Come the evening of December 31, the AMC Empire 25 movie theater on 42nd Street changes into a New Year’s extravaganza, aided with plenty of movie magic. While movie-going and overflowing buckets of buttery popcorn are on the table, that’s just the beginning. The party really kicks off with visits to the open bar, live entertainment, and a Champagne toast. Every ticket even includes access to the sixth-floor “Platinum View Terrace,” with guaranteed views of the live ball drop. This year’s screenings include Zootopia 2, Wicked: For Good, and Marty Supreme, among others. This is the family-friendly New Year’s event you won’t want to miss.
A watch party for under $100: Frames Bowling Lounge
When: December 31, 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Where: Frames Bowling Lounge, 550 9th Ave.
Price: Starting at $99
How to book: Tickets available online
Who said you couldn’t ball on a budget while watching the ball drop? Frames Bowling Lounge offers a ticket just shy of $100. A brisk 10-minute walk away from Times Square, the lounge’s party starts at 7 p.m. and lasts til 2 a.m. The ball drop is cast on every angle from the venue’s wall-to-wall TVs, and the new year is welcomed with none other than a Champagne toast. Keep the good times going at the open bar, live DJ, buffet stations with kid-approved food (i.e., chicken tenders), and, of course, bowling, bowling, and bowling. Upgrade your ticket for table service, private lanes, and other perks.
A magical rooftop bar: Moxy Times Square
When: December 31, 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Where: Moxy NYC Times Square, 485 7th Ave.
Price: Starting at $175
How to book: Tickets available online
The tickets for the rooftop at the Moxy have actually dropped for this year. That might just be all it takes to convince us the ditch our black tie tuxedoes and cinch a spot at one of Midtown’s most colorful hotels, Moxy NYC Times Square. The hotel’s rooftop bar, Magic Hour, is throwing an all-night New Year’s Eve party featuring what’s touted as an “urban amusement park” with “State Fair-inspired light bites,” plus an open bar and a Champagne toast at midnight. Bonus: The hotel is just a few blocks away from Times Square. While it’s one of the most affordable ways to watch the ball drop this year, trust that the price point does not subtract from its sheer class.
