The streets in Times Square were littered with “practice confetti”
Friday, as the city prepares for Sunday night’s party.Organizers of the big New Year’s Eve bash tested the airworthiness
of the confetti being used this year by dropping it out of an eighth
floor office.To help usher in 2007, confetti will be released hourly from 6 p.m.
until midnight – and this year, there’s a lot more of the stuff than
usual."We have three times as much confetti because we’ve worked with
Target and they’re sponsoring practice countdowns at the top of the
hour with word-fetti – with words that are related to New Year’s
inspiration, things like ‘cheer,’ and ‘hope,’ and ‘peace,’ and
‘celebrate,’" said Treb Heining, a confetti master.More than 100 volunteers, so-called confetti dispersal engineers,
will drop the confetti from around a dozen Times Square buildings."Show up and enjoy the night and enjoy celebrating New Years Eve,
with not just a million people in Times Square but 100 million
domestically on television and a billion worldwide," said Tim Tompkins
of Times Square Alliance.And, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will once again start the official Times Square countdown, but he will not be alone.
He will be joined by representatives of the various branches of the
armed forces and the United Service Organizations just before midnight.
They will trigger the Times Square ball to start the final 60-second
countdown to 2007.Last year jazz great Wynton Marsalis joined the mayor to help the ball drop.
IF YOU’RE GOING
As usual, security will be tight in Times Square for the New Years
event. No large bags or backpacks are allowed and alcohol is
prohibited."We urge people to get there early, not to bring backpacks with
them or any alcohol, it will be confiscated," said Police Commissioner
Ray Kelly.Major traffic restrictions will begin in the afternoon, and revelers are encouraged to leave their cars at home.
Starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Seventh Avenue and Broadway will be
shut down between 42nd and 59th streets. In addition, 43rd to 47th
streets will be closed to traffic between Sixth and Eighth avenues.The closings will spread as the area gets more packed later in the evening.
There will also be changes on the mass transit system.
Starting at 7 p.m. on Sunday, the N, R and W trains will skip the
49th Street stop and northbound 1 trains will pass the 50th Street
station.
