The last night of the last century, of the last millenium, and Pittsburgh threw a party worth going to! Of course, I am referring to First Night, and we go to it every year. What a way to celebrate! A family party, alcohol free, with activities, crafts, music and fireworks all evening long.

And then comes the parade! Merry makers all, half of Pittsburgh lines the street to watch the other half, bedecked, behatted, with gloriously painted faces, strutting by to the sounds of Miguel Sague's Guaracha providing the rhythm, the marchers' kazoos providing the song. Led by our illustrious Mayor Murphy - looking like the cat who'd swallowed the canary. The dancers, the dragon, the Very Tall Puppets pass us by and soon it is over.

Now, we hurry from site to site, catching the music, the theater, the dance. Music of every imaginable kind -- folk, jazz, blues, Latin, pop, symphonic. We have a schedule, and plan our path well. We'll catch Orchestra Tropical at the Steel Building, then grab a bite to eat and then off to the Smithfield St. Churches to catch the jazz and bluegrass.

And if our hands begin to feel the chill, there are bonfires lit at the intersections. This ice fire blazed in Market Square in 1996.
Very few of the pictures came from this year - which was warm and very crowded - and not as colorful as past first nights.

And dancing in the street! DJs are set up on both ends of the town. On Liberty Ave. the crowd moves in unison to the electric slide. In PPG place it is a different world, the dancers using their own styles and steps to very raucous rock.

We have our own plan, our own schedule. Get in early, get a good parking spot (only $1 for First Nighters) but also, leave early, beat the crowds home. We miss the fire works, a Pittsburgh tradition, and see the New Year arrive in the warmth of our own living room.