Street Scenes — First Night in Annapolis
By Kevin McManus
December 30, 1994
What is First Night?
In 1976, a group of Bostonians tested the concept of a booze-free, family-style New Year's Eve celebration that featured lots of live entertainment. They called it First Night, and eventually they had the satisfaction of watching it succeed on a grand scale.
This year, revelers will attend First Night celebrations in 120 North American cities. Around here, it works like this: You dress comfortably for outdoors and get yourself to Annapolis, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Leesburg, Warrenton or Baltimore. You buy a lapel button and consult a schedule of concerts, skits and other performances. You spend the evening walking from event to event, pausing frequently for snacks. At midnight, the new year is welcomed, often with fireworks painting the sky. When the applause fades, you stroll back to your car and drive home.
The routine does accommodate some variation. Many First Nighters, for instance, book hotel rooms so they can postpone the drive home. Some dine in restaurants and visit bars, where they may imbibe as usual (alcohol is banned only in the public areas around the celebration). In Baltimore, where the event is not part of the official First Night family and doesn't use the copyrighted name, the revelry takes place mostly indoors.
Last year, Weekend staffers attended celebrations in Leesburg, Annapolis and Baltimore. (Alexandria, Fredericksburg and Warrenton are also throwing First Night parties Saturday.) Herewith, their reports, including info about this year's offerings.
[. . .]
All on Deck in Annapolis
So much depends on the weather. Wretched conditions can make the First Night concept seem ridiculous. Perfect conditions -- clear and chilly, with a dusting of fallen snow -- can make the concept seem brilliant.
Last year in Annapolis, brilliance prevailed. Thousands of people took to the streets, creating an atmosphere slightly beyond merry but somewhat shy of wild. In various locations -- store windows, auditoriums, even courtrooms -- entertainers performed.
This was Annapolis's fourth First Night celebration, and by looking carefully you could tell the rookie celebrants from the veterans.
Rookies annotated their maps and schedules and appeared eager to catch as many shows as possible. They hurried along the sidewalks, from the U.S. Naval Academy to the courthouse, from St. John's to St. Anne's, from the Chase Lloyd House to the First Presbyterian Church. As usual, all the shows took place within half a mile of the City Dock.
Veterans, meanwhile, seemed content to stroll and snack, making a stop here for folk music, a stop there for ice dancing, a stop here for hot chocolate, a stop there for jazz. In their pockets they carried programs listing the dozens of shows that were taking place. But these veterans tended to keep their pace slow, letting the entertainment draw them where it would. The town itself, after all, was like a teeming stage with commotion in every corner.
In the area around Main and Francis streets, 15-year-old Teli Cardaci drew small crowds with a juggling act. In his hands he held two 30-inch"devil sticks,"which he used to bat around a third stick.
Teli was not one of First Night's 15 paid street performers; he was simply hanging out with friends and wanted to show off a new skill. His proud dad, Tom Cardaci, stood watching with other family members. The Cardacis, who live on Virginia's eastern shore, will be back this New Year's Eve. Teli polished and expanded his act over the summer, so expect to see him juggling, riding a unicycle and/or eating fire -- again for no pay.
Not far from Teli, in a small lot near the City Dock, sat a white pickup with a flatbed trailer. Perched on the trailer was a spotlight that sent up a bright beam, which drew a steady stream of people to the area. There, they read the sign on the truck,"800,000,000 candlepower,"and noticed that the keeper of the light, Chuck Tracy, appeared happy to chat as he swiveled the lamp on its base. Tracy will bring his light back this year.
Returning, too, will be Alan Petrasek, whose 35-foot powerboat sat conspicuously in"Ego Alley,"the strip of water that runs alongside the dock. The boat brought stares last year because it supported a huge frame strung with Christmas lights. The red, white and yellow lights formed a swan trailing a red scarf. Inside the boat, Petrasek partied with friends. This year look for him in a 17-foot boat supporting a lighted manatee.
With or without official First Night buttons, people were able to watch the musicians who performed on store-window stages (speakers were placed outside the windows). But only paying First Nighters could check out the indoor shows. All of these acts were solidly professional. People exiting the shows generally looked pleased, though viewing conditions were far from ideal: Spectators came and went freely, rustling winter parkas, stomping boots. Kids made their own racket. Strollers had to be folded and unfolded.
Around 11:40, people began heading for the waterfront en masse. Most of the children who'd been out earlier were absent -- home in bed, probably. The assembled crowd was now primarily adult, primarily sober and wholly enthusiastic about the evening's final show. At midnight, that show began, up in the sky. Boom ... 1993 became 1994, and brilliance prevailed.
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