final 1st night release 12-15-10

8/8/2019 Final 1st Night Release 12-15-10

1/5

PRESS CONTACT: ANDREA GARTNER,EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITYCENTER DANBURY

(203) 792 1711

FOR HOLIDAY RELEASE, PLEASE

FIRST NIGHT DANBURY $5 BUTTONS LET YOU RING IN THE NEW YEAR

WITH MORE THAN 25 GUEST PERFORMERS IN CITY CENTER

+++

5K RUN KICKS OFF NEW YEARS EVE EVENTS AT 3:30 P.M.

The theme is A Hat Full of Magic. The event is First Night Danbury, the citys long timetradition of serving up a New Years Eve with family flair, bringing revelers into CityCenter toshare in welcoming another year - 2011. This year, its all Magic. With a Hat Full tipped to the

citys manufacturing legacy and nickname, Hat City. Buttons - only $5 - provide entrance to allFirst Night Danbury events, raising the curtain on an evening of Music, Magic, and Merriment.And since First Night events close with a grand fireworks display at 8:00 p.m., viewed from atopBardo Garage, theres still four hours left til midnight to spend with family and friends, enjoylate night entertainments in CityCenter, or simply reminisce on the passing year.

First Night family-friendly and alcohol-free programs are presented on New Years Eve,December 31st, between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. throughout CityCenter. A 5K Run Into theNew Year kicks off the festivities at 3:30 p.m. on the Danbury Green. Buttons that provideentrance to all First Night Danbury events can be purchased for $5 at CityCenter Danbury, 186Main Street; Caraluzzi's Market, 98 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel; C-Town, 45 North Street,

Danbury; Danbury Senior Center, 10 Elmwood Place; News-Times, 333 Main Street, Danbury;Union Savings Bank branches; Savings Bank of Danbury branches;and other neighborhoodlocations. For more information, visit www.firstnightdanbury.org or call 203 792 1711

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said, We are expecting a First Night Danbury celebration fullof fun and magic. We are dressing up our Downtown for this community event, and we inviteeveryone in the Greater Danbury area to join us in the heart of our city. The whole family willhave something to see and do, including our 2nd annual 5K race beginning and ending in ourCityCenter.

Andrea Gartner, Executive Director of CityCenter Danbury, First Nights host sponsor, is always

exuberant, anticipating audience reaction to new experiences. First Night brings together peopleof all kinds as a community of one, she says, sharing in the anticipation of a new year whilealso sharing in a brief moment of no conflict, no worry, and mutual uplift to spirit andimagination.PERFORMERS

Headlining the event is Peter Samelson, the soft-spoken conceptualist of sorcery (The NewYork Times) and a fixture at Off Broadways long running Monday Night Magic. Hell host a


2/5

Palace Theater vaudeville, honoring the 1928 downtown centerpiece. Peter has performed atopthe Great Wall of China, in the jungles of Bali and the universities of Tokyo; for Mexicanpeasants, Grand Prix race car drivers, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, the jet set of Paris and thefishermen mending their nets on the beaches of Cartagena. He is truly a magicians magician

Also look for:Adam Auslander & Dan Berkley

stilt walkers from the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade & The Greatest Show onEarth

Arts & Crafts with Kerri LuBell

get your hands into the finger paints, paste, and go creative with a First Nighttradition for kids

Babes on Broadway

Cabaret performer, Susan Mirwis, dons stylized hats to recreate the famous, fabulous,

funny females of the Broadway stage

Push Billingsley

hip hop, comic magic from a child who grew up in the clash of the 80s & 90s

Miquel Cossio

traditional Mexican visual art installation with a contemporary, colorful flair

Dance Paradise

salsa, tango, hustle - Latin dance classes by NYC-based master teachers

ESCAPE to the Artsmake hats to wear throughout First Night Danbury events to celebrate Hat City

Larkin Grimm

songwriter/songstress goes glam with her unique style of folk and soul

Tom Hooker Hanford

Chimney Side Tales, songs & stories of the Winter season by a master raconteur of ourregions cultural history

Humongokeep an eye out, we dont know where this interactive firm will be but theyresure to provide high tech shenanigans

Ice Matters

A staple on Library Plaza, this award winning ice carving company alwayscaptures First Nights theme with artistry and humor


3/5

MacTalla Mor

Gaelic for Great Echo, the band is Danburys own Celtic roots rock & bagpipesensation

Mad Hatters Barbershop Chorus

Veterans of 30 years, this popular Danbury a capella offers a rich repertoire oftraditional barbershop, European hymnody, and 19th century vaudeville

Marty the Magician & Zooky the Clown

Entertainment for kids of all ages - not to be missed

Master Lee

kung fu comic uses his black belts in karate to keep his audiences in stiches

New Hope Mass Choir

This Danbury institution has a long history of serving its community with powerful

song, goodwill and amazing grace

Portuguese Traditional Games

An opportunity to experience stilt walking and other traditional Portuguese folk games

Peter Spink & Friends

singer-songwriter-guitarist hailed impressive by The New York Times

Bob Stanhope

A First Night favorite, this singer, humorist, and radio personality evokes a very cozyfireside chat

Sounds of Afrika

African and African-American drumming, stressing unity and the importantmessage of respecting every culture

Too Human

jazz standards from The Great American Songbook in guitar, percussion, bass and vocals

Mike Freemans ZonaVibe

a fiery mix of jazz, fusion, and World music, featuring the little-heard vibraphone

DISCOUNTED ACTIVITIES WITH FIRST NGHT BUTTON

Public Skate at Danbury Arena

Admission is $3 for everyone with a First Night button. If you dont have your ownskates, you can rent a pair for $4 (5-8pm)

Traditional Dinner at Danbury Museum & Historical Society


4/5

Chicken Stew, Corn Bread, Apple Pie, Hot Cider: $10 per adult, $5 per child with button; $12 and $7 without (4-6pm)

PARTICIPATING VENUES, DIRECTIONS, & PARKING

Bardo Garage 10 Library PlaceDanbury Ice Arena/Danbury Green 1 Independence WayDanbury Library 170 Main StreetDanbury Museum & HistoricalSociety 43 Main StreetDanbury Music Centre 256 Main StreetESCAPE to the Arts 293 Main StreetHeirloom Arts Theater 155 Main Street

at the end of Palace WalkIves Manor Ballroom 198 Main StreetPalace Theater 165 Main Street

St. James Church 25 West StreetUnion Saving Bank at The Galleria 225 Main Street

By Car Eastbound I-84 - Exit 5 - At the stop sign at the end of the ramp, proceed straight aheadonto Downs Street to the traffic light. Turn right (southbound) onto Main Street. Go through twotraffic lights and cross over the railroad tracks. Watch for the clock tower in the center of theMain Street median - this is White Street. At that light, turn left onto White Street. Take a right atthe 3rd light onto Patriot Drive. Take next right onto Independence Way. The Patriot ParkingGarage is on your right.

By Car Westbound I-84 - Exit 5 - At the light at the end of the ramp turn right (southbound) ontoMain Street. Go through two traffic lights and cross over the railroad tracks. Watch for the clocktower in the center of the Main Street median - this is White Street. At that light, turn left ontoWhite Street. Take a right at the 3rd light onto Patriot Drive. Take next right onto IndependenceWay. The Patriot Parking Garage is on your right.

Street and lot parking for the evening is FREE. Bardo and Patriot Garages are charging a flat $3rate for the evening. Trains are available through the MTA Metro-North Railroad, Danburybranch of the New Haven line. Buses are available through Peter Pan bus lines.

5K RUN INTO THE NEW YEAR

The 2010-2011 5K Run Into the New Year, hosted by CityCenter Danbury and the Regional

YMCA, kicks off on Friday, December 31st at 3:30 pm on the Danbury Green. The 5K route,

accessible to participants of all ages, takes runners on a fairly flat out-and-back route on

Downtowns historic Main Street. The entry fee is $15 through Wednesday, December 22nd, and


5/5

$20 thereafter. Register now online through Wednesday, December 29th . Or, register on Race

Day from 2:00-3:00pm at the Danbury Arena, 1 Independence Way adjacent to the Green. There

you can also pick up your Race packets and a First Night Danbury button to provide entrance to

this years entertainments. The first 100 registered runners will receive a 5K commemorative T-

shirt. Championship Timing is provided by Road & Track Sport Timing. No personal chips

permitted. A $50 fee will be charged for lost chips. Have Fun & Run Into the New Year!

Register online at http://www.active.com/running/danbury-ct/danbury-5k-run-into-the-new-

year-2010

TO VOLUNTEER

Volunteers make First Night Danbury possible. Volunteer opportunities include: Gift Wrapping

at Sears, with the proceeds going to support First Night Danbury; Runners to help prepare prior

to the start of the event; and Greeters to check for buttons at the events and assist with seating.

Volunteers receive a free First Night button and hours are flexible. If you are interested in

becoming a volunteer at First Night, please contact Stacey Olszewski at 203-270-9461 or

[email protected] [email protected] .

_____________________________________________________________________________First Night Danbury is sponsored in part, by the Danbury Cultural Commission, Union SavingsBank, the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, CityCenter Danbury, and localbusinesses.

THERES SOMETHING GOING ON DOWNTOWN!

final 1st night release 12-15-10

Documents