Alexandria Rings In New Year At First Night

(Saturday) January 2, 2010

By James Cullum
alexandrianews.org

First Night Alexandria fireworks. (Courtesy Photo)

Alexandria welcomed 2010 with fireworks, more than 100 musical performances, a magic show and face painting. Despite intermittent rain, thousands of visitors and city residents celebrated at First Night Alexandria’s 19 venues and ended the evening with 20 minutes of fireworks on the front lawn of the George Washington Masonic Memorial.

Five-year-old Amanda Lewis gets her face painted by Fatmata Barrie. Amanda and her mother live in Maryland and heard about First Night Alexandria on Fox News. (Photo: Artis Mooney)

The alcohol-free festivities began with the first-ever Fun Hunt. More than 100 teams picked up clues at the Torpedo Factory Art Center and ended at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The Ken Cline family from Springfield won first prize: $500 cash and numerous gift certificates, including a two-night stay at The Morrison House and at The Grille.

This year, all events took place at four Old Town “spotlight” areas. Approximately 12,000 people bought admission badges, versus the 8,000 that were bought at last year’s blustery event. Free King Street trolleys shuttled partiers between four spotlight areas: upper King Street, lower King Street, middle King Street and the Masonic temple.

“Last year we stepped away from including Del Ray. This year we consolidated further. All of the venues were concentrated in the Old Town Area,” said Katrina Lucas, public relations director for First Night. “Instead of performances at the Patent and Trademark office, we did everything along the King Street corridor. I think it was easier, especially from a volunteer and organization perspective.”

Morgan, Austin, and Emily Hunt display their face paint & balloon art. First Night Alexandria 2009, at the Masonic Temple. (Photo: Artis Mooney)

It was the first time Mary Suggs celebrated New Year’s in Alexandria. A Fairfax resident, Suggs brought her goddaughter Brittany Kamali along. “It’s been fun. We had to wait 10 minutes for the trolley when we got off the train, but that’s okay. We’ve had a great time,” she said.

Magician Mike Rose has performed at First Night nine times. Playing in front of a packed house at the Little Theatre of Alexandria, Rose started his act with a trick the audience had never seen before. He tied a knot in a piece of rope and then pulled the knot off and put it in his pocket. Then, he told a young volunteer on stage to completely focus on an upside-down golden bowl. “Now Matthew, you have to focus,” Rose said, and then suddenly pointed in the distance and said: “Look! Naked ninja midgets!”

Frank of the N2N Band rips a solo on the keys. First Night Alexandria 2009. (Photo: Artis Mooney)

The Torpedo Factory Arts Center featured rock guitarist Bill Kirchen and Americana band, “The Grandsons”.  At City Hall, one-man band Curtis Blues played the drums, guitar and harmonica. Entertainment at the Lyceum included jazz and folk music.

Caroline Heacock bought her $20 badge at 9:40 p.m. “We just got here and bought our tickets. We just wanted to do something fun and different, and to see Old Town,” she said.

Just before midnight, the College of William and Mary “Stairwells” performed at the steps of the Masonic Temple, followed by spectacular fireworks.

Kelly and Sean Connelly spent the evening at the Masonic temple with their two children. “Because of the weather we’ll stick around here until about 10 p.m. and then go home,” Sean Connelly said. “We did the balloons, the face paint, and we saw some bands and the kids danced around. We’ve had a great time.”

L to R: Keira and Leia Moran, Sarah Paez, and Lily Carlisle-Reshe sing "Silent Night" at the microphones set up for midnight festivities on the front steps of the Masonic Temple. The girls were celebrating New Year's Eve with a birthday party and spent the evening touring Alexandria's First Night events. (Photo: Artis Mooney)

Members of the N2N Band played a mix of original grooves and covers at the Masonic Temple, First Night Alexandria 2009. N2N is a R&B/Funk band with gospel & blues influence. (Photo: Artis Mooney)

Douglas Everton of the Wayward Street Players. First Night Alexandria 2009. (Photo: Artis Mooney)