New Year's

L Street Brownies go for a dip in Dorchester Bay

And Jpic1 is there this morning to take photos.

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First Hubbaby of the year

Jake!

Jake Hirsch, with parents Danna and Michael Hirsch of Cambridge, was born at 12:10 a.m. today at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. 6 pounds, 10 ounces; 18 3/4 inches long. Photo via Beth Israel, natch.

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Happy New Year!

Doc?

Above: One of the Seven Dwarves at Copley Square during First Night (although every single kid who saw the sculpture went "Look! Santa!"). Below: This bride at the Four Seasons stood in the window, watching the crowds below at the end of the Grand Procession. As they stopped, noticed her and waved, she waved back, slowly, like royalty (who knows, maybe she was?):

Princess?

The "family" fireworks over the Common:

Boom

Some daytime ice-sculpture photos.

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Stop the madness

Stephen Baldwin grows weary of starting from scratch:

I've recently received some extremely depressing news: at the chime of Monday's midnight bell we have to go all the way back to bloody January again and do it over. Then February, March, and so on.

I seem to recall that this happened last year as well, and the year before that too. Why can't we just keep going forward for heaven's sake? If you ask me, it's a plain, downright failure of imagination that's responsible for such regressive scheduling. ...

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Where he'll be on First Night

Jim Sullivan runs down his choices for First Night events, including Birdsongs of the Mesozoic with Oral Moses doing "Extreme Spirituals" at Emmanuel Church.

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George Washington rides through Somerville

Karrie photographs George's ride to commemorate the raising of the American flag above Prospect Hill during the Revolution. George looks like he stopped at a few Dunkin' Donuts along the way.

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Notes on the New Year

How an actual baby rings in the New Year.

Jay Fitzgerald harrumphs at media estimates of 1 million people at First Night, but concludes it doesn't matter because so many of the people he saw were happy:

I saw a lot happy children -- and 'success' was definitely written on their faces.

Sandouri Dean Bey reflects on the past year:

... A year later, almost everything has changed. We are parents to a twelve-year-old boy from Maine, who has turned lives upside down. Our time is no longer our own. All of our priorities have shifted. We have no idea what new parenting challenges tomorrow will bring. We couldn't be happier. ...

Jose Anes posts his financial resolutions for 2007. Rebecca posts her resolutions. CC Chapman posts his. As does Jim Sullivan. Karen recycles her resolutions from past years. Ian reviews his past year before posting his resolutions.

Carmen resolves:

Make sure my own oxygen mask is secure before assisting others.

The Duck resolves to erase all problematic male numbers from my cell phone BEFORE I leave for the evening.

Kat starts a diet.

Carpundit ekes out a "Happy New Year:"

It's cold and rainy on the Outer Cape, where my wife and kids and I are spending the extra-long weekend, sick, cranky and unhappy.

Steve Garfield offers a toast at Abe and Louie's.

Larry Davidson celebrates the New Year at the Ashmont Grill in Dorchester.

Karen makes pan-roasted veal chops with arugula.

Jen Stewart reflects on the past year.

Mike discovers that even on New Year's eve, you can have problems on the T.

Eeka can't wait for 2010 because that will mean the end of those giant faux eyeglasses showing the year:

... I mean, I suppose they could theoretically still be made with a 1 blocking out the person's left eye, but they'd likely look so completely fucking moronic that even the crappiest of New Year's Eve specials would refuse to zoom in on crowds of morons wearing the things. ...

Shelly reflects on the death of Globe columnist Donald Murray and other sad public events, but hopes for a better 2007:

... Whether 2006 was a good year for you or not, may 2007 be better yet.

Uncle also reflects on Murray.

Elias notes the political changes of the past year:

... In all, it was another year in the Commonwealth, we finally got some change lets see if we can hold on to it.

Leslie ends the year in disgust over Iraq and the way Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon.

Kristie won't be sure it's a good New Year until August, at least.

For Celtics fans, 2007 looks to be the same as 2006. Red begins the New Year with the awful feeling that Keith Foulke will become the greatest comeback player ever.

J.L. Bell posts a New Year's greeting from 1774.

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Happy New Year!

The finale of the first First Night fireworks, at 7 p.m. over Boston Common, as seen from Charles Street (they were a lot louder than they sound in this video):


The entire fireworks display.

Icy Pegasus, on the Common:

More ice-sculpture photos.

Some photos of the Grand Procession.

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