91.   The throngs of families who enjoy the Grande Illumination on Courthouse Square every year are a reminder of what the holidays downtown once were.

92.   The skyscraper area farther downtown was noticeably quiet as the police maintained extra patrols.

93.   Their downtowns are dotted with small hardware stores, barber shops, cafes and brick post offices just off the town square.

94.   There was a time when downtown was ablaze with lights, energy and money.

95.   These days, downtown is a Little London.

96.   This once-bustling manufacturing center has fallen on rough times, and the downtown is ramshackle at best.

97.   Tonight, downtown would be darkened and empty.

98.   Today, downtown Belfast is no longer an armed camp.

99.   Traffic downtown was lighter than usual as some drivers avoided the center of the city.

100.   Traffic was light, downtown was very quiet, most restaurants were closed and most customers for our newspaper were at home with their families.