What's open on New Year's Day in New York City? You've got plenty of options for New Year's Day fun in the city that never sleeps. Start 2009 right and set the tone for the whole year. Meet friends for a leisurely brunch, visit one of New York's top museums, hit the sports bar for the college football games, play tourist for the day, or get a bit of exercise.
Catch all of the college football bowl games at Brother Jimmy's while drinking beer and enjoying a Game Day menu that includes Bucket O’Hot Wings, Brother Jimmy’s BBQ Humongous Nachos, Peel and Eat Shrimp, BBQ RIBs, and much more. Brother Jimmy’s opens at 11:30 AM and table reservations can be made in advance by calling 212-799-7427.
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.
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 2008 and you'll have lots of ice to yourself.
From 2PM 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.
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.
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 $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $13 for children 6-12.
See photos of the amazing views from Top of the Rock.
