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Party Like It's 1999 Still don't have plans for Y2K New Year's Eve? There's plenty left to do, and the list keeps growing. FOR SOME, ringing in this momentous New Year's Eve presents a no-brainer: pack a bag and head off to swill champagne in a glamorous locale, or pack up the kids, the dog and the canned food and hole up in the basement. But whether the dawn of the new millennium is the end of the world, a technological headache, the perfect excuse to party or just plain wrong (hey, technically it won't be the 21st century until 2001), Y2K presents a reason to do something special this New Year's, and who are we to quibble over technicalities when there's so much fun to be had? Local party plans are just getting started, and so for the many of us who aren't thinking of jetting off to Paris or stockpiling for the apocalypse, here's a few ideas on how the Bay Area is planning to ring in 2000, just to get the celebration planning started. Keep in mind, right now the list of events is selective; as the day of reckoning draws closer, this list will keep growing. Metro will be sure to feature updates. The Big Bang Carnaval-style entertainment, live music, buffet dinner, champagne and a giant clock floating on the bay. Dec 31, 8pm. $175. Sausalito shoreline. 415.332.9453, www.antenna.org. Blues Extravaganza W/John Lee Hooker and the Coast to Coast Blues Band, KVHW, the Derek Trucks Band and more. $100. Dec 31. Maritime Hall, 450 Harrison St, San Francisco 415.974.0634. Coco Montoya Call for reservations. Dec 31. Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 831.479.1854. Cocoanut Grove Live music and dancing with Sha-Boom, Robin Anderson Big Band, Ruby Rudman and Broken English. Gourmet dinner and arcade and casino games. Dessert buffet. Dec 31. $149 dinner and dance/$99 dance and dessert buffet only. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz. 831.423.2053. Comedy Countdown 2000 With Bobby Slayton, Robert Schimmel, Robert Hawkins and music by the Swingin' Johnsons. Dec 31 at 7 and 9:30pm. $37.50 early show/$50 late show. Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon St, San Francisco 408.998.BASS. Dance of the Deer Ceremony Brant Secunda will lead a seminar to celebrate the new year. Learn about Huichol Indian traditions. Call for more information. Dec 29-Jan 2. Clear Lake, 831.475.9560. First Night Monterey The alcohol-free family event features a gospel choir, an opera chorus, Mexican folk dancers, poets, actors and clowns. $10 admission button/ages 5 and younger free. Go to www.firstnightmonterey.org for more information. Dec 31. Streets of downtown Monterey 831.373.4778. George Lopez/Carlos Mencia Dec 31, 9:30pm. $45/$35. San Jose Center for Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd, San Jose. BASS. Hotel Casablanca Featuring Hot Town Jubilee, a piano lounge and a casino. Room packages available. Dec 31, 8pm-2am. Tickets start at $99/room packages start at $525. Hotel De Anza's Hedley Club, 233 W. Santa Clara St, San Jose. 408.286.1000. Planet New Year 2000 Musical performances, carnival attractions, food, speakers, tattoo artists, alcohol lounges for those 21 and up, and more. Dec 31, 7pm-7am. Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd, San Jose. Post Street New Year's Eve A rave and live music showcase featuring indoor and outdoor stages. Music by Tropical Vibrations and Jah Men and DJs John Howard, Jeno, M3 and Spinbad. Dec 31, 6pm-1am. $20 door/$15 adv. Post Street in downtown San Jose 408.885.9283, www.PostSt.com. Ring in the Millennium Hosted cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception, dinner, dancing with A Touch of Class and a toast. Also, a champagne brunch on New Year's Day. Call for reservations. Hyatt San Jose, 1740 N. First St, San Jose 877.745.9288. SFNYE Superior Bash San Francisco New Year's Eve party. Dec 31, 8pm. $75 advance. Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 747 Howard, San Francisco 408.998.BASS. SFS Millennium Gala Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Broadway star Audra McDonald, opera diva Frederica von Stade and the San Francisco Symphony. Dec 31, dinner, 6pm; pre-concert festivities, 8pm; gala concert, 9pm; post-concert party, 11pm-1:30am with special midnight balloon drop and fireworks. $100-$320 includes concert and pre- and post-concert festivities/$1,500 per person for the gala dinner package. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco 415.864.6000. Swing 2000 Dinner and dance party aboard the USS Hornet. Featuring a salute to the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, reception, gourmet buffet dinner, wine, champagne toast and commemorative glass and party favors. Dec 31, 7pm. $300 general reserved seating/$400 dance floor reserved seating. Hotel accommodations and free shuttle service available from the Executive Inn (510.536.6633) or the Oakland Marriott (510.451.4000). Y2K New Year's Eve Ball Balloon drop, complimentary champagne toast, a breakfast buffet and party favors. Ages 18-20, $25/21+, $20. Doors 8pm. Dec 31. The Edge, 260 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.324.EDGE. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]