First Night Boston 2007

It was a good one.  Perfect weather, big crowds. I actually got to SEE some of it this year, which isn’t always the case.  I loved the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Eva Dean Dance.  Pat Oleszko’s installation at the Castle was very cool.  The Family Fireworks looked really great.  I think there’s something about colder air that makes them brighter than they look in the summer.  Since working for First Night, I have never seen the midnight fireworks, as I am usually at the Copey Square Countdown at the WBZ-TV countdown, but by all accounts they were great.  The Procession was, as always, spectacular.  There’s nothing quite like seeing the pride in the face of the kids who have worked so hard on their puppets, as they carry them triumphantly down the street.

City officials estimate that 1.1 million people were in town over the course of the day, partaking in some aspect of the festivities.  From my vantage point there were a lot of happy revelers, lots of families, many foreign accents, and just the right amount of winter.

Part of my job every First Night is to call the news outlets with our estimated attendance figure.  As I was making the telephone rounds, very pleased with the information I had been given to disseminate, one outlet followed up my news by asking, “how many injuries?”  I thought about telling him about the blister on my heel, but fearing today’s headline would be something like “First Night organizer hampered by nasty boo-boo,” I decided to keep it to myself.  

Anyway, happy new year to all, and an extra special thanks to all of you who bought a First Night button.  We appreciate your support.