This lady apparently never participated in a pen pal program when she was in elementary school ... allowing her to create a lasting relationship with someone on the other side of the world that she trusted and knew very well through writing long and sometimes time-consuming letters, but never had the opportunity to meet for coffee on a weekly basis ... hmmmm....

I totally agree! We live just across the river from Old Sac and were able to host friends for dinner, walk outside for the 9:00p fireworks display and then head down to 10th and K for the "ball drop." We were definitely disappointed in the lack of a "drop" but the experience was cool and can only be better next year! Capitol Mall would definitely be the best place for it. If they plan on closing a city block again next year, this would be the most advantageous city block to close, with so much open space already around for people to stand/dance/party! Cesar Chavez park tends to get all of the downtown "open-to-the-public" gigs for celebration ... switch it up a little?