Happy New Year!

If it isn't exactly an opportunity to start over, New Year's Day offers an annual reminder that change IS possible, and things can be improved.

New Year's Eve was thundering good fun. Before attending the symphony's presentation of Beethoven's Ninth, I, Z and I dined at Union, just down the street from Benaroya Hall. We skipped the prix fixe meal in favor of à la carte at a window table in the bar, where we could watch the passing parade - New Year's Eve may be the second most costumed event in Seattle, after Halloween.

Benaroya was packed, a nice treat for the musicians, who faced halls a third to half full during the snow-plagued run of "The Messiah."

Second half of the program featured the Seahawks' Blue Thunder drumline. After three numbers on their own, the drumline (a phenomenally energetic group) joined the symphony players for a piece by Gianastera; "The Stars and Stripes Forever," by John Philip Sousa ("our hero") and a final roof-lifting rendition of "The Radetsky March."

Following the concert came dancing in the lobby (to a band amped even louder than the drumline), desserts, bubbly, and a full-throated countdown to 2009. Not a bad way to start the year, but I was happy to be home again by 12:45.