Best New New Year's Party

First Night Austin

New Year's Eve used to belong to drunken revelers, then last December a group took back the night for everyone else. First Night Austin commandeered Downtown from Auditorium Shores to the Capitol for 10 hours of family-friendly performances and demonstrations by artists and community groups. The results were dazzling: men in suits rappelling down the Radisson, dancers gliding through skyscraper lobbies, a dragon of light floating on Town Lake, giant puppets, a grand parade. It was a cultural blowout! And best of all, some 100,000 people turned out to sample the wonders. Now, that's what we call a party!

First Night Austin
515 Congress #2050, 512/947-9316
www.firstnightaustin.org