<p>How do these “traditions” begin and then morph over the years? I’ve always wanted to go out for the evening, but since having my eldest when I was just 23, I’ve been a homebody on “THE” night. We eat late, but it’s not really dinner; it’s a mix of different snacks, always centered around rye and pumpernickle bread hollowed out with dill dip in the middle. Different cheeses, crackers, shrimp, maybe some chicken nuggets to keep youngest son, age 15 1/2 from eating the cats! Bought the champagne yesterday and actually remembered to chill it too, also have sparkling cider on ice. But, our evening will be centered around the classical musician’s favorite program, " Live From Lincoln Center", this year featuring Thomas Hampson. I know, that’s pathetic, isn’t it?! I hope he loosens up, as if he sings the rep from his latest CD, we’ll all be asleep after 20 minutes, but then again, we survived Susan Graham’s one and only attempt at singing “Carmen” last year, which should have served as a harbinger of this year’s economic news!
Come on, you all have musical kids, how will you be spending the hours leading up to midnight?</p>
<p>PS- after LFLC is over, we always put on the 1994 Glyndbourne cast of “Figaro”, pausing it only long enough to watch the “ball” drop. THIS, my CC friends is a window into my rather odd existance. I think I need draperies…</p>
<p>Well, we were planning on having a bonfire out back tonight, but I woke up to snow which threatens to turn to slush. Oh well, snacks and champagne it is then. D2 is heading to Medieval times for the special NY Eve dinner and show, D1 is heading to a party to see some of her HS friends she hasn’t seen in forever. We’ll see if we make it to midnight…</p>
<p>I’m going out with friends for crabs - maybe catching glimpses of Virginia Tech playing football. </p>
<p>D is getting together with high school friends - mostly theater and music kids so there will be lots of dancing. She’s sleeping over so I won’t have to worry about her driving late.</p>
<p>Avoiding Ohio State fans, Oregon fans and large floats covered in flowers. Basically your classic Pasadena New Years eve.( But I do like to run out into the front yard as the B-2 bomber flies over my house in the morning to herald the beginning of the parade… cheap thrills)</p>
<p>True confessions time: Husband is asleep, as are the dog and cat, both kids have gone to separate events - the goldfish and I are watching Josh Groban on PBS. I can hear the purists coughing and spitting out their champagne right now - but the man makes classical singing accessible and I’d be happy if he’d switch bank accounts with me!</p>
<p>I’m watching local fireworks on television, but somehow fireworks choreographed to Taylor Swift just doesn’t seem right. I guess I’ll switch to Live from the Lincoln Center. </p>
<p>BeezMom - I like Josh. Just don’t admit to listening to Bocelli.</p>
<p>We had a sedate dinner out with a few friends, channel surfed and had champagne from 11:30- midnight. DVR’d “Live from Lincoln Center” for later today while the gentlemen of the household watch football!
P.S. Josh G. fan here, too!</p>
<p>We stayed home and had a quiet evening. My cellist, who is now 26, has been attending the same event in town every New Year’s Eve since he was a senior in high school. There are two local professional musicians in town (one was his chamber music coach in high school) who host a chamber music reading party every NY Eve. They invite current and former students, as well as professional colleagues. They start with a very fancy buffet and then sit around and spends hours reading various string quartets. It is something my son looks forward to every year. One year he skipped it to attend a party and then said he really wished he had gone. He hasn’t missed on since.</p>
<p>Why are we not supposed to like Andre Rieu? Or David Garrett? I don’t know much about either one, but I guess I’m all for people making classical music more accessible. And I do love seeing young musicians employed…</p>
<p>We are not fans…but consider them all classical “gateway drugs”. Hopefully a little taste will lead the general public to the “hard stuff” and serious “addiction” to attending their local philharmonic or opera house. ;)</p>
<p>binx - I didn’t intend to disparage David Garrett. I just see him everywhere now and, while he is easy on the eyes, I really wondered how the classical people view his talent.</p>
<p>Husband had an ‘early’ (6-10pm) gig a few hours away while son had a house party gig a few states away, near his college.</p>
<p>DD and I had delicious snacks and watched Ryan Seacrest (her choice) on TV usher in 2010. Husband arrived home just in time for the ball drop and then we all dropped into bed. Of course, hospitals run 24/7 and I was working at 6 am.
All in all, the standard deal in our family.</p>
<p>musicmom, thank you for being one of those who reports to work in one of those places we all need to stay open. Everyone wants to spend holidays at home with their families but we fail to realize that many other don’t have that luxury. I know I’m guilty, but I do try to remember to thank people when I can.
I hope everyone had a great evening and some time to spend with loved ones…we made it through everything except the opera this time around. I really don’t like taking the decorations down…</p>