Jan. 2, 2008 at 6:25pm

First Night Feedback

Now that everyone has had a chance to get some sleep, we'd like to know what you thought.

What was your favorite thing?

What would you like to see again next year?

What would you like to see less of next year?

Any problems we should know about?

Is there a specific performer or event you'd like to see?

Would you go again?

If you ate at a downtown restaurant that night, which one?

...or anything you would like to say about it.  Have at it in the comments.

comments [8]

Jan. 1, 2008 at 12:34am

Happy New Year, Tacoma!

It's been wonderful partying with you!



Thank you to all the beautiful people of Pierce County and to everyone who came tonight, and to everyone who made First Night possible this year.

The following is not an exhaustive list:

Thank you very much...

Margaret McCormick, Shon Silvia, Kala Dralle, the Downtown Merchants, Eric Anderson, Dale & Joanna Chesnut, Sue Piotrkowski, Rich Marriott, the Washington State History Museum, the Museum of Glass, Susan Newsom, Audra Laymon, Fred Yomes, Phil Chang, the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council, Sound Transit, the School of the Arts, Mary Mabry, King's Books, Pierce Transit, Grand Cinema, Brian Trunk, Leroy Jewelers, Sanford & Son, Elizabeth Terry, Celia Holderman, Phil Ferrell, Brian F. Boyd, Julie Anderson, Mad Hat Tea Company, Dixie Sciacqua, Rachel Marecle, the Dockyard Derby Dames, Tom Ebner, Courtyard by Marriott - Tacoma Downtown, Ron Jepson, the City of Tacoma, the Kilworth Foundation, Ron Swarner, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, King 5 Television, MIXX 96.1, KUOW 94.9, the Pierce County Council, Tim Farrell, Calvin Goings, Skip Jensen, Cyndi Sorrell, Scott Painter, the Fuchs Foundation, KEXP 90.1, Mario Menconi, Melissa Moffett, Andrew Hillier, TV Tacoma, the Forest Foundation, KPLU 88.5, Tanya Andrews, the Sequoia Foundation and all of our wonderful Volunteers!

Metro Parks Staff

This year's event was made possible by the loaned event staff form Metro Parks:

Lori Crace
Joel Chang
Nancy Johnson
Lindsay Fowler

Theater District Associates Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Chair

J. Bennett Thurmon

Treasurer

Amanda Knowles

Secretary

Alicia Lawver

Members

Jennifer Boutell
Dale Chesnut
Charlie Douthwaite
Steph Farber
Greg Kleiner
Glenna Mathews
sweet pea
Derek Young
Julie Bennett

Proud Sponsors

City of Tacoma


The News Tribune


Metro Parks


Mixx96 FM


Multicare


Sound Transit


Weekly Volcano


Leroy Jewelers


Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation

Glenna Mathews & Glenna's Clothing

Jade Mountain Bamboo

The Courtyard By Marriott - Tacoma Downtown

Friends of First Night

Friends of First Night - $1000 to $2,499

Puget Sound Revels
Belina Interiors
Glenna's Clothing
Bruce Caplan Parking
Post Industrial Press

Friends of First Night - $500 to $999

Mike and Amanda Knowles

Friends of First Night - $100 to $499

Lori Crace
Mary Lynn and Doug Edwards
Kay Nichols
Chip Shot Photography
Boutell.Com, Inc.
Andrew Fry
Laura Huntington
Rich and Monica Hurley
Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante
Sondra Purcell
Tacomamama.com
BCRA, Inc. Architects
Teri Weigel
The Lucks Company
Puget Sound Pizza
urbanXchange
U-Park

comments [0]

Dec. 31, 2007 at 2:26pm

A Better Schedule, and Fun For the Kidless

You (OK, my husband and some other people.) wanted a chronological schedule, rather than a schedule by venue, so here it is.

People have asked, what to do with themselves if phrases like "alcohol free" and "family friendly" make them nervous?  Well, the answer is, quite a lot, but since I'm deep within those parenting years myself, (I may not even get to see the fireworks) I'm going to let some other knowledgeable people tell you about that:

Kevin's put together his itinerary, which sounds great.
Spew has some picks

and then there's the Hip Hop show at Theatre on the Square

...and there are plenty of open restaurants downtown willing to serve you things you can't get at First Night venues, should the mood strike.

comments [0]

Dec. 31, 2007 at 9:42am

When We Say All Ages, We Mean All Ages

The following information for families with young children in no way implies that tragically, tragically hip adults will not have a good time at First Night.  Having said that, here's what I recommend for the little ones:

12-5 PM:  Museum of Glass and Washington State History Museum honor First     Night buttons for admission.  Kids 7 and under free with an adult sporting a button.  Catch the Model Train Festival at the History Museum before it rolls out of town!

5-7 PM:  Children's Museum of Tacoma honors First Night buttons.  Fold your own pirate hat and get ready for the parade.

6-6:45 PM:  Catch Valentine's Performing Pigs at the Rialto

6-7 PM: Performances by Grant Elementary at SOTA.

7-7:30 PM:  Parade down Broadway, from 13th to 7th.  Pirates, flying monkeys on unicycles, and more!  Laugh as I attempt to direct people.

7:30 + :  Lots of kid-friendly stuff at the Rialto, including Geoff Kanick (magician and juggler) and Professor Bamboozle later in the evening.

Ongoing:  FOOD - check out the list of open restaurants, and print the page.  Includes a handy map!  For kids, Varsity is a good bet if they aren't too crowded, Puget Sound Pizza is great, the Harmon can work, and El Toro is usually a good bet for us.  Some restaurants offer discounts for button holders, and all are great!

See you there tonight! 

comments [8]

Dec. 30, 2007 at 7:25am

Buying Your Button Online? Only 2.5 more hours to do it!

Brown Paper Tickets sales close at 10 am.  Buttons will be one dollar more at the door, tomorrow.

comments [2]

Dec. 29, 2007 at 7:40am

Volunteers Needed! 8:30-12 on New Year's Eve!

No one to spend New Year's with?  Spend it with First Night!  We desperately need second shift volunteers.  Here's a message from our volunteer coordinator:

Howdy!
First Night is 2 days away!   Our complete line-up can be viewed online.  The program will come out today in the News Tribune.  HOWEVER, many of the show times mentioned in the schedule (on Page 3) are incorrect.  The correct times are in the more detailed listings on the following pages.  Anything you can do to help spread this news would be appreciated!

Thanks to you all, we have enough volunteers to cover the first shift.  But, we still need Button Checkers for the second shift (8:30 pm - 12 am).  If you haven't yet signed up for a shift or know someone who would be interested, email sweet pea or call 253.272.8801 (King's Books).

The Volunteer Training is tomorrow at King's Books.  If you can't make it, let us know and we can pass the information along.

Get ready to party!
Volunteer Training
Dec. 30, 2:00 - 2:30 pm
King's Books, 218 St Helens Ave, Tacoma


Come to this quick training to romp through the Volunteer Handbook.  We'll reveal information about this year's event and go through emergency procedures.  Plus, we'll answer any questions you may have.

If you can't make the meeting, email sweet pea.  We will forward the information along to you.

Thanks for your support of First Night.  We couldn't do it without you!
 

First Night Board of Directors

comments [0]

Dec. 28, 2007 at 12:48pm

Answerin' Yer First Night Questions

'ave a question about First Night?

I'll be around ter answer yer questions all weekend, in my worst pirate vernacular.

Fire away in the comments! 

comments [8]

Dec. 22, 2007 at 8:33pm

Pirate Gear Spotted Around Town

Arrrr!  While Christmas shopping on Pacific today, I noticed that Learning Sprout has a whole pirate section, right up front, with lots of great stuff like flags (Join in the parade!) and maps and costumes and all manner of treasure.

I've also seen pirate gear at Crescent Moon at Freighthouse Square, and of course Northwest Costume on 6th always has the hook up for all your pretend needs.  I'm sure there's more to be found around Tacoma, feel free to pass on your own pirate sightings.

Get your gear on, and set sail for the Theater District this New Year's Eve.  Don't forget to buy your button, or you'll have to walk the plank.

(psst, if you missed it, the whole entertainment lineup is now online.)

comments [2]

Dec. 19, 2007 at 3:38pm

Full Program Now Online!

So buy yer buttons now, y'bunch of procrastinatin' lollygaggers. 

Startin' today, y'can order them online and pick' em up 24 hours later at Leroy jewelers. 

Here are some programming highlights:

magicians, dancers, rock, hip hop, polka, jazz, folk, hurdy gurdy, sea chanteys, flying monkeys, performing pigs, battling pirates, roving jugglers, a partridge in a pear tree (just making sure you are paying attention) and last but not least, fireworks!

Read the whole lineup here! 

(Arrr!)

comments [0]