New Years In NYC (Beyond Times Square)

Summary

All Of It with Alison Stewart – “New Years In NYC (Beyond Times Square)”

Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC
Guest: Nadia Chaudhury (Editor, Eater Northeast)

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of All Of It explores New Year's Eve in New York City—offering creative, diverse, and last-minute ideas for celebrating, whether you're feeling homebody vibes, seeking a splashy night out, or something deliciously in-between. Host Alison Stewart is joined by Nadia Chaudhury of Eater Northeast, who shares a broad spectrum of food, party, and relaxation options (at all budgets), while listeners call in with their own memorable and alternative traditions. The tone is practical, festive, and refreshingly honest about managing NYE expectations in a city legendary for its celebrations.

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Managing New Year's Eve Expectations

[00:38 – 01:53]

• Keep expectations in check:
  • Nadia: “It's better to have low expectations and not to expect some sort of mind blowing transformation revelation that will happen come midnight.” (01:10)
  • Her own plan: After moving back to New York, Nadia feels the pressure to "do it up big," but typically prefers to stay in.
• Host Alison on home celebrations: Encourages listeners that staying in can be just as celebratory, especially with a small group.

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At-Home Celebrations: Festive, But Low-Key

[01:53 – 03:14]

• Dress up, even at home:
  • Nadia: “Dress up whenever you can. Honestly, even if it’s not New Year’s Eve—we’re working from home.” (01:53)
• Menu tips:
  • Advise guests to eat before arriving; snacky foods and drinks work best so the focus can be on mingling.
  • “Don’t come to a New Year’s Eve party, expecting to have a full dinner…snacky things are honestly the best.” (02:22)
• Movie night & background vibes:
  • Nadia singles out Phantom Thread as a top New Year's Eve film (“one of the ultimate NYE movies,” 02:54), and notes New Year’s has overlooked holiday movie potential.

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Going Out: Bars, Dining, and Dancing

[03:16 – 06:57]

• Local bars like Paradise Lost (East Village):
  • Golf-themed; "open till 8am”—great for NYE-to-NYD revelry. (03:29)
  • Practical tip: “Call ahead to see if they are actually doing anything for New Year's Eve and whether or not there will be a cover.” (03:29)
• Japanese-style Listening Bar - Mr. Mellow:
  • “Very friendly…no cover, they're doing DJ sets. Very easy, very pleasant.” (04:45)
• Dolores (New Mexican restaurant in Bed-Stuy):
  • A la carte menu, fun vibe, and hosting the Spanish “12 grapes at midnight” tradition for luck. (05:07)
• Glass of free bubbles: Many venues will offer this at midnight—“be prepared for that as well.” (05:44)
• Dance party options:
  • Jupiter Disco (Bushwick): “Dance party. 40 bucks advance, $45 at the door. Sparkly outfits recommended—yes, sparkling, glam, pearls, etc.” (06:19, 06:45)
  • Robin concert in Brooklyn (sold out, but noted as a choice pick).

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Listeners' Creative Traditions

[07:03 – 09:25]

• Danny (Princeton, NJ): The "Reverse NYC"—enjoying the city during the day (shows, lunch) and escaping before crowds grow. “We get home as everybody's piling in...It's very satisfying.” (07:52)
• Marilyn (Chelsea): A contemplative, inward evening—yoga, kirtan, silent reflection at SOUK Yoga Studio until midnight. “Enter the new year together with…people who’ve gone through this epic exercise of going in.” (08:53)
• Text: Caviar & Tadig at home: One listener shares plans for a cozy night with caviar, homemade Persian rice, and champagne.

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Special Restaurant Experiences

[09:35 – 11:20]

• Marquette (North Chelsea):
  • "European by way of Caribbean flavors;" chef India Doris was Michelin’s young chef for the Northeast this year.
  • NYE pre-fixe menu ($125), notably the peri peri chicken.
  • Casual option: Argyle, a new downstairs cocktail bar. “Award-winning chef who knows what she's doing...beautiful space.” (09:40)
• Strange Delight (Fort Greene, Brooklyn):
  • New Orleans-leaning menu (“po boys and seafood…so festive”).
  • Offers both dinner and a party (“the party comes with karaoke—what better way to enter New Year's Eve with singing with strangers?”). (10:40)
• Midnight karaoke song ritual: Listeners and guests debate the perfect karaoke song to ring in the year.

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Times Square: Braving & Dodging the Ball Drop

[11:53 – 13:22]

• Ed (East Village): Unique perspective—attending a private party overlooking Times Square, skipping the crowds but getting the view.
• Alison’s TV coverage stories:
  • “If I ever say yes again, you are to drag me from the phone,” she recalls, but also shares the joy of witnessing live proposals. (12:23)
• Nadia’s take: Never done the outdoor ball drop herself—“I feel like it would be fun to do at least once in your life. But also I don't like the cold.” (12:57)

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More Listener Suggestions & Traditions

[13:27 – 15:37]

• Carolina (Scarsdale):
  • Performing jazz at new Lower East Side club, The Jazz Genius, with Antonio Chaka Trio—“some of the finest musicians in New York City.” (13:27)
• Games and At-Home Countdown Parties:
  • Declining crowd sizes over the years prompt nostalgic memories—“We even lowered a mini mirrored ball and counted down to midnight.” (14:02)
• Natalie (Westchester):
  • Suggests Ben Gibbard’s "New Year"—perfectly timed to hit “So this is the new year and I don't feel any different” at midnight. (14:33)
  • Nadia: “Thank you for reminding me about that song…made my cat dance to it…” (15:20)
• More on dancing cats: Lighthearted banter ensues. (15:36)

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Splurge-Worthy Dinners and Bar Parties

[15:41 – 17:56]

• Chateau Royale (Greenwich Village):
  • Operated by the team behind Libertine.
  • Open bar and dinner/cocktails for $300: “If you have the money…a fun, fancy treat-yourself sort of experience with many Parisian vibes.” (15:56)
• Listener text: “New Year’s Olympics” of silly games with friends—a highlight tradition. (16:34)
• Barkbawa (Caribbean, by Momofuku's Paul Carmichael):
  • Named Eater NY’s best new restaurant (2025).
  • “Fun Caribbean food, relaxed…bar party, no cover…bopping music, champagne, special cocktails, snacks after midnight…[it’ll] turn into a fun dance house party with the most fun delicious food and drinks.” (16:50)

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Notable Quotes

• On expectations:
  • Nadia: “Don't expect some sort of mind blowing transformation revelation that will happen come midnight.” (01:10)
• On dressing up:
  • Nadia: “Dress up whenever you can. Honestly, even if it’s not New Year’s Eve—we’re working from home.” (01:53)
• On unique plans:
  • Danny: “We get home, it's great. We light a fire in the fireplace, turn on the tv, and it's like, been there, done that, and it's very satisfying.” (07:52)
• On music:
  • Natalie: “'So this is the new year, and I don't feel any different'...is like a beautiful way to enter the year every single year.” (14:33)
  • Nadia: “I've come back from New Year’s Eve and like played that song out loud and made my cat dance to it.” (15:20)
• On splurges:
  • Nadia: “It's a lot, but if you have the money, it's worth…it’s a fun, fancy treat-yourself sort of experience with many Parisian vibes.” (15:56)

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Episode Takeaways

• Diverse options for New Year’s in NYC: At-home snacks and movies, festive bars with no cover, splashy tasting-menu dinners, and special traditions at every level.
• Find (or set) your own vibe: Whether contemplative, glamorous, social, or low-key, there’s no one right way to celebrate.
• Cherish local gems: From Japanese listening bars to New Orleans-inspired karaoke—support neighborhood spots, many of which add NYE flair.
• Listener ingenuity shines: Creative plans—reverse timing, games, daytime museum visits—highlight New Yorkers' knack for reimagining classic occasions.
• Music is magic: The right NYE song can set the mood, unite a crowd, or prompt a (possibly reluctant) cat to dance into the New Year.

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Key Segments & Timestamps

• 00:38 – Managing Expectations & At-Home Festivities
• 03:16 – Night Out: Bars, Dancing, & Dining
• 07:03 – Listener Traditions: Reverse NYC, Yoga & More
• 09:40 – Special Restaurant Experiences
• 11:53 – Times Square, Ball Drop, & Behind-the-Scenes Stories
• 13:27 – More Listener Traditions (Jazz Clubs, Games, Music)
• 15:56 – Splurge Dinners & Late-Night Parties

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Tone: Upbeat, humorous, honest, and inclusive—a real celebration of NYC’s everyone-invited approach to beginnings.

Perfect For: Anyone looking for inspiration to make the most of New Year’s in New York, with warmth, wit, and a dash of glam—minus the pressure.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

You're listening to all of IT on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. New Year's Eve can be a day full of expectations, but sometimes your night doesn't exactly go as planned. So we here at all of IT wanted to set you up for New Year's Eve success, especially if you're still deciding how to spend your night. Nadia Choudry is editor for Eater Northeast. And she has some great suggestions for how to have an amazing New Year's Eve at all different price points. Nadia, welcome back to all of it.

[C]

Hi, Alison. I'm so happy to be here.

[B]

Listeners, we want to hear from you. What are your plans for New Year's Eve? What's your ideal New Year's Eve plan? How do you like to spend New Year's Eve in the city? Give us a call. 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. Okay, so new Year's Eve day, it comes with a lot of high expectations, which are often disappointments in training. So what suggestions do you have for people? How to set their hopes for the evening?

[C]

That's a great question. I think it's better to have low expectations and not to expect some sort of mind blowing transformation revelation that will happen come midnight. I'm honestly, I know this year my husband and I, we are going to go out for New Year's Eve, but it is our, I consider this year our homecoming because we moved back home to New York this year. So this is, we felt like we had to do a really big up New Year's Eve, but usually, I don't know, stay home.

[B]

Well, if you're gonna, yeah, if you're gonna stay home, you can also stay home with a small group of friends. First of all, what do you think about dressing up if you decide to stay home?

[C]

I think if you wanna dress up, you should dress up because dressing up is fun and, and you don't necessarily need to go outside. And it's even better if you get dressed up at home because you don't. You can take off your fancy heels if you're going to wear heels or fancy uncomfortable shoes. I say dress up whenever you can. Honestly, even if it's not New Year's Eve, we're working from home.

[B]

Okay. So you decide to host New Year's Eve in your house. What might you consider for a menu to keep it easy, especially, I think.

[C]

Especially with New Year's Eve, tell people to eat beforehand or like, like don't come to a New Year's Eve party, expecting to have a full dinner. I think because you get distracted by talking to people, watching the tv, you know, just like mingling and stuff like that. So snacky things are honestly the best. I'm a big fan of just getting a ton of cheese meats. You know, have your wines and drinks and lemonades or just festive drinks and just have people snack around.

[A]

Or you could have a movie night.

[C]

I think you could do both. Have a movie on in the background. I personally am a big fan of Phantom Thread since I think that is like one of the ultimate New Year's Eve movies. I'm actually in the middle of watching it myself right now. Just something, you know, New Year's Eve. You know, Christmas gets all the glory when it comes to, to holiday movies, but New Year's Eve movies are really fantastic.

[A]

All right, you decided?

[C]

Nope.

[B]

We're going out.

[A]

We're going to have a good time.

[B]

But you don't want a full night out.

[A]

You suggest you going to a local bar and just having a good time. The one you suggest is Paradise Lost. What's so special about it?

[C]

I mean this is so, it's a Tinka bar with the whole golf theme. What I really appreciate about Paradise Lost in the East Village is that for New Year's Eve they're going to be open till 8am so who, who? That's a, that's a, that's a long way to spend New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. Who knows what mayhem can happen. And my big suggestion, especially with like local bars, obviously check their Instagrams and websites, call ahead to see if they are actually doing anything for New Year's Eve and whether or not there will be a cover because you don't want to go up to the door and expect to pay like maybe a $20 cover and you don't have cash or you know, there's a, that's something. Always expect that there will be covers at bars, but call ahead or especially just check Instagram to see what's up for the day.

[A]

My guest is Nadja Chattery, editor at Eater Northeast. We're discussing suggestions for last minute New Year's Eve plans. Listeners, we want to hear from you. Are you doing this New Year's Eve? What are your suggestions for spending a great New Year's Eve in the city? Our Phone number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. You can call in and join us on air or you can text to us at that number. All right, let's talk about another affordable night out in the town. Mr. Mellow. Explain.

[C]

Mr. Melo, really. Mr. Mellow. It's a listening bar. It's like a Japanese style listening cocktail bar. Very friendly, like audio files, will have a great time, good music. There's no cover. They're doing DJ sets. Very easy. It's very pleasant.

[A]

There's a celebrated New Mexican restaurant in Bed Stuy called Dolores. Tell me a little bit about the vibe of this place.

[C]

It's just fun and easy. They're doing a very, you know, they're not doing any sort of tasting or pre fee menu for New Year's Eve. It's a la carte, so you can go in and dine and eat whatever you want. You can drink. They're also doing the grapes at midnight tradition.

[A]

Explain that for folks who don't know.

[C]

Kind of. I have to look this up. But just so I know it's grapes on New Year's. I'm so sorry. It is. I know it's supposed to. If you eat 12 grapes on new Year's Eve, it's a Spanish tradition and it'll bring you good luck into the new year. I'm a big fan of, like, good luck traditions as well. So it's fun when restaurants lean into that.

[B]

It's fun.

[C]

I don't know. And I will also going back to, like, most bars and restaurants will be doing a glass of free bubbles come midnight, so be prepared for that as well.

[A]

All right, let's say you have a little bit of money to spend. You suggest going to the Upper west side to a Thai barbecue spot.

[C]

Oh, I think that one. I will take that back because I think that restaurant just changed concepts.

[A]

Oh.

[C]

As of this week. Oh, let's nix that for now. And I'm so sorry.

[A]

We'll forget that. Let's talk about places you want to go dancing. Where can we go dancing?

[C]

I know Jupiter Disco in Bushwick is having a dance party. 40 bucks advance, $45 at the door. I mean, I also know that there is Robin is playing somewhere in Brooklyn, but that concert is unfortunately sold out. But that would have been maybe my second pick for. I think dancing into the New Year's with Robin would have been an amazing way. I'm sure there are, like, tickets on StubHub for that as well.

[A]

I did see the jup disco that you. They suggest sparkly outfits, which is amazing.

[C]

You should be sparkling. Yes, sparkling. Glam pearls, et cetera, et cetera.

[A]

Let's talk to Danny In Princeton, New Jersey. Hi, Danny. Thanks for calling, all of it.

[D]

Sure. My partner and I have always done New Year's Eve in reverse. What we do is this. We come into the city in the morning, we'll go maybe see a show. We'll go to the Rockettes. Then we'll go and see. We'll go to some bohemian restaurant in the Village and have a great, great lunch or early dinner. And it's great all the crowds aren't here yet and the people aren't lined up for these places. Then later on, we head home, as everybody's now piling into the city to go sit on sidewalks and stand there for hours. We get home, it's great. We light a fire in the fireplace, turn on the tv, and it's like, been there, done that, and it's. It's very satisfying.

[A]

Oh, Danny, I'm coming to hang out with you. You have a good plan. And Happy New Year to you as well. Let's talk to Marilyn in Chelsea. Hi, Marilyn. Thanks for taking the time to call. All of it.

[E]

My great pleasure, Allison. I have a countercyclical plan as well, which is after a roller coaster year, I intend to go in and I intend to go do that at the Souk Yoga Studio in. What is that neighborhood called? Again? It's. I'm blanking on the neighborhood. It's in Manhattan. And that studio offers a two hour yoga class, then a three hour kirtan session, and then a three hour silent contemplation which will end at midnight. And then the idea is to enter the new year together with all these people who've gone through this epic exercise of going in.

[A]

That sounds lovely. We have a text here that said, I had an amazing.

[B]

Thanks.

[A]

Dinner. Thanksgiving dinner at the Yacht Club in Chelsea. They're doing a jazz New Year's Eve dinner. I won't be there. But like, just like Thanksgiving, I'm sure a time will be there, be had. This next one says staying in on New Year's Eve is the best. Second only to a Robin show. With our kids fast asleep, my wife and I will be treating ourselves to caviar, a homemade tadig, and some bubbles. Happy 2026. All good plans so far.

[C]

I am a big fan of this reverse New Year's. That's like, very smart. I'm into it. I'm really into that. And also the contemplative New Year's as well.

[B]

You recommend for dinner a place in North Chelsea called Marquette.

[C]

Marquette. Okay. So it is a really fantastic place. The chef India Doris was just named Michelin's young chef of the Northeast region at the ceremony. This year, India's doing really amazing. It's like European by way of Caribbean flavors. There's a Peri peri chicken there that is fantastic. And it will be on the New Year's Eve pre fee menu for the evening, which highly recommend. I mean, it's a very stunning space. It is $125 per person, but I think the quality of food is really well done. And again, an award winning chef who knows her, what she's doing and what's even fun is that or if you wanted to go a bit more casual, they just debuted a downstairs cocktail bar called Argyle that's going to have wonderful cocktails and all of that fun stuff. And again, beautiful space.

[B]

If you're in Brooklyn, you suggest heading to Fort Greene to a restaurant called Strange Delight. What's the menu like there?

[C]

Oh, it's a no New Orleans leaning restaurant. So a lot of po boys and seafood and very, you know, I mean, it's sort of, you know, New Orleans is so like, I love New Orleans. It's such a festive eating and drinking town to. So to celebrate New Year's Eve with those sort of vibes are amazing and, and what's fun is that so they have both either the dinner or a party. The party comes with karaoke. What better way to enter New Year's Eve with singing with strangers? Honestly, you're pro karaoke, I'm pro karaoke. And I'm just going to be so curious as to what the midnight song would be. What should be a good midnight song? Right, that's sing all together. I don't know.

[B]

That's a good one to think about. I got to think about that for a little bit. My guest is Nadia Chidori, editor at Eater Northeast. We are discussing her suggestions for last minute new Eve plans and listeners. We want to hear from you. What are you going to do this New Year's Eve? What are your suggestions for spending a great New Year's Eve in the city? Give us a call at 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. Let's talk to Ed who is calling us from the East Village. Hey, Ed.

[D]

Hi. Hi, Allison. How are you doing? Well, great, Great. I was just going to share my personal plans. I'm going to be in Times Square, but not in the way that most people would imagine. I actually have a friend who has an apartment there that overlooks Times Square. So we're going to be able to see the ball drop from the balcony, which should be very exciting.

[A]

That is exciting.

[B]

I have to tell you though, Nadia, I used to work for a certain network and I used to have to do the New Year's Eve coverage.

[C]

Oh boy.

[B]

I think I did it four years in a row. And the last year I said to my then husband, I'm like, if I ever say yes again, you are to drag me from the phone. It was real, it was a ton of fun. But one year it was so cold and you're standing in Times Square full of people just having the greatest time.

[A]

A special kind of time, and you're.

[B]

Just like, I'm cold. But it was fun though. But I did have one person propose live on tv. It was actually kind of sweet. So, yeah, they are good memories.

[C]

It's an experience to have at least like once in your life. I don't think we've so for actually for us, for New Year's Eve, we are also going to be in Times Square, but we're going to a hotel restaurant party, which will be fun. But I've never done like, you know, the proper ball drop in Times. I don't know, I feel like it would be fun to do at least once in your life. But also I don't like the cold.

[B]

Let's talk to Carolina in Scarsdale. Hi Carolina.

[F]

Hi. Thanks for taking my call. I am going to be at a new jazz club down on Essex street in the Lower east side. It's called the Jazz Genius. And I'm going to be singing and I'm going to be playing with the Antonio Chaka Trio. Antonio Chaka on piano and Kengo Nakamura on bass and a great drummer as well. And these are some of the finest musicians in New York City. Jazz musicians in New York City. So come on down. We have two sets, 9 o' clock and 11 o'.

[D]

Clock.

[B]

Thank you so much for calling in. This said I used to have a group of friends over every New Year's Eve to play various games all night into the early morning hours. We even lowered a mini mirrored ball and counted down to midnight. There were champagne, caviar, smoked oysters and other munchies. We are now in our 60s and 70s and somewhat scattered. So it's been a while. But it was really a fun way to spend the eve of the new year. Let's talk to Natalie from Westchester. Hi Natalie, thanks for calling all of it.

[F]

Hi. So there is a perfect New Year song for every new year, especially in our modern times. It's by Death Cab for Cutie lead singer Ben Gibbard. They're amazing. And it's called New Year and you can cue it up if you started at like 9:59 so that it goes. So this is the new year and I don't feel any different. And it is like an amazing, beautiful song about like the clanking of like champagne glasses and everybody dressed up for no reason. And it is like a beautiful way to enter the year every single year.

[B]

Thank you so much for the suggestion. You got two thumbs up from Nadia on that one.

[C]

I thank you for reminding me about that song because I have come back from New Year's Eve and like played that song out loud and made my cat dance to it. So yeah, it's such a perfect song. And seeing them perform it live is like amazing. Thank you for reminding me about that.

[B]

You have a cat that dances.

[C]

I make her dance. I made her dance. He wasn't very happy about it.

[B]

All right, I want to put one suggestion in about Greenwich Village because in case your pockets are a little deeper than others, you are suggesting a dinner cocktail party. Where are we going?

[C]

So Chateau Royale. It is run by the team who also runs Libertine in the West Village. Chateau Royale is their new French restaurant. The peg is sort of like French restaurant with New York old glam kind of thing. And it's very like a luxe experience. It's so be such a beautiful dining space. D upstairs dining room, downstairs fun bar. They're doing an open bar and dinner and cocktails for yes, $300. It's a lot, but if you have the money, it's worth. It's. It's a fun, fancy treat yourself sort of experience with many Parisian vibes.

[A]

We got a good text. For the last four years, a group of friends and I have had a New Year's Olympics full of silly easy games for everyone to participate. That's an excellent suggestion.

[B]

Is there any other place that you want to shout out?

[C]

Yeah, I would love to. So Barkbawa, which is run by Momofoku Group led by chef Paul Paul Carmichael. Barkabawa was one of or Kabawa which is their tasting menu. Restaurant Barkabawa, which is like the bar had been named one of Eater's best new restaurants of 2025. One of Eater new York it is Eaters New York Eater New York's best new restaurant of the year. So fun Caribbean food, relaxed like tasting menu. Etc bar Kabawa is doing a fun party. No cover but like a la carte menus they're having patties, they're gonna have bopping music, they're gonna have champagne, they're gonna have a dinner, a special cocktail for the evening and special snacks after midnight. Like, if I that would have been my like, potential New Year's Eve plan, honestly, because it's just gonna turn into a fun dance house party. Honest. Like with the most fun delicious food and drinks.

[A]

Nadia from Eater Northeast, thanks so much for your suggestions. We really appreciate it. And Happy New Year to you.

[C]

Happy New Year to y' all too. And thank you so much for having me on.

[A]

And listeners, we hope you'll be up by noon on New Year's Day because we're gonna have a special edition of all of it. We're gonna have a call in show featuring you telling us about your hopes, your dreams for 2026. We want you to be live on the air on Thursday.

[B]

There's more.

[A]

All of it on the way. We're gonna be talking about lunch for the next hour.

[G]

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