Cheap Chick New Year's Eve Guide 2008

Now that all your presents have been unwrapped and you've vacuumed up the pine needles from your apartment floor, it's time to move on to the last holiday of 2008, New Year's Eve. While there are a number of venues in the city where you can spend several hundred dollars to ring in the new year, I'm here to share some cheap and free alternatives to apartment parties and big bar blowouts.

Cheap Chick New Year's Eve Guide
Watching the ball drop at Times Square
Now you may think that this event is just for tourists, but it is a New York City institution watched the world over that you don't have to drive miles to attend, and it's free! Musical guests include Ludacris, Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie, and the Jonas Brothers. Be sure to arrive early for standing space and dress warm!
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye.html
Cheap Chick Info: Free!
Location: Times Square
Subway: A,C,E,N,R,Q,W,1,2,3,Shuttle, 7 train

Jivamukti Yoga School 20th Annual New Year's Eve Party
After spending the holidays with your relatives you may want to ring in the new year with some peace and quiet and you'll get it at this party. From 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. At Jivamukti Yoga you can experience mauna, the yogic practice of silence, while in quiet reflection until midnight when the silence is broken with chanting. There will also be vegan chai for guests to enjoy.
Cheap Chick Info: Free! Party starts at 9 p.m. and lasts until 12:30 a.m.
Location: Jivamukti Yoga School's downtown location, 841 Broadway (near 14th Street) , 2nd floor (near Union Square)
Subway: N,R,Q,W,4,5,6, to Union Square

Time's Up New Year's Eve Bike Ride and After-Party
If you want to ring in the new year with the athlete in your life, you might consider coasting into 2009 on a bike or blades at this event. The ride starts at 10:30 p.m. at Washington Square Park under the arch and ends in Central Park at Belvedere Castle, which is the site of the group's free New Year's Eve party with the Rude Mechanical Orchestra and fireworks! If you aren't up for riding you can hang at Belvedere Castle until the bikers and bladers arrive. The group encourages revelers to bring food and drinks to share. For more details and info on joining up in one of the boroughs, click here: http://times-up.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=42&cntnt01origid=15&cntnt01returnid=114 Cheap Chick Info: Free! Ride starts at 10:30 p.m. and party continues into the night.
Location: Starting point is Washington Square Park and the ride and party are at Belvedere Castle in Central Park.
Subway: 6 to Astor Place, N,R,W to 8th Street (Washington Square Park) B, C to 81st St/Museum of Natural History; 1 to 79th St.

New York City Roadrunners Annual Midnight Run
It's too late to get a head start on your New Year's resolutions and run the event, but you can still enjoy watching runners complete the four mile course and enjoy a party at the Central Park Bandshell complete with fireworks, dancing, and a costume party.
Cheap Chick Info: Free! Schedule: DJ Music and Dancing 10:00 p.m. Costume Parade and Contest 11:00 p.m., and fireworks and four mile run begin at midnight.
Location Info: Central Park Bandshell (near the 5th Ave. and 72nd Street entrance.
Subway: E,V to 53rd Street/Lexington Avenue, 6 to 51st and Lexington Avenue, 6 to 68th Street/Hunter College.

Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza
Ring in the new year with a bang as you watch fireworks at Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza. This free event includes entertainment and hot refreshments.
Cheap Chick Info: Free! Fireworks starts at 11 p.m.
Location Info: Grand Army Plaza
Subway Info: 2 or 3 to Grand Army Plaza station; Q to 7th Ave. Station (Flatbush Ave.).