Video: Spider-Man rescues Anderson Cooper
The CNN New Year's Eve show was hijacked! The Green Goblin abducted Anderson Cooper from his spot with Kathy Griffin in Times Square. Fortunately, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was around to save the night.
Video: Times Square, get ready!
Tune in tonight at 10pm E.T. on CNN.com as Isha Sesay reports from behind the scenes.
NYC welcomes 2011 with traditional ball-drop, revelers
Jordana Ossad
CNN
New York (CNN) - An estimated 1 million people marked the passing of one year and the beginning of another in New York's Times Square with the descent of an iconic ball.
With the help of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta, the dazzling crystal ball began its 70-foot drop at 11:59 p.m. Friday to the harmonious chants of New Year's Eve revelers counting down the final seconds of 2010.
More than one ton of confetti was released at midnight, with personal individual wishes written in more than 25 languages, a tradition from the past three years.
View of Times Square
CNN's Jim Spellman shows us the roof view of Times Square and talks to the crowd.
Video: 2011 New Year's Eve Props
CNN's Jim Spellman gives you a look at the 2011 props that people in the Times Square crowd are wearing.
Video: Backstage at CNN's NYE
CNN's Jim Spellman gives a backstage look of CNN's New Year's Eve show.
Times Square: Life in the Pen
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/12/31/art.chavezromero.jpg caption="Victoria Chavez and Manuel Romero have come from New Mexico to New York City to experience the arrival of 2011 in Times Square."]
Jim Spellman
CNN All Platform Journalist
Times Square, New York (CNN) - Arriving early for the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square is not for the faint at heart. Those who dare show in the morning will doubtlessly have fun but once they enter the fenced-in viewing areas what they won’t have is any way to keep warm, anything to eat and, perhaps, worst of all, no bathrooms.
“My feet hurt, my toes hurt, I’m hungry and I need to use the bathroom” says Victoria Chavez.
She came all the way to New York from Albuquerque, New Mexico with her boyfriend Manuel Romero who shares Victoria’s complaints as they await the arrival of midnight.
They still have five hours to go before the ball drops, but they don’t regret coming.
“How many people get to come to the biggest party in the world?” Romero says, “It’s well worth it, the chance of a lifetime”
Chavez has been passing the time on Facebook, posting pictures and status updates.
“Been here hours n counting! no restroom food chairs... just the crowds and the coldness!!,” she posted in the early evening.
Some of her online friends are dubious about their early arrival
“Dang girl that must suck dnt drink too much! Ur pics are so cool n exciting,” one of her Facebook friends posted.
But Chavez isn’t worried. “We’re sharing the moment with them, good and bad. We’re going with the flow,” she said.
FULL POST
Video: Behind the Scenes – New Year's Eve on CNN
CNN's Jim Spellman gives a behind the scenes look at preps for CNN's New Year's Eve show.
New Year's Eve 'Conch Republic' style
Photo credit: Kim Segal/CNN
Kim Segal
CNN Supervising Producer
(CNN) - If you have ever been to Key West, Florida you know that things are done with their own flair in this southernmost city in the United States.
The city even "seceded" from the country in 1982 when the residents protested a U.S. Border Patrol roadblock on the highway that leads to the Florida Keys. Mayor Dennis Wardlow read a proclamation of secession and the "Conch Republic" was born.
Just like the variety of people you will find down here, the city has enough New Year’s Eve midnight drop traditions to suit all visitors.
Sushi, a drag queen, is lowered in a red stiletto from the roof of the Bourbon Street Pub. This is where CNN's John Zarrella will be reporting live during our New Year’s Eve broadcast co-hosted by Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin. Just up the street at midnight a pirate wench will descend from the top of a ship's mast. For an authentic “Conch Republic” countdown, there's a huge manmade conch shell that falls at midnight, when the party for "Conchs" and visitors is just getting started.
Video: New Year's Eve in Times Square
CNN's Jim Spellman talks to people celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square.
On Twitter
