2010
SPECIAL ISSUE: FIRST NIGHT ALEXANDRIA
New for 2010
Light Show
We had a great time at the
First Night ALexandria
Be sure to join us next year.
FirstNightAlexandria.org
The News
2010
OPINION
Where were you on
December 31, 2010?
If you weren’t in Old
Town Alexandria,
you missed a terrific
Old Town New
Year’s Eve Party!
MEDIA
And the media
kept coming! On
December 31st you
couldn’t watch a
local TV network
affiliate without
seeing something
about First Night
Alexandria!
Teddy the clown makes entertains his friends while preparing for First Night Alexandria 2010
Photograph by Michael A. Geissinger
PREVIEW
We started early on Wednesday, December
30th with Fox 5 in the Morning reporting live
from the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Guests
were treated to Teddy the Clown, Barbara
Scheeler from Lets Make a Face face painting
and music by the Irish Breakfast Band.
A special guest appearance
by Professor Art Safari
helped remind folks that
the Fun Hunt is back for
Media Coverage
Photograph by
Michael A. Geissinger
the second year.
KICK OFF
We kicked off at 1:00
with the second annual
First Night Alexandria
Fun Hunt. Nearly 100
teams of 4-6 players each
followed clues around
Old Town, writing down
answers and finding
specific locations from
clues to be eligible for
CASH prizes! The
Fun Hunt combined
navigation, geography,
history and FUN during
the afternoon. At 5:00
pm prizes were awarded
preceding an evening
of entertainment in 17
different indoor venues.
ON THE COVER: Light Show at the George Washington Masonic Memorial at Midnight December 31, 2010 Photograph by Michael A. Geissinger
FOUR SPOTLIGHT AREAS
100 PERFORMERS
SPECTACULAR MULTIMEDIA FINALE
FIRST NIGHT
ALEXANDRIA
2010
First Night Alexandria was presented in four
“spotlight” areas, with venues within an
easy walk; traffic and driving were kept to a
minimum. The George Washington Masonic
Memorial, with four unique performance spaces
and plenty of free parking, was a one stop
destination for many people who stayed all
evening to get front row spots for the all new
multi media finale at midnight.
Photograph by Barbara Brecher
What a fun new finale we had…
necessitated by changes in the Virginia law
that will not allow traditional fireworks at
the Masonic Memorial. There were lasers,
colored spotlights, live and recorded music,
dancing images on the front of the building
and low pyrotechnics from the roof of
the building!
If you missed it, check it out on the First
Night Alexandria Facebook page.
Finale produced by Image Engineering /Photograph by Michael Geissinger
Voices
“Great event, great fun, great enthusiasm.”
Dennis Auld, Database Management Corp.
This was our first First Night and we had a good time.
Attendee
“Alexandria First Night is always a memorable night out, and
I’ve been to every one in the past ten years. If it weren’t for
First Night, I’m not sure what I would do on New Year’s Eve.”
Carol Supplee, Imagine Artwear
Great event- the scavenger hunt was great;
our kids LOVED the magic show!!
Attendee
“First Night Alexandria is such a fun way to celebrate
New Year’s Eve ‑– I don’t ever want to miss it.”
Monica Bell, Gratitude Enterprises
“I have always found First Night Alexandria to be a wonderful
evening when the city comes alive with quality entertainment. Good weather or bad, First Night never disappoints as a
great time for our family to ring in the New Year.”
Vice Mayor Kerry Donley
Performances were better spaced throughout
the evening and it was possible to attend 5
performances this year because of that.
Attendee
I like how you display the schedule on the
website and link to performers’ personal
websites. Very easy to use.
Attendee
79%
of the attendees responding
to our survey spent an
average of $51.60 in addition
to the price of admission.
55%
of respondents came from
outside Alexandria. Many
of them from Arlington and
Fairfax Counties
91%
of respondents rated their
experience at First Night as
fun or entertaining.
$4 million
the approximate return to
the City of Alexandria, and
Alexandria businesses over
the past ten years, for goods,
services and fees.
59%
of 2010 First Night
Alexandria’s expenses
were paid to Alexandria’
businesses.
FIRST NIGHT ALEXANDRIA
Amazing Volunteers
The success of First Night Alexandria,
in fact the event itself would not be
possible without the support of our terrific
volunteers on December 31. These
volunteers sell admission badges at all
the venues and provide information
to attendees, approximately half of
whom traditionally come from outside
Alexandria. For their efforts, they receive
free admission, a box dinner and a
souvenir apron – all of which were made
possible because of the sponsorship of the
Alexandria Hotel Association, LCOR and
Virginia American Water Company.
An attendee getting help from a volunteer Photograph by Michael A. Geissinger
OUR SUPPORTERS
We can never adequately thank the army of supporters First Night
Alexandria enjoys. First Night Alexandria is a private, nonprofit organization that has an independent Board of Directors.
The City of Alexandria, through various grants, provides
approximately 28% of the $200,000 budget to produce the event;
the generosity of businesses and individuals provides 31%. The
final 41% of the budget comes from the sale of admission badges,
the price of which is purposely kept low to make it a budgetfriendly way for families to spend New Year’s Eve together!
Premiere Sponsors
City of Alexandria
Alexandria Commission
for the Arts
Finale Sponsors
GenOn
George Washington
Masonic Memorial
Badge Sponsor
Virginia Paving
Web Site Sponsor
New Target Internet Design
Volunteer Sponsors
Alexandria Hotel Association
LCOR Alexandria
Virginia American Water
Transportation Sponsor
Alexandria Toyota
Fun Hunt Sponsor
McLaughlin Ryder Investments
Accounting Sponsor
Halt, Buzas & Powell, LTD
Newspaper Sponsors
Alexandria Gazette Packet
Mount Vernon Gazette
Mount Vernon Voice
Design Sponsor
Brecher Design Group, Inc.
Printing Sponsor
Fannon Printing
Loyal Supporters
Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association
Alexandria Sheriff’s Department
Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA)
Burke & Herbert Bank
DeVry University
Dominion
Extra Space Storage
Focus Data Solutions
Forum One Communications
Imagine - 100 performances for just $20! Children 12 and under
have been and continue to be free when accompanied by a paying
adult. For the past several years, we have also offered free
admission to active military personnel. Please take note of our
sponsors listed in this report; First Night Alexandria could not do
this without them!
These businesses and individuals make it all possible. We are
grateful for their generosity and hope you will thank them too
Gratitude Enterprises
Inova Alexandria Hospital
The JBG Companies
Mango Mike’s
David & Martha Martin
Meetings & Events
of Distinction
Old Town Business & Professional Association
Potomac Yard Development
Friends of
First Night Alexandria
Denny Auld & Lynn Hampton
Janet Barnett
Barbara Bianco Suzanne Brock
Michael Chamowitz, Esq. Comcast
Kerry & Eva Donley
Harry Engel
David Englin
Jim & Kary Ewalt
Mark Feldheim
Michael Geissinger
Susan Goodhart
Charlotte Hall
Hotel Monaco
IDI Group Companies Imagine Artwear Joe Thiesmann’s Restaurant R.L. Kane King Street Blues Krekeler Brower
Wealth Advisors, LLC Lorien Hotel Philip Lyons
Gary & Lynette Matz
Sean McEnearney
Karyn & Brian Moran
Morrison House
Susan & Rin Musser
Old Town Crier John Porter
Potomac Riverboat Company
Cathy Puskar
Tracy Rickett
Stephen Rhind-Tutt
Rotary Club of Alexandria Sidney & Frances Spencer Hon. Patricia Ticer Virginia Commerce Bank Whole Foods Venues
The following Alexandria businesses, non-profit
organizations and churches opened their doors for this
successful community celebration. We thank them and
hope you will be back to visit them throughout the year.
Alexandria Red Cross
Alexandria City Hall
Alexandria’s Union Station
Athenaeum
Christ Church
Durant Arts Center
George Washington Masonic Memorial
Hooray for Books
Imagine Artwear
Jefferson-Houston School
Little Theatre
Lyceum
Nickells & Scheffler
Old Presbyterian Meeting House
St. Paul’s Church
Torpedo Factory Art Center
Washington Street United Methodist Church
OUR NUMBERS
Income:
Expenses:
Ticket sales:
Entertainment:
Grants:
Marketing:
Corporate sponsors:
Management and
administration:
$86,977
$60,368
$52,850
Individual contributions:
$10,115
Miscellaneous:
$282
SPECIAL
THANK YOU
City services:
Public safety personnel
from the Alexandria
Police, Sheriff, and
Fire departments are
partners with First Night
Alexandria. They keep
us safe on December 31
and every other day of
the year.
Fees, insurance, supplies:
Thank you!
$82,253
$14,422
$45,000
$8,320
$11,772
WE NEED YOUR HELP
The number of attendees coupled with the growing number of returnees requires
First Night Alexandria to continue its evolution. The ongoing success of First
Night Alexandria will require the effort of more than a few dedicated volunteers
and businesses supported by a dynamic Board of Directors and the best City
partnership anywhere! To remain a true community event, support must expand to
meet the demand.
2011 fund raising has already begun!
Lend your support to keep this family friendly community celebration of the
New Year through the performing arts going. Help us with a $15 deductable
contribution today. Your contributions will help provide what we need to hire all
the performers for First Night Alexandria on December 31, 2011.
GO TO www.firstnightalexandria.org/donate and make your contributions …
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!
Did you know?
Many restaurants in Old
Town were specifically
mentioned as destinations for
dinner on New Year’s Eve.
First Night Alexandria’s
largest single expense
continues to be great
entertainment.
The sale of admission badges
covers only 41% of the
operating costs of First Night
Alexandria.
69% of survey respondents
said they would not have
come to Alexandria on New
Year’s Eve if there were not a
First Night!
How did people hear about
First Night? Most responded
they had attended before
or heard about it from
word-of-mouth.
Hotels in Alexandria love
First Night. Many of them
offer special packages
including admission badges
and the Alexandria Hotel
Association is a sponsor!
Thank You
\
We are indebted to each member of the
board of directors for their time and energy.
Honorary Chair
Mayor William D. Euille
2010 Board of Directors
Officers
Directors
Charlotte Hall
Mike Anderson
President
Potomac Riverboat Co.
Mango Mike’s
Kerry Donley
Database Access Group
President-Elect
Virginia Commerce Bank
Barbara Bianco
Secretary/Treasurer
Forum One Communications
Michael Geissinger
Past-President
Photojournalist
Dennis Auld
Monica Bell
Gratitude Enterprises
Daniel Fannon
Fannon Printing
Sean McEnearney
McEnearney Associates
Page Moon
Focus Data Solutions
Karyn Moran
Girls on the Run
Carol Supplee
Imagine Artwear
Staff
Ann M. Dorman, CMP
Richard F. Dorman, CAE
Joseph Shumard, Volunteers
First Night Alexandria
421 King Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone (703) 746-3301
Fax (703) 998-0526
FirstNightAlexandria.org