For those who want to welcome the New Year without the stress and madness of standing amidst 1 million fellow humans, White Plains has provided a suitable alternative to Times Square for 13 years.
Though still a usually rambunctious crowd, the White Plains Business Improvement District (BID) and the city of White Plains”™ annual New Year”™s Eve Spectacular is a toned-down version of the New Year”™s Eve extravaganza 25 miles south.
- Last year”™s New Year”™s Eve Spectacular in White Plains drew roughly 15,000 spectators. Tim Radigan Photography.
But this year”™s semi-tropical weather is causing officials to anticipate record crowds, which could mean big profits for downtown restaurants and bars.
Brittany Brandwein, the BID”™s director of events and business promotions, estimated a typical crowd at 15,000, but anticipates one as large as 25,000 this year should Mother Nature continue her hot streak. Early forecasts predicted high temperatures near 50 degrees and lows around 40 degrees for New Year”™s Eve.
“When it”™s cold, we don”™t see the crowd really getting large until after 11 p.m.,” Brandwein said. “I think people will be coming out earlier this year.”
The celebration, which begins at 10 p.m., will include live music by self-described “Ultimate Boyband Tribute” group Larger than Life, a show by Zambelli Fireworks, street vendors, and, of course, the ball drop at the corner of Main and Court streets at midnight, which also marks the start of the city”™s centennial.
Brian Mahon, the owner of Hudson Grille and Lilly”™s on Mamaroneck Avenue, said he expected a crowd similar to that of New Year”™s 2012, when the temperature was 50 degrees at midnight. On top of dinner being served until 10:45 p.m., both restaurants will offer complimentary champagne to diners. He and his roughly 35 employees between both establishments expect a steady flow of customers on the 2015 side of midnight and a steady flow of drinkers the 2016 side of the ball drop.
“I wouldn”™t say it”™s the busiest night of the year, but it”™s definitely a busy night,” Mahon said, adding that Thanksgiving eve and St. Patrick”™s Day are typically his two busiest nights of the year. “After the show downtown a lot of people come back here for drinks.”
Mamaroneck Avenue restaurants Brazen Fox and Vintage are offering an open bar and buffet from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., La Bocca Ristorante on Church Street is offering a $90 per person fixed-price menu and Sofrito on Main Street is hosting its Masquerade Ball featuring DJs from 9 p.m. until midnight.
Some restaurants, like Ron Blacks, are hosting age-exclusive events. For those looking to splurge, BLT Steak at the Ritz-Carlton is offering a $150 five-course fixed-price menu complete with party favors and a DJ.
The White Plains Recreation Department is also accepting applications from vendors wishing to sell novelty items.
For the 12th year in a row, White Plains-based Heineken USA will host its “New Year. Safe Ride” program, which provides free rides to partygoers. The fleet of 30 cars at the corner of East Post Road and Mamaroneck Avenue will be available from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. for those 21 and over traveling anywhere in Westchester. In a release, White Plains Mayor Thomas M. Roach said the service has provided more than 3,800 residents with safe rides home since its inception in 2004.
Along with keeping the roads safe, security has become even more of a focus of event organizers due to the recent national tragedies involving gun violence and the potential for a record turnout.
No large bags will be permitted and guests can only enter the free celebration through one of four gated entrances: Main Street at Church Street; Court Street at Martine Avenue; Renaissance Square at Williams Street; or Martine Avenue at Mamaroneck Avenue. Street closings will be in effect from 2 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
“As you can imagine, public safety is an even greater focus this year for obvious reasons,” Brandwein said.
“We work hard to make it a really important and special night for people, not just for White Plains residents and employees, but for people from all over Westchester as an alternative to Times Square,” she said. “Westchester County is diverse, so we try to give something to everyone.”
Mahon, the owner of Lily”™s and Hudson Grille, recalled a conversation he had with former White Plains Mayor Joseph M. Delfino about a decade ago.
“Mayor Delfino used to say at 6 p.m. you could shoot a cannonball down Mamaroneck Avenue,” he said. “It”™s changed a lot now and the city has certainly grown.”
