South Sound celebs offer up their New Year’s traditions

Come New Year’s Eve, New York has the Times Square ball drop, Seattle has the Space Needle fireworks, and Olympia has … well, people watching the ball drop from the comfort of their couches, and some people shooting off fireworks (illegally) in their yards.

OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. You can go out to dinner in South Sound or hear a band at a bar (kind of like many other nights of the year), and some places have countdowns, champagne toasts and other holiday trimmings.

But there’s no must-do, and a lot of locals, including well-known ones, are pretty low-key about the dawn of a new year — and, in this case, a new decade. (It probably doesn’t help that it falls on a Tuesday night.)

The Olympian talked to some of the people who keep us entertained all year long about how they mark the change of the year and whether they follow that other New Year’s tradition: resolutions.

As a bonus, the photos they shared reflect something about how they celebrate the holidays.

Elizabeth Lord

Storyteller/director/vaudeville impresario

New Year’s Eve: Typically, I do celebrate. I’ll go to a friend’s house party or hang out at my work, The Brotherhood Lounge. I stay up and make sure I kiss someone at the stroke of midnight.

But my biggest and most important New Year’s tradition is to sit with a few friends, and prior to midnight, we all write down our own personal “Top Ten Most Significant Events of the Year.”

Then we take turns reading items off our list. This usually leads to some storytelling. It is a wonderful occasion, one I’ve been practicing for over 15 years.

Resolutions: I don’t think I’ve ever made New Year’s resolutions.

Jordan Richards

Actor/comedian

New Year’s Eve: I really do like parties, especially if there’s dancing and a costume element. Seeing friends and family is also important.

Staying up late was fun in the past, but I’m doing that less and less these days. 10 p.m. feels like an excellent midnight.

Resolutions: I’d like to become more and more involved in my community. Volunteering at Olympia Family Theater has been a really fun way give back, meet people, and feel part of the whole. So I’ll continue to seek out opportunities like that there and elsewhere.

Huw Edwards

Olympia Symphony Orchestra conductor

New Year’s Eve: Years ago, when I was in Britain, we all used to gather at a friend’s house, a big house. We were lucky because his parents went away for New Year’s. We’d all put in 20 pounds or whatever, and that would pay for a big dinner and wine, and we all brought sleeping bags. The next morning, we’d slowly get up and do a big fry-up breakfast and then disperse.

The last couple of years, I’ve just wandered to some friends who live about six blocks from me, and we drink a little Scotch.

Resolutions: Although not a big one for resolutions, I do spend some time reflecting on the past 12 months. I’m old-fashioned and still keep a diary — and often look forward to the emotional release of turning a new page with Jan. 1.

Sam Miller

Comedian

New Year’s Eve: Generally, that’s a good night for comedy. I’m doing a semi-private gig for a woman out in Littlerock. It’s supposed to be pretty wild.

I kind of stopped caring about New Year’s when I got sober. It was a pain in the ass when I was a bouncer downtown, so I’m glad to not be a bouncer anymore.

Resolutions: I’m not really good at those, so I stopped making them. In June of 2008, I stopped drinking and taking drugs. It didn’t have anything to do with New Year’s, but I think that was a big enough resolution for all time.

Amy Shephard

Actress/singer/dancer and more

New Year’s Eve: Any excuse to celebrate! I’m usually acting in a play, but if not, I attend New Year’s parties with friends. (Shephard, a regular in Harlequin Productions’ “Stardust” holiday musicals, has the night off this year.)

Resolutions: Yes. I always make the same one because it’s the only one I can keep: Drink more water.