Gunning for ‘007

Looking for some last-minute ideas to ring in the New Year? Here is a sampling of what is out there.

FAMILY FUN:
If you are looking to celebrate with the whole family, try one of these options.
A few years ago the community of Cadillac started First Night as a way to celebrate New Years Eve through the arts. Built around the philosophy of creating an experience for the appreciation of the local arts, First Night organizers say the event: “Cultivates a sense of community, is affordable and accessible to all, brings families of the community together and helps with the revitalization of downtown Cadillac while fostering the public’s appreciation of the visual and performing arts.”
The day is loaded with activities, starting with the annual “Click”—a community photo—at the Wexford County Historical Museum. The day continues with a “Word Puzzle Scramble” to coincide with First Night’s focus on the Literary Arts this year. Enjoy music while searching for clues through downtown. Music featuring several local and regional performers continues into the evening.
There are lots of activities for kids, from a petting zoo to the popular castle bounce inflatable and opportunities to experience dog sledding. For teens there is a dance, rock climbing and teen focused inflatable games. For additional details: www.firstnightcadillac.com.
Other great family options include Avalanche Bay at Boyne USA Mountain Grand Lodge. Get started early as the park opens at 9 a.m. and will stay open til 1 am. Activities include surfing demonstrations, Super G Slide Snowball race, face painting, arts & crafts and music with a DJ from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. For additional details on this and other New Years Eve offerings at Boyne (skiing, a great dinner buffet and the Post Bar party) visit www.boynemountain.com
At the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa they have several parties planned. So while the parents are shaking their booty in the Trillium, the kids may attend the Children’s New Year’s Eve Bash. For 6-12 year olds, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., the night will feature a variety of activities including swimming, crafts, pizza party/snacks, DJ dance and games, midnight balloon drop, and carnival games and challenges. Parents may drop off and pick up their children at the Activities Desk in the Resort’s Health Club. Reservations are required additional details on this and the adult offerings visit www.grandtraverseresort.com. A similar party is offered at Shanty Creek with a Rock Around the Clock theme for teens and Soul Express playing for adults at Ivan’s on the Mountain.

JUST DINNER:
If your idea of celebrating New Years Eve is going out for a nice meal and then home and asleep by 10 p.m., try one of these options. Don’t wait to make your reservation; the Just Dinner option has become very popular in recent years.
Virtually every restaurant of note is offering some kind of deal for New Years, be it a buffet or pride-of-the-house specialty. Too many to list here. Call your favorite eatery to see what they are offering or consider one of these options:
Tucked away on Leelanau Peninsula The Homestead offers skiing with stunning views of Lake Michigan and their New Year’s Table d’hote has been fantastic in previous years.
Check out samuel’s of Suttons Bay’s four-course New Years Eve dinner that features table side appetizers, Chef Tim’s handcrafted soup and local sparkling from L. Mawby. Choose from several entrée selections including lobster tail, filet mignon and rack of lamb. Be sure to save room for their famous chocolate soufflé that comes with the dinner package.
North of Petoskey in the small community of Brutus is the Hidden River Golf and Casting Club and home of the Rainbow Room. They are offering two seating options for their Grand Buffet. The early seating is geared for those wanting to get home early; the later seating includes entertainment from Mike Moran and a midnight celebration.
Northern Lights Recreation in Harbor Springs offers dinner and dancing with a king crab and prime rib buffet and music by The Push. The same is true for 310 and the Firefly in TC, featuring the upscale blues rock of Laith Al-Saadi.
CASINOS
Area casinos offer a blend of gaming, dining and entertainment. In Petoskey, Victories Casino & Hotel offers an “Around the World” theme this year, drawing 55 winners for cash and prizes. Leelanau Sands and Turtle Creek feature a 007 theme with $2,007 cash prizes at both casinos along with dining specials and music (be sure to get your martini “shaken, not stirred”). In the U.P., Kewadin Casinos plan to give away up to $70,000 in cash between their five locations, and will also offer a big king crab and shrimp buffet.

ROCKIN’ & DANCIN’
Music is a must for most and Northern Michigan offers over 100 music and dancing options to ring in 2007. For additional choices check on the Nitelife and Hot Dates sections.
Kenny Olson and his band The Flask have big plans in 2007 and they kick it all off with a rock and roll New Year’s Eve jam at Union Street Station in Traverse City. The former lead guitarist with Kid Rock recently signed a label deal and will be touring the United States in the New Year.
If you prefer to get funky, then head to the Loading Dock in Traverse City for Rootstand and their blend of reggae, blues and folk.
For those into the blues, check out Bacon & Eggs at The Big Eazy in TC. The band has just released an album, “Out of Touch,” so the evening will also be a CD release party.
Popular, hometown heroes, Mudbugz are playing at the City Park Grille in Petoskey. The band has caught the current craze for the zydeco-Cajun sound with blues and pop flavors to churn the dance floor.
Like swing dancing? At the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa in Boyne Falls, you’ll find the Epsilon Jass Bandand New Reformation Jazz Band for swingin’ sounds. Meanwhile, Grand Traverse Resort offers the country sounds of Heartland and the rock of Kung Fu Diesel.
Streeters Ground Zero Nightclubhas a great concept. Their pay one price for three party options offers attendees the flexibility to float between the high-energy funk sounds of T Money Green to Top 40 rock performed by 3 Thumbs Up to hip-hop sounds from live DJs.
He didn’t disappear as long as Bob Seger did but Don Swan has been absent from the local music scene for more than a year. The raspy voiced Swan returns to the stage with Don Swan & Company at the Riverwalk in Elk Rapids. Papa Lou’s in Petoskey brings back favorite DJ Bill da Cat for a dance party downtown; Shorts Brewing in Bellaire offers an acoustic dance rock party with Breathe Owl Breathe; the Sleepy Bear in Honor kicks out the jams with a no-cover party with Carbon, John D. Lamb parties at The Pier in Harbor Springs, and Frogchild rocks the Boyne City Sportsmans Bar. For the full list, check out the Express Nightlife page.

Regardless of how you decide to celebrate the transition into ‘007, remember to be safe. Use a designated driver. Most places hosting parties offer specials for designated drivers. If you find yourself out and in need of ride home, check into the Alert Cab program. Sponsored by H. Cox & Sons (Budweiser Distributor) this program provides complimentary cab rides home. Check with your local club if they are participating.

Happy New Year.

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