Last December 31st, I rang in the new year with a zillion other frozen people (okay more like … a million) at Times Square in New York City where the New Year's Eve Ball descends from a pole high atop the city streets at the stroke of midnight.

You've probably seen the ball drop on TV because it's a super-popular event. Times Square has been the center of worldwide New Year's Eve attention since 1904 when the owners of One Times Square began conducting rooftop celebrations to usher in the new year. It's one of the largest celebrations in the world and is SO crowded you can not believe it.

The ball, which is made from super-expensive Waterford Crystal, is visible on Broadway between 34th and 53rd streets and on Seventh Avenue between 43rd and 59th streets. Some people had advised me to arrive early and dress warmly; which was good advice since it was 9 degrees out and the good viewing spots go fast! Hint: if you know someone who works in an office building in the area, you might prefer to watch the festivities from the warm comfort of their office— especially since office buildings have bathrooms—something that is not available to the hundreds of thousands of revelers!

All in all, it was a great, memorable experience, one that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a fun way to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one!