Bob Dorsey was born 30 years ago at 9:15 p.m. on New Year's Eve, much to the delight of his father.
"My mom wanted me to be the first baby of the new year, but my dad wanted me on the 31st for the tax break," he said.
Monday night, the Lawrence resident celebrated his birthday and the new year with dinner at Teller's, 746 Mass. Afterwards, Dorsey and his friends were going to a farm for a birthday party and fireworks.
As a kid, Dorsey didn't like having his birthday on New Year's Eve.
"But once you're old enough to drink, it's like a really cool birthday party," he said.
At Jensen Retail Liquor, 620 W. Ninth St., Lawrence resident Jeff Marable shopped for wine or "something harder" to take to a dinner party. He didn't know what was going to happen after that, but he had "resolved to not make any resolutions."
"I think New Year's is usually a bit overrated," Marable said. "I just want to be with the people I love."
About 90 Lawrence children celebrated the new year with an 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. overnighter at the Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St. Children ages 5 to 12 played games, ate pizza, watched the ball drop in New York City's Times Square, and then trekked over to Royal Crest Lanes for Cosmic Bowling or Laser Tag.
"The majority of the kids will be up all night," said Duane Peterson, special events supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department. This year marked the ninth annual New Year's Eve Overnighter.
"It's a lot of fun for the kids, and it's a great opportunity to meet other kids in the community," Peterson said.
Brianna Edmo, 9, was at her fourth overnighter.
"We really have fun here," she said.
Although she wasn't making any New Year's resolutions, she did have a wish for 2002.
"I have a wish that the terrorists would stop," she said.
Barb Heeb, Lawrence, dropped off her daughter, Rachel, 8, at the overnighter. She said her daughter was excited about the evening.
"It just seemed like a safe, fun thing for the kids to take part in," she said.
At KJHK 90.7, Kansas University students Buck Rowland and Brad Koehler spun music from 8 p.m. to midnight for their third annual "B & B Black Velvet New Year's Eve." The evening was also the final installment of their show, "Queer Radio."
"We did this last year, and the phone rang of the hook," Rowland said.
With a candle lighting the studio and holiday treats baked by Koehler's mother, they played "adult cocktail music" by musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Mel Torme and Julie London. At midnight, they had a 1941 pressing of "Auld Lang Sine," the oldest version they could find.
Rowland, 39, said he enjoyed spinning records on New Year's Eve.
"At my age, this is perfect," he said. "I'm looking forward to spending the new year not feeling like I was hit by a bourbon truck."
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