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New Year's Eve
Jan. 1st, 2020 04:12 pmAs is traditional, a recap of what's left of First Night, plus ringing, etc.
We didn't make it into Boston until after 3 PM. We had planned to do one of the drumming instruction classes (aimed at children, but not restricted). When we got to the main branch of the Boston Public Library, the person by the door gestured in the direction, but we soon learned that there was a long line, and that (free) tickets were required, because the room could only fit 100 people and vastly more wanted to get in. We walked away, not nearly as distraught as the kids behind us. It was nice of the BPL to step up when the Hynes convention center stopped hosting (four years ago, I think), but there are way more people than there are venues or activities. We walked over to the Mother Church of the Christian Scientists, where an organ concert was scheduled. We'd each been into the Mapparium, but never the sanctuary. It's enormous. The organ is enormous. Some large chunk of the people who couldn't get into the programs at the library might have been there with us. Then we did the as-usual things (meal at "My Thai" vegan restaurant, watching the procession, seeing the 7 PM fireworks). The procession is another thing that has no budget, I suspect, except for police who close down the streets. There were a number of small bands (kid fife & drum players from Lexington, a Honk band, a group of old guys playing military songs, etc). There was a contingent that I recognized as Extinction Rebellion, led by the women in scary red costumes, then huge puppet deer (?) with the ER logo. It was a case of you just had to know, though, because they had no banner or explanation. A large group with Chinese dragon and lion things. Some other full-sized marching puppets. Many stilt-walkers. a couple of old cars, and a vintage fire truck. Random, cheap, pleasant enough. In preparation for fireworks viewing, we planned to walk across the Public Garden as a scenic way to get to the Common, but noticed two separate photographers setting up tripods at the bank of the swan pond, so we decided to wait there. It was a fantastic viewing spot. We could clearly see the low-down as well as high up fireworks, and since it was warm enough that the pond had clear water rather than ice, we could see everything reflected as well.
Then for the first time in decades of First Nighting, we went to a hotel room for a couple of hours. When FN was in its heyday, the downtown hotels required a two night stay over the New Year, at inflated prices, but this year Arthur was able to find an OK rate for one night about a ten minute walk from Copley Square. It was fine. At a time that we didn't have anything in particular to do, it was pleasant to be somewhere warm and dry and with wifi. We watched a few minutes of TV - Anderson Cooper commentating in NYC, rock and roll music from somewhere, a PBS live broadcast of orchestral music by Sondheim. Now we know for sure that we have missed nothing by being away from the TV on NYE. After lounging, doing last-minute charitable donations (yes, I was using the VPN), and maintaining my Duolingo streak (60 days of a least a little learning), we headed over to the Church of the Advent for eating, chatting, what might pass among handbell ringers for a party game, and literally ringing in the New Year. In (the hotel) bed before 2:20 AM, about what it would have been if we had gone home.
We didn't make it into Boston until after 3 PM. We had planned to do one of the drumming instruction classes (aimed at children, but not restricted). When we got to the main branch of the Boston Public Library, the person by the door gestured in the direction, but we soon learned that there was a long line, and that (free) tickets were required, because the room could only fit 100 people and vastly more wanted to get in. We walked away, not nearly as distraught as the kids behind us. It was nice of the BPL to step up when the Hynes convention center stopped hosting (four years ago, I think), but there are way more people than there are venues or activities. We walked over to the Mother Church of the Christian Scientists, where an organ concert was scheduled. We'd each been into the Mapparium, but never the sanctuary. It's enormous. The organ is enormous. Some large chunk of the people who couldn't get into the programs at the library might have been there with us. Then we did the as-usual things (meal at "My Thai" vegan restaurant, watching the procession, seeing the 7 PM fireworks). The procession is another thing that has no budget, I suspect, except for police who close down the streets. There were a number of small bands (kid fife & drum players from Lexington, a Honk band, a group of old guys playing military songs, etc). There was a contingent that I recognized as Extinction Rebellion, led by the women in scary red costumes, then huge puppet deer (?) with the ER logo. It was a case of you just had to know, though, because they had no banner or explanation. A large group with Chinese dragon and lion things. Some other full-sized marching puppets. Many stilt-walkers. a couple of old cars, and a vintage fire truck. Random, cheap, pleasant enough. In preparation for fireworks viewing, we planned to walk across the Public Garden as a scenic way to get to the Common, but noticed two separate photographers setting up tripods at the bank of the swan pond, so we decided to wait there. It was a fantastic viewing spot. We could clearly see the low-down as well as high up fireworks, and since it was warm enough that the pond had clear water rather than ice, we could see everything reflected as well.
Then for the first time in decades of First Nighting, we went to a hotel room for a couple of hours. When FN was in its heyday, the downtown hotels required a two night stay over the New Year, at inflated prices, but this year Arthur was able to find an OK rate for one night about a ten minute walk from Copley Square. It was fine. At a time that we didn't have anything in particular to do, it was pleasant to be somewhere warm and dry and with wifi. We watched a few minutes of TV - Anderson Cooper commentating in NYC, rock and roll music from somewhere, a PBS live broadcast of orchestral music by Sondheim. Now we know for sure that we have missed nothing by being away from the TV on NYE. After lounging, doing last-minute charitable donations (yes, I was using the VPN), and maintaining my Duolingo streak (60 days of a least a little learning), we headed over to the Church of the Advent for eating, chatting, what might pass among handbell ringers for a party game, and literally ringing in the New Year. In (the hotel) bed before 2:20 AM, about what it would have been if we had gone home.
