It's Not the Temperature, It's How You Dress

The snow began to fall around 10AM. Throughout the day the intensity increased. By mid afternoon the accumulation measured around 6 inches and still falling. Add heavy winds and dropping temperatures and you have a typical New England blizzard. I had a forty mile drive to meet everyone in Providence RI where we would welcome in the new year and spend the night.

Dinner reservations were at Capriccios located on the bank of the Providence River in the heart of the city. The word is, "always keep your back to the wall, because you never know who will walk in". The reservations were for 9PM. I met everyone at the hotel at five. The storm was beginning to abate, but the temperatures continued to fall. Looking out the window from our 9th floor room, saw the first night activities beginning. I could not convince anyone to venture out into the night that gave single digit temperatures and flag ripping winds. But I'm a bike commuter right. We bike commuters know, "it's not the weather, it's how we dress". I had layers, and did a solo walk around town with very little discomfort.
Let the festivities begin

A $15 bracelet got me access to any venue that struck my fancy. I was convinced to buy the bracelet with the promise that the "dare devil show" would alone be worth the price of the all night, all venue bracelet. It wasn't. No matter, I had to leave to make the trek to the restaurant.
Irish ballads.

After dinner, no one wanted to walk the city and experience any of the first night events. I mentioned that everything was indoors and every event was withing a seven block area. "Nope, too cold" Alone I ventured out and spent time listening to the Blues, Jazz, Irish Folk and swing dancing like you don't usually see. Three of the events were in churches and the most contemporary was built in 1789. One was the oldest Baptist church in America founded by Roger Williams.

January 1, 2009
New Years day brought even colder single digit temps but the wind had ceased. A perfect sunny morning for taking photos of Old Providence.

State House


Providence City Hall


First Baptist Church


Providence River


"Look up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane". Yup, that's the superman building.


Old Stone Bank and County Courthouse steeple in the background


Haven's traveling diner. Since 1848


Snowy main street in Old Section of Providence.


LAYERS, LAYERS.

Dressing in layers, a technique that was tested and perfected by bike commuting gave this midnight rider the chance to experience a a great first night and New Years day while my companions spent hundreds of dollars to sit in a hotel for two days reading a book and watching tv.