Dawn of the New Year as photographed by coastal photographer Craig Tooley and the Green Flash Cocktail

Craig Tooley got up early this morning to photograph the Dawn of the New year at The Sea Ranch. Just lovely!

And to start 2012 off right, perhaps you'd like to toast the year's first sunset with a Green Flash Cocktail. Allen Vinson has been on a quest for the perfect recipe, which you will find below. Here he is with the winner:

To see a photo of an actual green flash at sunset, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/04/green-flash-its-not-myth.html

Green Flash Cocktail Recipe

1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
3 oz orange juice
3 0z sprite
ice

1. mix ingredients together, serve over ice.

2. garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry

3. lean back, savor the sunset and enjoy