New Years Eve in Times Square

New Year's Day
Spend the day in bed nursing your hangover—or get out and start working on that resolution. Whatever you do, the New Year is here and it's time for a fresh start.

Brunch Ideas
Greet the New Year with a peaceful brunch and a hangover tonic or two.

Free Readings
Two enormous poetry slams (the Poetry Project’s Marathon, and the Alternative New Year’s Day Spoken-Word Extravaganza) compete for your attention on January 1.

• 101 Years of Times Square
Stroll the confetti-strewn streets after the ball-drop and reconsider the glitz and grime that have defined a centenarian public space. Stops include: The New-York Public Library, Astor Hotel, Palace Theater, Sardi's and sites associated with the Shubert Organization, Florenz Ziegfeld, Bob Hope and Evelyn Nesbit.
Meet at 1pm at Bryant Park, southeast corner of Sixth Ave. and 42nd St.; 212-439-1090, bigonion.com.

• A New Year in Old New York
Sample eighteenth-century confections and punch at the Merchants House while learning the old ritual of “calling” (now known as “party-hopping”).
3-6pm. Merchants House Museum, 29 E. 4th St.; 212-777-1089, merchantshouse.com

• Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens
It's only lasts a few more days, so make the trip up to see the famous annual cityscape, spanning two entire galleries of the Conservatory, made out of plants. Models trains run throughout over the1,000 feet of large-gauge track and through intricate recreations of city scenes. See plantish replicas of the Statue of Liberty, the Apollo Theater, and the Brooklyn Bridge as well as this year's new additions which include Rockefeller Center, City Hall, and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Through 1/9
10am - 5pm daily, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx River Pkwy at Fordham Rd., 718-817-8700 or nybg.org. Free with admission

New York National Boat Show
The boats on display range from sporty kayaks to swanky yachts, with oodles of fishing gear in between.
1/1-1/9
Jacob K. Javits Center, 655 W. 34th St. at Eleventh Ave.; 212-984-7000, discoverboating.com

Restaurant Week
Hot chocolates all around! If there's one reason to brave the cold, this is it: For two weeks, get a 3-course lunch for about $20 or dinner for $30 at many of New York's finest restaurants.
1/24-1/28 and 1/30-2/4
Call 212-484-1200 for more information

Tax-Free Week
You have just seven days to take advantage of tax-free shopping for clothing and footwear items under $110.
1/31-2/6
Call 212-484-1200 for more information