We all like to think of the New Year as a fresh start, a shedding of the past year with new hope for the one that lies ahead. For Pine Avenue, though, tonight will be a return to old form.
The Downtown Long Beach Associates, Convention Visitors Bureau and others joined Smooth’s Bar & Grille owner John Morris to revive the annual New Year’s party on Pine Avenue that ran for nine consecutive years and ended in 1999. Pine will be closed from Broadway to 1st Street to make way for a live music stage and other attractions as well-wishers gather in a Times Sqaure-esque fashion.
“It’s an event that was highly successful for ten years,” Morris told us a few weeks ago, already anticipating a huge crowd. Pine Avenue may be most optimistic of all for 2009, as many hope that the celebration is a sign of success to come. The area’s business struggles were highlighted often in 2008, and Morris & Friends hope that events like the New Year Party will turn a new page in Pine’s history.
“It’s what the community wants,” he said.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor
Disclosure: Smooth’s and the DLBA are advertisers of the lbpost.com