Ah – New Years Eve.  During my childhood, I spent a quiet evening with family and friends and a few noisemakers. Some eggnog maybe some toasted marshmallows in the fireplace…well that was yesteryear – Last night was a different story!

The New Year was not ushered in quietly in Renaissance Plaza in the heart of White Plains last night. The City of White Plains, NY rang in the New Year at the foot of the newly opened  Ritz Carlton.  A little less than a block from the City Center Plaza that boasts Trump Tower, at 42 stories, the Ritz Carlton is the tallest building between Manhattan and Albany dwarfing both Trump Tower in White Plains and Trump Plaza in New Rochelle.

At the stroke of midnight, a ball was dropped from a crane (a-la Manhattan – or the mini-me version Times Square) and the New Year was rung in with a spectacular display of fireworks.   Music rocked the downtown even as the thunderous cloud of smoke was dissipating.  As I was driving to the event, hoping to get a few good shots, I saw thousands of citizens walking from their condos and coops on North Broadway over to Renaissance Plaza.  Personally, I chose a vantage point that was a bit more remote for a better view of the fireworks AND the opportunity to photograph them. I was blocked from seeing the ball drop, but the fire works did not disappoint. Friends who saw the display from the front were equally impressed.  I got a few good shots which I am sharing with you.  The Ritz Carlton is seen in the foreground with the fireworks coming from the other side of the building

If I might be so bold as to editorialize here.  The fireworks were incredible and the Ritz Carlton being in White Plains, NY is admittedly a HUGE deal. It brings with it a new standard of luxury for the city with its luxury residences and five star hotel. However, as terrific as the display was, White Plains is NOT Manhattan and I wish it would STOP trying so hard to be mini-me Manhattan. Manhattan is Manhattan and there is and always will be only ONE.  White Plains is also unique. By all means ring in the New Year with a bang! What we are doing right now seems a bit FORCED. Let's stop being copycats and prove that we have our own unique creativity - perhaps we could start a new tradition that is totally unique to the City of White Plains. There are imaginative people out there in our fair city....what if we held a contest...everyone entering would have an idea of how to ring in the New Year WHITE PLAINS STYLE!