Happy New year !!!!!

[Rollie pollie]

Yeh!! where all ears.

[tim]

http://www.firstnightevanston.org/

Evanston is an old North Shore town just north of Chicago along Lake Michigan. It is perhaps most notable as the home of Northwestern University. It's an interesting place with the univerity, some ritzy areas, notable history, old buildings, and run down poorer sections. It's partly an artsy area and the downtown, especially, has some historic churches.

So, for fifteen years running, on New Years Eve, they've been holding an alcohol free family friendly festival called "First Night." The First Night trend is something which has caught on in numerous communities across the country. Often incorporating variety arts, childrens' entertainment, parades, puppets, music, theater, dance, fireworks these New Year's celebrations create a healthy and fun way for an area to offer an affordable entertainment experience.

On a snowy night which was sometimes frustrating to trudge through, but also lovely, I got to enter many beautiful buildings and enjoy the arts. Jugglers, balloons, and children with painted faces brightened the night on porches and in the streets.

I started off by catching the legendary Ella Jenkins live interactive singalong.

Then I stopped by to catch a few minutes of Eric Lugosch's fingerpicking acoustic guitar. I was highly impressed.

The marionette puppetry of Dave Herzog was just wonderful. He had a singing Uncle Sam and one of the most lofty tighrope walking acts I have ever seen. Yes, a puppet on high wire!

A classical/operatic offering at the Music Institute's concert hall showed quite well and connected with me, especially.

Then, I happenned into an old hotel, almost by chance. Really, I just wanted to check out the building and see the ballroom. I didn't plan on staying long. But the richness and variety of this ethnic/cultural walkthrough of music from many traditions and centuries fascinated me enough to stick with it. I'm glad I did! It was another highlight of the night.

Around the corner, I saw a sign which advertized food. I was starving and ran inside. For just $5 I got some chili, apple pie, and pop. It went to a good cause: the summer mission trip of the church's teens. And a really nice and sizable building was this. Lisa McClowry and Thomas Linsk performed in the social hall which many danced. In the main sanctuary was an outstanding bluegrass band: The Special Consensus. I stayed there till a few minutes before Midnight. Then it was up the block to join all the others for a march to the lake. About half a block away I heard the countdown. Then off went the skyrockets. HAPPY NEW YEAR! And people kissed. Quite a site, unique fireworks over the lake against a snow covered night. Only ten minutes long was this spectacular, but it seemed like much more in celebrating the passing of one year into the next in this passage of life and time amidst neighbors, family, friends... the community of man on this planet we call Earth.

All the best for a great 2008!

(Oh and penny rides on the transit system ain't a bad deal, either!)

[Bumbles]

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

We also have First Night Celebrations here in Buffalo.

They have all kinds of music, entertainment, food and then at Midnight we have a ball drop from the old Electric Building and fireworks, which they shoot off from the top of the building.

Bumbles and Pattycake

[Nettie Belle]

I can't believe I'm so far behind on this ... but I hope 2008 brings you many blessings. I hope you capture all the blessings and appreciate them.

[IMG][/IMG]

You are an AWESOME BUNCH!!

[The_Princess_of_Bozonia]

Happy New Year everyone! *raises glass of sparkling cider*

[Sassy Frass]

You too! (clinks glass w/ Princess)

[Markie]

Our town does First Night. I went one year, it was pretty boring IMHO. It is nice to have an alcohol-free alternative to insane parties but I never went to those insane parties anyways. I'm normally at church camp, including this year.

I'm one of the tech/production guys Doing mainly video projection and lighting design.

[Happy Chappy & Daisy]

Happy New Year to you, too! *honks nose*

[Darrell]

Happy New Year to everyone! My New Year's Resolution is to eat more and gain weight.....................I kind of figured since I never keep my resolutions that maybe I should say it that way and maybe I will actually do the opposite, lol.

Darrell

[Nettie Belle]

I always keep at least ONE of my resolutions ... to quit smoking. I don't smoke, but I can always say I kept ONE of my New Year's resolutions that way. Sounds like you have a pretty good method going too.