Happy New Year 2009!

We decided to partake of the First Night activities this New Year's Eve. It was a first for both of us. I had been interested in attending one of the First Nights up in Albany, but the frigid cold was always a huge deterrent. And sadly, First Night is no more up in Albany. This is the buttons we wore.

We started off by donning our hats and horns to get us in the party spirit. Too bad we both had to work all day. We drove part way to downtown, parking on Beach Drive down around 8th Ave.

Passed this B&B on the way. It's always lit up nicely.

Our first stop was at Bay Walk. Freddy Montes y Su Son, a "root-based Cuban ensemble, blending traditional Cuban rhythms with original jazzy arrangements" was entertaining there.

Next stop was the BOA lobby. Actually, it was a mistake; we meant to head to the First Central Tower Lobby. Ooops!

Here we are at the First Central Lobby. Wayne is talking with Mark Sforzini, the Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Opera Company. They were presenting highlights from The Merry Widow, their January production.

And look who I ran into on Central Avenue! May the Force be with you.

Next stop was on Central Avenue where the Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet was performing. They certainly "burned the stage" and got the crowd jumpin'!

There were fireworks every hour on the hour. The 9:00 pm show went off just as we were heading towards the Bay and to the Pier. There were some buildings in the way, so I figured that we would be on the Pier for the 10:00 pm show, and I was sure to get some fantastic shots.

Anyhow, we headed out to the Pier to catch the Lutheran Church of the Cross Bell Choir.

This boat was docked at the Pier. There is a wide screen TV on in the window there . . . watching Dick Clark?

The Pier building is lit with these lights that change colors thru the rainbow. I managed to miss orange and yellow.

Caught Wayne freeing up some space on his memory card. The 10:00 pm fireworks consisted of one boomer, and that was it!!! Didn't get a shot.

That's the Columbia Restaurant in the Pier building. A group from my office ate there last fall.

This is the bell choir. It was interesting how for some numbers they hit the bells with drum sticks, and sometimes just hit the table with the bells.

This was a club near Janus Landing in downtown St. Pete.

Scene in one of the condos downtown.

This was a luminary labyrinth in South Straub Park. It was put on by the Pier Aquarium, entitled "Eating Green".

I think we're getting too old for this. There is a lot of walking and after working all day, it gets a bit tiring. We had hoped to get a bite to eat somewhere along the way, but by the time we were ready, many of the kitchens were closed, and the places still serving, had lines. We had had enough by about 11:30 pm, and decided not to stay for the midnight fireworks. We headed back to my apartment and since my TV is broken, watched a countdown clock on the computer while having cheese and crackers and toasting with some Asti. Then some phone calls to the kids to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!!

This is hanging in one of the windows in my living room. Helps to remind me what I left behind.

New Year's Day we took a ride to Pass-A-Grille Beach. We ate at the Hurricane restaurant. Had grouper sandwiches. It was a relaxing day; were still tired from last night!