Monday, January 01, 2007

First Night - first time

A strange thing happened on the way to New Years Day 2007- we stayed in Massachusetts.
After 6 years of living 12 miles north-west of Boston, we actually spent New Years Eve in downtown Boston. But why was this the first time and just where were we in previous years?
With help from digital photo records, it turns out it was with family in Peoria, IL on two occasions (2002/2005); hiking the Yorkshire Moors, England (2004); sightseeing in Washington DC (2003) and with friends in the Adirondacks NY (2001) and Banff, Canada (2000). No wonder we felt at a loss for something to do this year.
A quick peruse of the Globe gave us the kernel of a plan. 2007 First Night - Boston, a series of events started thirty-one years ago to celebrate local artists and neighborhood organizations. Performances in forty locations consisted of short films (mostly good – some very good), music (classical guitar - standing room only and in one case with dire acoustics ­­– barber shop chorus in a shopping mall), comedy, puppetry, parades, ice sculptures (melting) and of course fireworks. Free admission to some museums, the aquarium and all events with a $15 button was great value, beaten only by free travel on the T (subway) after 8pm.
Trouble was that by 10:30pm we were so tired, cold and full after dinner at an Italian restaurant all we really wanted was to go home, stretch out in the warm, watch a movie, and drink champagne.

And that's exactly what we did.

Happy New Year and best wishes for a great and successful 2007

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