People split into two camps on New Year's Eve.
Wild horses can't drag some out of their homes to face crowds, noise, tipsy drivers and DWI checkpoints.
Then there are the partyers, who bravely tackle the long countdown to midnight shoulder-to-shoulder with kindred spirits.
You know who you are.
For stay-at-homes, have a pleasant, peaceful evening in front of the fire, perhaps with a glass of champagne, perhaps watching the Packers play the Bears or "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" or "Law Order: SVU" (Yes, there's a "Law Order" marathon on New Year's Eve, on USA network).
For partyers, The Tribune called around to find out where the fun is to be had, and there's plenty, in all forms.
You can eat; eat and drink; eat, drink and dance; and eat, drink, dance and stay overnight in a hotel.
The Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town's Q Bar always hops, and New Year's should be no exception. The Q's jazz/soul party features Terry the Toons from 6-9 p.
m. and Hillary Smith and the GTs from 9:30 p.m.
to 1 a.m. You'll need a reservation.
Tickets are $20 and only 200 will be sold. The hotel's Jesse Rios says to come prepared to dance and to brave a shower of balloons at midnight. "It'll be quite festive," he says.
The Sheraton Uptown's party is all about food and dancing it off. A top sirloin dinner for two followed by dancing to the variety band Red Wine costs $160 a couple, and $84 more for a room at the inn. The Sheraton will give away $2,000 in cash in 12 door prizes.
"It's a fun one," says the band's Lorenzo Ramirez. "We'll have champagne, party favors, a 1,200-balloon drop. We teach dance steps and have a dance contest.
We practice singing `Auld Lang Syne' early in the evening and see how good we are at midnight. Ever year, we try to do it better."
"Itchin' to Dance" is the theme at Downtown's Hyatt Regency.
The party is hosted by TV personality Caleb Crump with DJ Lowkey at the turntable. Sound and lighting is by Jam Session Productions. The dance is from 8 p.
m. to 1 a.m.
and costs $25 per person or $40 per couple. There's a cash bar, but no food. Party favors, champagne toast and balloon drop are included.
Organizer Tammy Blea calls it an "awesome" evening, because of "all the different people who show up, from business people to fun people."
Mykonos Cafe Taverna in the Northeast Heights is known for its New Year's "glendi," or Greek party. In its ninth year, it's as lively as a restaurant party gets.
A four-course dinner will be served in seatings at 6 p.m. ($39.
95 per person with champagne) and 8:30 p.m. ($49.
95 per person with champagne). The Sid Fendley Trio plays jazz, a DJ spins Greek tunes and the staff performs traditional Greek dances. "We have something for everyone: the traditional Greek and the American," says Mykonos owner Maria Constantine.
Scalo Northern Italian Grill in Nob Hill has a prix fixe menu in four courses at $55 a person. A wine pairing costs $30 more. Jazz pianist Stu MacAskie's B3 Trio with Justin Ray on trumpet plays from 9 p.
m. to 1 a.m.
in Scalo's bar.
The Cooperage continues its salsa-dancing tradition with the band Son Como Son, which takes the stage at 9:30 p.m.
The cover charge is $10.
The Chris Dracup Band plays funk and blues from 10 p.m.
to 1 a.m. in the cellar bar at Zinc in Nob Hill.
Zinc will serve a three-course, $60-a-person dinner at 5 and 7:30 p.m., with a solo guitarist, before the Dracup show.
Party favors and a champagne toast are planned at midnight. The cover charge is $10, unless you paid for dinner.
If midnight is pushing it for you, Kelly's Brewery is doing "Times Square on Nob Hill.
" The Incredible Woodpeckers will play classic rock and blues from 6-10 p.m., when champagne glasses will be raised - midnight on the East Coast.
Food will be served from Kelly's regular menu. There's no cover charge and no reservations needed.
The popular rock band the Dirty Novels is booked at Burt's Tiki Lounge Downtown, starting at 10 p.
m. No cover charge.
The Eric McFadden Trio and Anesthesia will play alternative rock starting at 9 p.
m. at the Launchpad. Cover charge is $10.
The Caravan East features two bands, the Asphalt Cowboys, playing country, and Bandalegre, playing Spanish, alternating on stage every 45 minutes from 5:30 p.m. through midnight.
The Caravan offers a buffet from 5-7 p.m. and a breakfast buffet after midnight.
Manager Al Avery says there will be balloons and a free champagne toast. Admission is $16 a person. "There will be a lot of people," Avery says.
"We have a big dance floor."
Patrick Candelaria headlines two shows at Laffs Comedy Club. The first is smoke-free and runs 8-10 p.
m., with champagne. The second is from 10:30 p.
m. to 12:30 a.m.
and includes party favors, balloon drop and midnight champagne toast. The cost is $16.95-$26.
95.
Al Hurricane, Al Hurricane Jr. and Baby Gaby play Latin rock at Isleta Casino Resort at 8 p.
m. for $30.
Sparx and Lorenzo Antonio headline a Latin-flavored show and dance at Sandia Resort Casino, costing $65-$90.
The Sol Arts Performance Space in East Downtown plans a variety show including live music, original film, jugglers, magicians, fire-eaters, dancing bears and underwater contortionists. 8 and 10 p.m.
$5.
The bands Hollis Wake and Chronic Obsession play at Downtown's the District Bar and Grill. The club will be open from 5 p.
m. to 2 a.m.
and plans drink specials and giveaways. The District also offers a $50 discount on a room at the nearby Hyatt Regency.
The Barley Room in the Northeast Heights plans a prime rib dinner costing about $20, music by Harvey and the Prowlers and a champagne toast at midnight.
No cover, no reservations.
Aladocious, a funk group, and the Minnie Gonzales Band play at the Blue Dragon at 1517 Girard Blvd. N.
E. The restaurant will be decorated for New Year's, and it will serve food from its regular menu until 11 p.m.
Music is from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.
m. No cover charge, no reservations.
The Uptown Sports Bar and Grill has music by the band Flashback, and a champagne toast at midnight.
No cover, no reservations.
The Doubletree Hotel Downtown offers prix fixe dinners at its La Cascada restaurant for about $60 a person. A room and dinner for two is $209.
The R B band Down Beat plays in the Bistro Bar from 9 p.m. to 1 a.
m.
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