New Year's Day in New York

1. Groove Buffet Brunch at BB King's

Kick off the new year with a live show a BB King Blues Club and an all-you-can-eat soul food brunch. Groove Buffet will play classic R&B, Motown, and soul -- including the music of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Van Morrison, James Brown, and Otis Redding. The show starts at 1:30 PM and tickets are $40.00 in advance or $42.50 on the day of the show.

2. New Year's Day at the Museum of Modern Art

Spend the first day of 2010 admiring the works of modern masters at the Museum of Modern Art. The museum will be open from 9:30 AM until 8:00 PM. Hear a lecture on Pablo Picasso in MOMA's collection at 1:30 PM or see the new Tim Burton exhibit and enjoy New Year's Day screenings of Burton's Planet of the Apes (2001) and the classic Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932).

3. New Year's Day at the American Museum of Natural History

Visit the American Museum of Natural History and kick off 2010 among the wonders of earth and space. You can wander the exhibits and catch the IMAX films Wild Ocean (which ends January 3rd) or Beavers. You can also visit the Hayden Planetarium for a Journey to the Stars space show or an evening of SonicVision, an alternative music/light experience under the dome with a mix by Moby.

4. New Year's Day Ice Skating

Get some exercise and fresh air after a night of killing brain cells. Hit the ice at the Rockefeller Center Skating Rink, The Pond at Bryant Park, and other top NYC ice skating rinks. Who knows? Maybe everyone else will be sleeping off 2009 and you'll have lots of ice to yourself.

5. Poetry Marathon at Bowery Poetry Club

From 2 PM until Midnight, more than 150 poets and spoken word artists will take the stage at Bowery Poetry Club for their annual poetry marathon. Admission is free and you are invited to bring your own poem and step up during the open mike portion of the evening. Please bring paperback books and canned food to donate.

6. Historic Times Square Walking Tour

Join Big Onion Walking Tours at 1PM for a special New Year's Day tour of historic Times Square. Stops could include The New York Public Library, Astor Hotel, Palace Theater, Sardi's and sites associated with the Shuberts, Flo Ziegfeld, Bob Hope, Fanny Brice, and Damon Runyon. Join the tour for $15 per adult and $12 per senior. Meet at the southeast corner of 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

7. New Year's Day Football at ESPN Zone

Watch all the games in high def at ESPN Zone. Dig into wings, cheese fries, sliders, and other great hangover cures while you watch the action. You might also want to check out what's on the TV at other great NYC football bars.

8. New Year's Day at the Guggenheim

See the Guggenheim's acclaimed Kandinsky exhibit before it closes on January 13th. The Guggenheim will be open on New Year's Day from 11 AM to 6 PM. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and free for members and kids under 12.

9. New Year's Day at Top of the Rock

Celebrate the beauty of New York City on New Year's Day with a trip to the Top of the Rock to gaze upon the majesty of Manhattan from 70 stories up. Top of the Rock is open from 10AM until 11:10PM on New Year's Day. Tickets are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $14 for children 6-12. See photos of the amazing views from Top of the Rock.

10. Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Play tourist on New Year's Day and visit The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Admission to both attractions is free, though you will have to pay for your ferry ride from Battery Park ($12 per adult, $5 per child). Ferries depart every hour, but it's a good idea to book a reserve ticket in advance.