(Photo by Barry Fisher)

"What Are You Doing New Year's… New Year's Eve?"

Actually, I was probably going to be working, but when I heard the news that Linda would be appearing at Feinstein's at the Regency on New Year's Eve, I quickly changed my plans. I knew then and there that 2007 was going to end well, and 2008 would have a bright start. Ringing in the New Year with Linda Eder was definitely a fabulous belated Christmas present to myself!

After a mad, crazy scramble to find a hotel room that would not require the liquidation and expenditure of my pension plan (That's a story for another time!), I set off from my winter wonderland up here in the frozen north for sunny Manhattan. After going through countless security checks on the street corner, I got to my little room and put some music on to get ready. Of course, the music I was playing was Linda! Finally, it was time to head to the Regency. I met up with my friend, Gabby, and we were on our way.

The entrance of the Regency was beautifully lit, including a lighted projection announcing FEINSTEIN'S on the sidewalk. The Christmas tree and decorations still adorned the lobby, creating a festive feeling as we entered. Even lovelier was the framed poster there, announcing the main attraction! If the lights and the tree didn't do it, the sight of Linda's beautiful photo up there brought smiles to everyone's faces. Also, it was great fun to sit in the lobby and listen to the "other people," people not of the Linda Eder Message Board, discuss Linda and her incomparable talents. Descriptions such as "remarkable" and "extraordinary" caught my ear time and again. In a strange way, it made me feel proud, as in "that's our Linda" and "just wait until you 'newbies' hear her!" We also encountered a few message board members who had just attended the early show, and they came out raving about their evening with Linda! Of course, hearing them further increased our anticipation and impatience for our evening with Linda to begin.

The entrance of the Regency and festive decorations in the hotel lobby

Finally, we were escorted into the Regency's ballroom and shown to our table. It felt like we were entering another world. The lights were low, and hundreds of purple and gold balloons floated near the ceiling, their ribbons trailing just above our heads. We had the usual New Year's Eve party favors at our places - hats, crowns, noisemakers - along with glasses of wine that were refilled promptly as we emptied them. Appetizers of vegetables and caviar, seafood and beef were set out before us, and the waiters took our orders for either filet mignon or Dover sole, accompanied by shrimp in either case. We were served our soup and salad first and got acquainted with our tablemates during this course. We were seated next to a gentleman who was a fan of Linda's. He had brought a friend to see her who had never had the pleasure of a live Linda experience. I could not wait to see her reaction as the evening progressed! This is, as you all know, a secret pleasure of all of us Eder fans - watching those who have never experienced the wonder of Linda live react to their "first time!"

At last, we heard the magic words: "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Linda Eder!" A lovely looking Linda made her way to the stage to a rousing round of applause and began to enchant us with "Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love." (Picture my "Linda newbie" table companion sitting there with her jaw agape at this point!) Linda then told us a bit about how she began to feel qualified to sing "torch songs" and sang us a beautiful "Stormy Weather." After that, she brought a smile to our faces as she sang of "Blue Skies" and told us that whether we liked it or not, "It's All For You." That it could get any better at this point seemed like "The Impossible Dream," but Linda then blew us away with a roof-raising version of "Rock-a-bye Your Baby." Then, to calm us down or perhaps to increase our anticipation for the rest of Linda's show, dinner was served. Linda came down from the stage to enjoy this time with her party at a table right behind us. "The worst table in the room," she said! She was right, but no matter. With no Linda on the stage, there was nothing to watch anyway!

"Zing! Went the Strings" of our hearts, as Linda arose and took us on a ride with the "Trolley Song" and right down "The Street Where You Live." (Eder Boulevard?) She, of course, won the "who-can-hold-the-note-longest" contest, glancing in a bored fashion at her watch, as she effortlessly trounced her competitor! Suddenly then, the midnight hour was nearly upon us, and as we watched the ball drop on a TV screen on the wall behind her, Linda sang in 2008 with "Auld Lang Syne," inviting us to join in with her. Everyone was singing and hugging and kissing and working their noisemakers! Linda was wearing the perfect accessory to her chic black gown, a gorgeous amethyst pendant, and… her "designer" 2008 glasses! She was joined on the stage by Craig after she announced, "He has to come up here. I have to kiss him!" As the turn of the year festivities wound down, Linda saluted 2008 in style, with an astounding version of "Don't Rain On My Parade." (My new-to-Linda tablemate was now positively glassy-eyed!) Then, as only she can do, Linda quieted the room in a heartbeat, serenading us with her ethereal "Both Sides Now." After we were nice and mellow (wine, champagne, good food and music by Linda - what more would we need?), she introduced the only "new" song of the night. "Dedicated to somebody named Waldo," she said. "I Can't Make You Love Me" was a lie - Linda has made us love her, countless times over, but it was a great addition to her repertoire nonetheless.

Linda with THE VOICE Guest Reporter and Fan Trish Burns

The rest of the evening was time spent with "old friends." We laughed and played with Linda, caught a glimpse of the defunct Lucy Harris, through the fun of "Bring On The Men," and were mesmerized by "When I Look In Your Eyes," which I personally enjoyed, as I had never heard Linda sing it live. I loved it. Linda ended the night for us with a trip to Europe, taking us to our two favorite Linda locales… "Vienna" and "La Mancha." We were loathe to return to New York, but all too soon the evening was over. It was time to settle up and head home after collecting our lovely gift bags from Feinstein's, of course! Linda did, graciously as always, come out into the crowd to chat with her more than appreciative fans and smile for the cameras, as she always is kind enough to do. We got our individual and group photos with Linda, who comically mused at one point, "I think I'm the only one holding all of us up here right now." Her observation may or may not have been true literally (I'll never tell!), but Linda is always holding her fans up in spirit.

I sincerely thank you so very much, Linda, and the guys in the band, for accepting "an offer you couldn't refuse," and providing all of us fortunate enough to be present with a very happy and memorable New Year, even though you'd have rather been home by the fire! 2008 can only bring more new and exciting Eder experiences to come, and I must say I look forward to each and every one!

(PHOTO CREDITS FOR ABOVE: Top row, bottom left, and bottom right by Barry Fisher; Bottom middle by Craig Wollman)

Linda rang in the New Year with those dear to her...
Linda and Ronni Hart		Linda and her sweetheart Craig		Linda with Ronni and Dave Hart