First Night 2008

Every country kicks off the New Year toasting to friends, family, culture and traditions in their own unique way. My friends in Japan travel to the Yasukuni shrine and throw coins at midnight while reciting a small prayer to the country’s ancestral gods. My friends in Taiwan stand outside the landmark Taipei 101 Tower, the world's tallest man-made structure, for the annual 188-second fireworks show. And, my friends in Russia celebrate with a bell concert followed by the sharing of Russian folklore and dancing to gypsy songs. Mine was a little more low-key than that but still worth mentioning.

The lead singer of the Albany-based "George Boone Blues Band" has some smoking pipes and his playing exploded with a momentum not seen since my last BB King concert. Rocking out atop the bar counter at the Circus Cafe in Saratoga, he and his band were so focused on playing that they nearly let midnight slip by. It took a raucous crowd to yell the final countdown and watch the crystal ball make its descent in Times Square to halt the music. Fireworks commenced following the ceremonial hugs, kisses and gaiety outside in the streets of Saratoga.

Jen, Stacy, Kim and I ushered in the New Year with 14,000 First Night revelers, 400 Artists and music performances in as many as 40 venues including storefronts that became stages for actors, dancers, and artists. Our little town didn't have the dazzling display of new environmentally-friendly lights (like in Times Square) nor the two tons of confetti raining down on us, but then again, we didn't have to wait in line for 8 hours and deal with security checkpoints neither. Good times were had by all and nobody suffered a hang-over or frostbite come morning.