthy young men play the game.) Me, I enjoy analyzing the strategy that goes into each game. After that, we’ll kill time until the midnight fireworks show at the Space Needle. A sip of champagne and off to bed. Mr. and Mrs. excitement. 🙂
It’s good to be able to do that.
Wishing all a Happy New Year.
J.J., this sounds like Mrs. J.J. has recovered well from Covid, and that’s something to be thankful for.
My son, his pregnant wife, their son visiting us for few days. We had a nice ham (& horseradish + sour cream) plus great fresh pasta salad dinner, along with seeing some early fireworks while we ate, all 7.9 of us (due in 2 weeks, along with my other 2 sons & wife) Not going downtown to see the big fireworks over the Danube.
We plan on playing some board game, sipping a bit on Prosecco, red currant wine (wife’s favorite), mimosas and tiramisu.
It’s been a great Christmas holiday for me, considering my leg got worse after I started rehab 6 weeks after my tendon tear.
Hope all have a great Eve but especially a Happy New Year, maybe even Merry. At least sometimes.
Planning a quiet New Year’s Eve, as has been our custom now for at least a dozen years. We feel content to be where we are, and except for a few health issues we really can’t complain. For that we are enormously thankful.
Our very best wishes for a heathy and stress-free new year to Neo and all her regulars here. It is a pleasure and a blessing to enjoy your company.
I will be driving around the Phoenix/Mesa metro delivering stuff to people. Food, booze, pregnancy tests, whatever. I’m hoping it will be a big money day. Last night I had a run out to the Gila River reservation, to which I had not been before. My delivery customer apparently recognized me as Native, which is true. He welcomed me to the 2nd most murderous reservation in the U.S. More than Pine Ridge? I asked. Yes indeed, and second only to one near Spokane.
When I was in Boston (may have actually been Somerville) there was a very cramped, busy place I ate. There was a small buffet for salad and veggies out of a plastic jar. The star was this weird grill. Various cuts of various meats, each skewered on a bar which was inserted into the grill at the height the cook felt was right. There were perhaps 60 bars.
You told him what meat, what cut, and desired doneness, and he would grab a bar and pull it out, and slice it off onto your plate. As much as you wanted, as many different meats as you wanted. He was definitely the star. I would have rebuilt the place to put him in the middle, with elevations so all the guests could see him from their table.
After having recovered from a more major illness a few weeks ago, it seems I caught another entirely different, and more modest illness just a few days ago. I was going to go out tonight, but thought I’d be conscientious and get tested first.
After having taken a half dozen negative covid tests over the last year, this morning I tested positive for covid. So, no new year’s eve fun for me!
I’m going to stay up to midnight and change out my calendars. I have a number.
I’m here, in my mountain lair, instructing my henchmen on our plans for world domination in 2024. Soon, soon…
We’ll go to a quiet gathering with old friends and be home, I guess, just after the stroke.
I’m more looking forward to tomorrow: Glazing up an excellent ham, fresh black-eyed peas, Mustard greens, cornbread, beer. Yum.
This gaming of New Years in NYC; Wearing adult diapers so that you can pee in your clothes and not miss the party, not even a single second – how long has this -innovation- been going on? I guess the rationale is, not to lose one’s place at the party. Does this also happen with people that are in line, buying concert tickets, too? Just the thought of being surrounded by a crowd of thousands, jammed in, creeps me out a little, but the thought that within the crowd, hundreds are sporting nicely plumped-out Depends? Gawd.
Happy New Year everyone, and all the best for 2024. And thank you Neo, for all that you do here!
Yes, Kate, my bride has recovered from Covid nicely and we’re most thankful for that. Thanks for remembering.
We are dining out with Friends at a Country Club at the new PGA Golf Course in Berthoud, CO, then back to their house (across the street) for nibbles, and board games until Midnight.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
MAY 2024 BE BETTER FOR ALL OF US
BE SAFE
After having recovered from a more major illness a few weeks ago, it seems I caught another entirely different, and more modest illness just a few days ago.
TommyJay:
I was wondering what you were up to — for better or worse.
Take care.
The usual, me and neighbors at midnight light fireworks, fire multiple rounds into the air…
Oh, wait, can’t do that anymore, those days are long gone…
Nothing special is planned for tonight, though I am enjoying a bottle of prosecco while reading on the internet and later on the Kindle.
The party is tomorrow at the sailing club – black eye peas, cornbread and bloody mary’s. A few brave souls will go out sailing in the cold (in the 40’s). Been there, done that….I’ll watch.
And then there will be some watching of the football games. I’ll be cheering for Michigan – GO BLUE!
Hap New Yr, all.
Just finished circuit diagram for new nightlight. Now switching over to writing.
Fun night. 🙂
Wishing everyone in this community a blessed 2024. Thank you Neo for all you do to make a year better.
Tonight the Pro-Palestine haters are threatening disruption at the Seattle Space Needle, which hosts a Big New Year’s Eve celebration with fireworks.
https://mynorthwest.com/3944855/rantz-protesters-plan-disrupt-new-years-space-needle-show/
Eric Adams, mayor of NYC, shares a similar concern for Times Square tonight as the Ball Drops at midnight:
https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/12/29/nypd-prepared-for-large-pro-palestine-protests-during-new-years-eve-bash-at-times-square/
I was never into New Year’s Eve — it seemed a bit boring and too straight for my taste. But it was an innocent, happy display of American culture, like Johnny Carson, that everyone could sign off on.
Working, like every other Sunday night.
Well, nothing much. nothing planned anyway. But, enjoying reading Neo!
May everyone’s New Year be Happy and Healthy!
It’s great to see the variety of things that people here do. Food, circuit design, deliveries to different places. No one has mentioned anything involving whales yet, though.
I just got back from church; our parish’s patronal feast day is tomorrow. Having chanted two full services today, I’m worn out. Having an espresso martini or something like that.
I’m glad to hear from you all!
huxley,
The last year has been something of an odyssey for me. By my previous sedate standards anyway. Getting out and meeting lots of people during this pervasive infectious disease season has not treated me kindly.
You take care as well.
The party at our neighbor’s house was canceled at the last minute due the host’s respiratory infection, so we’re just going to stay home and relax.
Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!
Dave Barry has his usual end of the year wrap-up. Barry has been funnier or maybe 2023 is a tough year to make funny. Here’s a good paragraph from the many:
_________________________________
Meanwhile Donald Trump, in what has become a cherished American legal tradition, is indicted again. Actually he’s indicted twice, once in Washington, D.C., and once in Georgia — which means he now faces 17,000 felony charges, including theft of a train, and if convicted on all counts he would face 4 million years in prison followed by electrocution, none of which would legally bar him from a second term as president.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/dave-barry-s-2023-year-in-review/ar-AA1mghgi
_________________________________
Love “theft of a train.” But it is the sort of thing the Donald would do. You know it!
It’s amateur night
Best wishes to all!
I recommend watching celebrations in other cities. On YouTube I watched Dubai, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul…. New York was by far the least impressive. Also, no prominent sponsors or ad placement in the others. London’s was incredible, and expensive technologically, but the narration was quite woke.
Interesting stuff.
It’s not quite midnight here.
Seem to be a lot of us celebrating the New Year posting on a blog board, but then, at least there are people here with us!
Woke up Christmas morning with a cold (no Covid symptoms and I refuse to get tested unless indicated), so haven’t left the house until church today.
Family party deferred to this Wednesday.
No fireworks pix to post, but this of Reims Cathedral is from Christmas and will do; I may even have gotten it from someone here!
https://twitter.com/BarbaraBrendt/status/1739244702291951824
Happy New Year to all, especially to our hostess who provides a forum for us traditionalists to exchange our opinions. Thanks also to the commenters who greatly add to the discussions….and to the many readers who may not comment but may be better armed with arguments to deal with hostile in-laws.
I have been away from the USA for more than 30 years now. However, this does not lessen the sadness I feel seeing a once great nation slip steadily into decline. From the open border, disastrous pull out from Afghanistan, inability to take lethal action against the Houthi pirates, acquiescence to Iran, muddled Middle East policy, the deplorable state of the education system, the sexual mutilation of confused children, poisoned race relations, the ruinous policies that increased the cost of everything over the past 3 years and many other areas that are too numerous to list.
2024 will prove to be a decisive year if the country is to hold. I think that if Trump sticks to the issues and avoids getting sidetracked with petty issues, he will be the next President. It will be a rough road to travel until the election in November. But if each of us can reason with our friends on the other side using logic and persuasion perhaps, we can change one person at a time on realizing how disastrous the policies of the current government have been to middle America.
On a happier note, a little musical piece from a place without these worries to ring out the old year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcZBWB–X0I
Best wishes to all for a Happy 2024.
Just past 12:30 here so, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope you get rich!
And I really, really hope that 2024 will be a year that we will realize we are all Americans. And that building up is so much better than tearing down.
I thought the Uber app would pull me over toward Phoenix like it always wants to do. But I did middle class Mesa, Apache Junction and a bit of Gilbert the whole night.
I was in one of those maze developments where you need GPS to get out of. I saw families in their driveway, parents keeping an eye on their kids and me as the kids dashed out to light some device in the street. I also saw houses with the garage door open and tables set up with things.
I finally figured out it was a poker run, or in this case walk. Tour the neighborhood, stopping in each location to play a game, have a drink and get a playing card. Then move on to the next.
in the morning, the person with the best poker hand wins a prize.
Up in the eastern foothills, folks sit in their driveways with a portable fire pit. One can see all the way across the valley, 45 miles of Mesa, Phoenix and other burbs. One can also see every firework, nearby or in the far distance.
We spent the evening with college friends, and friends of theirs who turned out to be a hoot. Dinner, a comedy club (haven’t been to one of those in at least 25 years!), and back to the friends’ house for Gabe’s. We thought we’d be out at 12:01, but ended up staying there until 1:30!
This morning – breakfast with my brother and sister and families, then driving to Bodega Bay for a little overnight, just the two of us. Home to the Houston area Wednesday.
Happy 2024, all! It’s always nice to hear from all of you!
We went to see Godzilla Minus One at the late matinee. Highly recommend! My husband is anti-subtitles but even he liked it.
Then an early dinner at home and nothing much after that.
Hubs and I had takeout from our favorite local Chinese restaurant and, in what has become a tradition in our old age, watched some episodes from the “Twilight Zone” marathon. We enjoy identifying actors in their early careers who later became famous.
We stayed up until midnight, watched the fireworks on the local news channel (no need for Times Square), had our champagne toast and New Year’s kiss, then off to bed.
May 2024 bring you joy, peace, and love!
I think that whenever Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day falls out on a weekend (particularly a Sunday) it loses something. It just does not feel right (feels like a regualry weekend day).