The only problem was that we really didn’t want to stand out in Times Square for hours on end on the 31st just so that we could see the ball drop. We started looking into restaurants or hotels where we could see the ball drop because we thought that would be a better deal in the long run.

We weren’t overly optimistic though, because we starting planning in September, and had heard that if you wanted to find someplace, you had to book by the spring. We struck out a few times, but, by chance (well, by internet search), we happened to find a restaurant in Times Square called Ruby Foo’s that hadn’t even started taking reservations for New Year’s yet when we called them in October.

They promised to call us back when they were prepared with their holiday plans. As promised, they called back, and we booked a table for that night. It turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my entire life.

They sent a “permission form” of sorts that we had to present at a police checkpoint in order to get in to Times Square that night, and after being waved over by a metal detector wand, we were on our way with police escort in tow to get us to our destination.

We walked past crowds of people who must have been standing outside since who knows when, and straight to the restaurant. The atmosphere inside was absolutely amazing: the ceiling was covered with black and white helium-filled balloons, there was confetti everywhere, and the menus had been personalized for the event.

One of the best parts about the night was that the food was absolutely fabulous—well worth the expense (and it certainly was pricy, but can you really put a price on such a great experience?).

Our waitress was very personable, and helped add to the festive atmosphere. A little after 11:30, the wait staff began to hand out party hats, horns, and our glass of champagne. We moved towards the doors, and found that there was a barricaded area separate from the rest of the crowd that we were allowed to enter so that we could see the famous descent.

The air was charged and when midnight rolled around, cheers filled the air. Overall, it was everything I wanted it to be. If you are considering heading to Times Square for New Year’s Eve, I would definitely advise making reservations at a restaurant, and I would highly recommend Ruby Foo’s, which was absolutely fantastic all around.

The only downside was that we were pretty far away from the actual ball, but still a heck of a lot closer than if we were watching on TV in the Midwest!