Okay, so it was a little antisocial of me to not go to any New Year’s parties…
But, you know, I always just kinda feel lost at events like that – so I find it’s more exciting and fun to take the bike into town and dodge taxicabs and drunken revelers.
I don’t usually attend many of the First Night celebrations. I’m not really into the performance art-type stuff that much, and a lot of events are oriented more towards little kids. Maybe next year I’ll take advantage of the First Night discounts for the museums. If I’m not traveling, that is…
But what I do like about First Night are the ice sculptures and fireworks. So, I took the road bike and went into town to see the sights. The bike is probably the best way to get around Boston. So I got to see both fireworks displays and all the sculptures (except for the one at Northeastern that I couldn’t find).
I was a little disappointed by the ice sculptures this year. Apparently the organizers wanted some insurance against the warm weather that ruined previous ice displays, so they arranged for some sculptures to be made of plastic boat wrapping instead. And some of the ice sculptures were mounted on scaffolding instead of ice pedestals.
But they were still impressive and pretty. I’ve put a selection of my pics online. Hope you enjoy…
(larger pics oline at
http://www.lee-toma.net/photos/061231_First_Night_Boston/ )
Lee
Here’s a panoramic view of Boston viewed from the Cambridge side of the river. Day or night, year round, I just love this view…
…And the view is even better when there’s fireworks to watch!
Usually it’s not a good thing to have explosions in the city…
The fireworks were at 7pm, which was timed to coincide with the arrival of the New Year in London (Greenwich time). It’s also really nice for the family-oriented, so the kids can enjoy fireworks without staying up late…
Columbus Park, near the North End. I was scouting out locations to watch the midnight fireworks, and the view caught my eye.
"Cloud Dancer" ice sculpture at the Frog Pond on the Boston Common.
"Cloud Dancer" – This close-up view shows some of the detail of construction and carving. Pretty impressive!
I like how the lighted trees and the onlookers silhouettes frame this view…
Yup, the lighted trees look like wilted daisies to me…
In recent years, the ice sculptures have had to be torn down or cancelled because of the warm weather. So the First Night organizers had artists create works that wouldn’t melt. Well, they didn’t melt, but they just didn’t have that crystalline magic that the ice sculptures do…
The State House seen between elements of the "Oystermen" ice sculpture…
I know the draped Christmas lights on the Boston Common are a tradition going back many years, but they still look like wilted flowers to me.
The "Oystermen" ice sculpture with the Park Street Church in the background
The lights on the trees lining the Commonwealth Avenue median look nice at night…
"Measure Upon Measure" ice sculpture at Copley Square
I pasted together two photos to make this panorama of the Christmas tree, Trinity Church and the John Hancock Tower in Copley Square.
The Boston Public Library is all lit up…
"Arctic Wonders" ice sculpture in Copley Square
After hours, when they turned the colored lights off, the sculpture had a different look.
Note to self: Come back to see the new ICA when they’re open.
The downtown Boston skyline viewed from the Fan Pier at the harbor.
I’m freezing. Please start the fireworks now!
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Website – www.lee-toma.net