At Teatralka, New Year's decorations are strewn about and an "escape plan" hangs.

      In Kirov, despite the lack of snow, the city's main square is already being decorated. Thus, on November 15 residents saw the skeletal frame of the future Christmas tree. Today, November 21, the artificial beauty, though still without ornaments, has awkwardly been placed beside a construction site, surrounded by bare asphalt.

      Changes have also appeared in the park by Teatralnaya Square. The "Bird of Happiness," the symbol of last year’s New Year capital, has once again taken its place on the fountain. Balls have been hung on the surrounding trees, and arches have been set up and others laid at the entrances to the park and on the approaches to the square.

      The remaining items, for which no place has yet been found, lie in a heap by the fence. On the crooked iron Christmas trees, which are supposed to create a New Year’s mood for Kirov residents and city visitors, the paint has peeled in places, exposing rusty metal. Perhaps the city’s beautification directorate hopes that bright lights will distract attention. In any case, there is now a perfect opportunity to take a closer look at the decorations.

      Most of all our attention was drawn to the evacuation plan that recently appeared in the park by the fountain. Apart from the fact that on it Vladimirskaya and Zashchitnikov Otechestva streets are instead labeled with the outdated names Karl Marx and Karl Liebknecht, the plan itself raises questions. If you believe what is written on it, Moskovskaya Street mysteriously runs along two sides of the square at once (along the first and second buildings of the university).

      Apparently, the intention was to indicate that in an emergency visitors should line up and walk along the buildings to reach the street interrupted by the square. However, even if you accept that interpretation, a person walking would end up facing either Vsesvyatskaya (formerly Derendyaeva) or Vladimirskaya (formerly Karl Marx). In any case, the plan cannot be used as intended. We hope it will not be needed.