First Night revelers brave the elements to ring in the new
(Essdras Suarez/Globe Staff)
The Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association dragons took part in the parade along Boylston Street.
By Milton Valencia and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff, and Jenna Nierstedt, Globe Correspondent
First Night revelers braved driving snow and vicious winds to head to downtown Boston tonight, choosing to ring out 2008 with a bang.
Bundled up to cope with the elements, people checked out ice sculptures, art events and the Grand Procession.
"The cultured community is out here, through rain, sleet, snow and cold," Mayor Thomas M. Menino said, arriving just in time for the parade down Boylston Street to the Boston Common.
"This is New England, not Miami, Fla. You expect this."
Romella Bilal, 57, of Roxbury, took her 6-year-old twin grandchildren to the parade. With a full-length fur coat and a dragon puppet on her head, she called herself the "Diva Dragon."
"Its the Boston way. We know how to enjoy life," she said.
The festivities kicked into gear as a driving winter storm wound down. Forecasters warned that the snow would be followed by a bitter night with 45 mph gusts expected to push the wind chill as low as 5 to 10 degrees below zero in Boston and as low as 20 below north and west of the city.
The storm, expected to dump as much as 10 inches of powder across the state, caused scores of minor traffic accidents and forced the cancellation of a handful of small First Night festivities.
A 7 p.m. fireworks display went off without a hitch, despite concerns about the winds. “We just had a beautiful 15-minute fireworks display. It went off without a hitch and it was just fine,” said Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald. "The wind just wasn't there."
Robert Joseph, 58, was glad he made the trip from Newton with his family, a tradition for 10 years, because he would not have come if the fireworks were canceled.
“I’m glad they went for it. It would have been disappointing if they hadn’t,” he said, marveling at the display. “The wind is doing really neat things.”
Officials were monitoring the winds for the midnight display. William Babcock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton, said, "As the storm moves past New England, it's going to intensify."
By midnight, when the second display is planned over Boston Harbor, sustained winds are expected to top 45 miles per hour.
"It's going to be a decision that will be done right at the end," said MacDonald. The fire department will make the final call.
In New Bedford and several other communities, fireworks shows were postponed because of the winds.
The first flakes began falling in greater Boston this morning, and the snow intensified by afternoon to 1 to 2 inches an hour. Because of the weather, crowds were "lighter than normal" at First Night events, officials said. Organizers expect about 1 million people to attend, the same number as in the past four years, which have also experienced ice and rain storms.
The snow was too much for Celtic forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who skipped an appearance at Faneuil Hall this afternoon. (Davis suffered a concussion and whiplash in a crash during a snowstorm earlier this month.) Other canceled First Night activities include boat tours of Boston Harbor and a performance by the Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble at the Old South Meeting House.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino encouraged First Night attendees to take public transportation and to stay off roadways. The MBTA will offer free service from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
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Not to be a downer but how come every other snowstorm it's "Stay home if you can", "non-essential workers don't need to report to work", "school is closed for the next week", "the sky is falling", "roads are impassable".
However, since it's New Year's, "take the T", "drive slowly", "First Night will be better than ever, bring the whole family!".
Apparently only Sidewalk Sam, whoever that is, is being affected by today's storm.
I love the irony.
global warming.
Ah, drunk revelers and snow - not a good road mix. Everyone please be careful.
There is no "T" from Southwick. No T from springfield. The only way for us out west would be to drive in or take a Greyhound. Boston thinks that the word revolves around it and that it's the center of the New England Universe, it's not. If I were to go to a city tonight it would be New York because the whole world revolves around New York. There I could see the real ball drop.
You gotta be kidding! If the fireworks get cancelled, I'll probably stay home....maybe not!
Cris you gave me a haha...I agree.... but the show must go on.
ALL HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEARS FIRT NIGHT
It's funny to me how last weeks storm caused a state of emergency. Schools were closed, State workers were given the day off and people were told to stay home and off the roads. But, now, since the City of Boston and State of Massachusetts stands to lose millions on First Night Festivities, the events are unaffected.
Our public safety does not matter if there is money on the line. Thank you Mr. Mayor!
74 degrees and sunny here (Phoenix)
Um, where are the plows?
Yes, what an irony! Also, what should we those who bought the First Night Buttons and will not be able to use them do?!!
I agree, where are the plows? If the city and volunteers stayed up on plowing, it would not be as serious. One year I was in Montreal for New Years and a HUGE storm hit.... do you think they all stayed home? Everyone needs to be strong and be smart and drive safe. But no need to be wimps about it all... heck are we New Englanders or NOT? Let the festivities GO ON!
Yes, where are the plows? 95N from Providence was horrible. Rt. 9 was better than any parts of 95. Need to clear all major roads for people to get to First Night.
Going to be cold here in Orlando. 60 degrees tonight...sunny and 70 now.
I love how massachusetts freaks over a dusting or two of snow. you think we'd learn by now to get over it. apparently not.
doesn't it strike anyone that it's irresponsible to be encouraging people to go out in dangerously cold weather with poor road conditions?
Paul Bahre is hogging all the plows out in Springfield, aka the "Center of the Universe of New England Universe!!!!"...
Paul Bahre, then why are you reading Boston.com?
i hear the first night buttons are a whimsical illustration of wilkerson stuffing her shirt with cold crisp hundreds with a smiling menino and deval in the background counting bills also.
Sorry if you missed the procession. It was great! We have a lot of kids who make puppets and masks and look forward to the event. I'm glad we didn't disappoint them. Not to mention those who came out to watch.
For those folks who bought buttons and didn't use them - thanks for supporting First Night, a great non-profit arts organization - we couldn't put on the event without you. Check your program guide for ways to get discounts all over the city with your button.
Why does the media go on blizzard alert for every bit of winter snowfall and why do they think seven inches of snow equals the blizzard of 78. Guess what folks it's January soon in New England. It's SUPPOSED to snow. If you want 82 degrees go to Florida!
Who cares about the snow and cold..., It's always a good time and the kids will talk about it for months to come. Enjoy First Night, Happy New Year Boston!!
I agree with Natalie Rosen...quit your complaining, get outside and park your stuipid SUV!
It's always good to be in downtown with family on the first night - the fireworks at Commons was spectacular - It was difficult walking on the messy & slippery side-walks, with wind chill freezing the face; but wandered around for an hour; got back home - heard that the midnight fireworks is canceled. Good night - and wish you all a Very Happy New Year 2009!
My Bo and I braved the cold and were right near the area where that pic was taken. I was cold but it was beautiful to have the snow fallen around you. It was worth ever cold slushy step to experience that and be part of the festivities. If the city had shut it down... then others would have complained about that. I am glad they didn't. I see tons of beautiful smiling faces enjoying their New Years with their moms and dad's. Happy New from two Winthropites, that survived the bitter cold of first night and had a blast!
John and Susan
It's snowing? It's cold? but we voted for Obama and and and there wasn't supposed to be any bad weather any more. That was Georege Bush's fault. What happened? Obama raise your hands and warm us up! Obama Obama Obama warm us . We elected you now warm us!
"This is New England, not Miami, Fla. You expect this."
You would have though we were in Miami, the way the news shows reacted. This is New England, yet they acted like 7 inches of snow in December was the end of the world.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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