I paid $2,500 to spend New Year's Eve at Applebee's and it was worth every penny

Thu, 01/04/2024 - 05:13

Evan Lund with his wife and foreign exchange student taking a selfie at Applebee's while they each wear a Happy New Year hat or tiara. — Evan Lund flew to Applebee's from Colorado with his wife and the foreign exchange student they're hosting. He spent $699 per person for the Applebee's tickets, in 2022, and bought the same tickets again in 2023.
Courtesy of Evan Lund

Evan Lund bought three tickets to spend New Year's Eve at the Applebee's near Times Square.
This was his second time attending with his wife and the foreign exchange student they hosted.
Lund said the food was more high-end than expected and he's already counting down for next year.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Evan Lund, a 36-year-old IT security manager from Loveland, Colorado, about paying thousands to ring in the New Year at Applebee's in Times Square. It's been edited for length and clarity.