What general part of NY state are you in? Might help in determining cold hardiness. This past winter, I overwintered several species of bamboo in large, plastic containers (Phyllostachys aureus, P. vivax, P. viridis, P. nigra, and P. nidalaria outide, next to the house. It was a relatively mild winter (and I'm in zone 7a), and they kept their leaves. Still, it was meant to be temporary as bamboos are such vigorous growers that they will not be happy for long in containers once they outgrow their containers (so several weeks ago they went into the ground). (Far in the back, with a moot around them so I can keep them in check.) Bamboos are evergreen and would be for you if you had them in the ground (containers are MUCH COLDER and HOTTER than the ground). Yes, you also have to worry about HEAT with containerized bamboo. If you have your heart set on bamboo, you could just give it a shot. Get a bamboo that is winter hardy to zone 6-7 (probably some species of Phyllostachys). Plant in a well-draining soil in the largest size container you can accommodate. Then mulch it. Don't forget to water it (even in winter during thaws). You could also try to protect the plant over winter with burlap or a tarp (if nothing else, it will protect some from wind damage). Good luck!

Golden Goddess does very well in a pot for a privacy screen. From my experience, clumpers do better in the long run, as the runners will need to be repotted more often than the clumpers. If you plant a runner, I would also recommend a shorter variety since the taller growing ones will become rootbound quickly, and as the culms get larger, they don't produce a thick privacy screen. Shorter runners make thicker screens. Kt

I will differ with gardener1 a bit and say that bubblewrap will protect the pot for a short time, but, if you have sustained cold temperatures, all the bubblewrap in the world won't keep the pot from reaching the ambient temperature. In other words, if you have a bamboo that has a hardiness rating of 10F and you have a sustained temperature at or below that level, a bamboo in a well-protected pot may last a day or two longer, but it will ultimately succumb like the same bamboo in an unprotected pot...just not as soon. gardener1 is also correct that winter dryness in a house can damage a bamboo...but this can be countered by misting daily. If you have to choose between worrying about it being cold enough outside to kill the plant vs. worrying about it being too dry inside and having to mist it, you may want to choose the latter.

As long as the top is wider it's do-able. However, if you mean that it tapers in at all as it goes from bottom to top, you have a problem. The method that works for me is this. I recommend that you water it heavily and let it sit for a day. Then turn it over on its side on a surface that won't damage the pot. Sit down on the ground facing the pot. Grab the bamboo culms with both hands and plant both feet against the rim of the pot. Push against the rim with your feet while pulling on the bamboo. If it resists, you may have to pound your feet against the rim to jog it loose. Good luck. Let me know if that worked for you.