Looking for something fun in Austin to do this New Years. Tired of late night drunken parties? Perhaps looking something a bit more kid and family friendly? Why not check out First Night Austin?
Every December 31st the streets of downtown Austin Texas are transformed into a free performance and visual arts bizarre. The best part is that it is all free. The tradition of bringing in the New Year with a city wide celebration of the arts began in Boston in 1976. Since then, the idea has spread like wildfire to over 120 cities and communities throughout the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. While the first celebration in Boston brought in 60,000 people, now First Night brings in over a million people worldwide.
This year the Austin festivities begin at 3pm and continue until just past midnight. There are many stages and events throughout downtown Austin. You may want to start you day over at Auditorium Shores where you could check out the Giant Games furnished by the Austin Children's Museum. Later in the day the Trouble Puppet Theatre Company will be performing its show "Alchemy and the Wheel of Destiny." If you enjoy the puppet you may want to head over to the Austin Children's Museum where the United Way will be hosting a Puppet Making Workshop.
What are the RoboSpinArt and the Pongonator? You'll have to check it out for yourself. The project by the Robot Group will be on display all day at the Buford Tower on Caesar Chavez. The largest concentration of events will take place at the Austin City Hall Plaza on Second Street where Mayor Will Wynn will kick in the New Year at 7:30pm. On the headline stage you can check out a Persian Dance group, music by the Asylum Street Spankers, the Golden Arm Trio Brass Band presenting the work of Graham Reynolds, and Drum Jam. This is also the place to be for the midnight fireworks display.
Inside City Hall, the Theatre Action Project takes over the Boards and Commissions Room with their Peace Crane Project. In the Council Chamber you can expect performances by the Chinese School of Dance, the Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Austin Chamber Ensemble, and the Austin Wind Symphony. Whatever you do, be sure not to miss the Grand Processional. This giant parade takes over Congress Avenue at 6:15pm. You'll be able to see pieces of almost all of the performances as well floats and the infamous "Celebrity Pedi-cab Race."
New for this year the HBMG's Creativity Incubator presents a theatrical showcase underneath the South First Street Bridge. Highlights of the showcase include "The Leash: A Psychedelic Western Operatta" by the Rude Mechanicals and The Debutantes and Vegabonds presentation of "Hubris" So why not come out this year and join your fellow Austinites in bringing in the New Year with the new tradition of First Night Austin. There are certainly plenty of good times to be had and this year's offering includes something for everyone.
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I think I?m in love with my best friend. We have been inseparable since we were kids. We were always just friends until a few years ago, after a drunken New Years party, when we ended up having the best sex of my life. I can?t stop thinking about it. We laughed it off at the time, but have avoided any late night get-togethers ever since. He is dating someone now so I don?t think I can tell him how I feel. Too many people could get hurt. I care about him so much that even if I can?t be with him romantically, I want to find a way for us to be as close as we once were without any awkwardness. What should I do?
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A warrant has been issued charging Gary Michael Hilton with kidnapping with bodily injury in the disappearance of Meredith Emerson, a 24-year-old woman, who was hiking with her dog Ella in the Chattahoochee National Forest on New Years Day. With the evidence that has thus far been collected, the search has changed from rescue to recovery. Without being insensitive to this young woman or her family, what would possess her to go hiking alone (without another human being)? Haven't we heard enough horror stories of people disappearing in broad daylight only to be found dead days or even months later?
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How do you know if you girlfriend cheated bringing in the New Year ...
By: Dollamann | 02-01-2008
How do you know If your girlfriend is cheating? New Years I spent with my family and from what she tells me she spent with hers.The only difference is I called her serveral times around 12:00 to tell her I love her etc.... we would work out our problems. She didn't answer her phone in fact she didn't call me back till 8:00pm the next day! Of course I was extremley pissed and ruined my night. But her excuse was that she was drunk on her brothers couch and she had her phone in her purse which made it even worse.I want to believe her storyBut it sounds like such a bullshit and I mean the frist thing I though about when NEW YEARS came was her.. And I thought it will be the same. I really don't know what to do because I'm deeply hurt and I really am thinking about breaking up because I feels she doesn't vaule our realtionship or respect What should I do? Do you think she was cheating around 12:00 thats why she couldn't answer let me know I really need help on this one. I mean I cheated on her before but only a few times and I don't love any of those girls. But no call on New Years!! because your wasted I would be a fool to stay with her wouldn't I? Or does she want me to break up with her and that is like her way of telling me.. I'm clueless but I know I don't want to spend 2008 waisting my time in a bullshit realtionship!
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