[ Features Index | San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]

MVPs and VIPs: Alfie Dreifuss and his MVP Orchestra headline a New Year's Eve party that's part of a gala package at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. Millennium Again Get ready for a festive do-over as the millennium begins--for real this time THE YEAR 2000 came and is almost gone, and without so much as a hint of the apocalypse (unless you count a certain recent election). Although last New Year's got the hype--and the worry--as sticklers for numbers will tell you, the turn of the millennium actually isn't until midnight on Dec 31, 2000. So in 10 days, we get to ring in the new millennium all over again, and this time it's official. With Y2K disaster fears a distant memory, the celebrations can begin in earnest. Here are a few ideas from around the Bay Area to help get the party-planning started. South Bay/Peninsula The Fairmont's New Year's Eve Gala With Alfie Dreifuss and his MVP Orchestra performing a mix of soul, funk, swing, R&B, Latin and jazz music. Dec 31. $1,000 package for two includes a two-night stay, six-course gourmet dinner, French champagne basket and more. Fairmont Hotel, 170 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.998.3962. Flogging Molly With Krenshaw and Serrated. Dec 31, doors 8pm. $25. The Usual, 400 S. First St, San Jose, 408.535.0330. Fontaine's Muse and the Y-Fronts Dec 31. call for reservations. King's Head Pub, 201 Orchard City Dr, Campbell, 408.871.2499. John Wedemeyer and W.H.A.T. Dec 31. Bathtub Gin and Blues, 1131 Lawrence Expwy, Sunnyvale, 408.734.2500. Karaoke New Year's Party Dec 31. Britannia Arms Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expwy, San Jose, 408.266.0550. Little John Chrisley Dec 31. Hats, horns and champagne at midnight. $12. JJ's Blues. 3439 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose 408.243.6441. Mystery DInner Theater Fixed-price package includes four-course dinner, mystery theater performance, champagne toast and cards for video games. Dec 31, doors at 7pm. $130 per couple plus tax and tip. Reservations required. Dave & Buster's, 940 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas 408.957.9215. New Year's Eve Concert End the year with this Vietnamese cultural concert. Dec 31, 3pm. $30-$150. Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose, Downtown, San Jose, 408.947.7517. New Year's Eve Dinner and Gospel Showcase Hosted by Dr. Don of The KMEL World Hits Gospel Show. Featuring Pamela Bluford, Faith to Faith, Sedric Deon, New Vibe, and Charity Youngblood. Dec 31, 6-8pm (dinner), 8:30pm (showcase). $75. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 467 N. White Rd, San Jose, 209.833.4292. New Year's Eve Gala Dec 31, 8pm, 10:30pm. $40 8:00 show/$45 10:30 show. Rooster T. Feathers, 157 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, 408.736.0921. New Year's Eve Party With the Gents. Dec 31. Mountain Charley's, 15 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos, 408.395.8880. New Year's Eve Party Dec 31. $8. Boswell's, 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell, 408.371.4404. New Year's Eve Party Dec 31. Los Altos Bar and Grill, 169 Main St, Los Altos, 650.948.4332. New Year's With the Megatones Dec 31. $10. British Bankers Club, 1090 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 650.327.8769. Post St. New Year's Eve 2000 Party Two outdoor stages and an indoor stage will showcase the best live '70s R&B and reggae bands, as well as house and rave DJs. Dec 31. $15 advance/$20 door. Waves Smokehouse & Saloon, 65 Post St, San Jose, 408.885.9283. Quetzal With DJ Carlos and special guests. Dec 31. Doors at 8:30pm. $20 doors/$15 adv. Fuel, 44 Almaden Ave, San Jose 408.295.7374. Radio Disney Noon Year's Eve Party Extravaganza This event will include music, games and prizes from Radio Disney KMKY-AM 1310. Dec 31, 10am-noon (ticketed event), noon-6pm (free event). call for ticket prices. San Jose McEnery Convention Center, 150 W. San Carlos St, San Jose, 408.277.3177. The Sliders With John Davis and Doug Mancini. Dec 31, 10pm. Stoddard's Brewhouse & Eatery, 111 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale, 408.733.7824. San Francisco/East Bay 16th Annual Japanese New Year's Bell Ringing Visitors are invited to participate in the Japanese New Year's bell ringing ceremony by striking a 2,100-pound 16th-century bronze bell. Dec 31, 11am. free with museum admission. Asian Art Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415.379.8801. Black Comedy Explosion With D.L. Hughley. Dec 31, 7:30pm. $55.50 reserved/$47.50 general. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, 408.998.TIXS. Comedy Countdown With Sue Murphy, Scott Capurro and Matt Weinhold. Dec 31, 9:30pm. $50. Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon St, San Francisco, 408.998.TIXS. Galactic With Ozomatli. Dec 31, 8pm. $75/$50 balcony. The Warfield, 982 Market St, San Francisco, 415.421.TIXS. Good Morning 2001 Executive chef Dubray and Terrace chef Tim Horrock will prepare a festive New Year's Day Jazz Brunch in the Terrace. Mon, 9am-3pm. $75 adults/$35 children. Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton at California St, San Francisco, 415.296.7465. Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade Sat, doors 8pm; show 9pm, Dec 31, 9pm. $45. The Fillmore, 1805 Geary at Fillmore, San Francisco, 415.421.TIXS. Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly. Dec 31, 11pm. $85/$55. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, 408.998.TIXS. Midlife Gay Men's New Year's Eve Party Bring your own champagne for midnight. Dec 31, 9pm-12:30am. $10 donation. Ellard Hall, 100 Diamond St at 18th St, San Francisco, 415.430.2162 x1385. New Year's Eve New Year's festivities at the Ritz-Carlton will consist of a cocktail reception, a five-course champagne dinner and dancing. Dec 31, 7-9pm (dinner), 9pm-1am (dancing). $450 champagne dinner/$475 dinner and dance celebration. Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton at California St, San Francisco, 415.296.7465. New Year's Eve Party with the Gypsy Moth Band Dec 31. Foxes, 171 W. Tennyson Rd, Hayward, 510.887.5866. New Year's Eve 2000 With the Mad Hannans. Dec 31. Rancho Nicasio, 1 Old Rancherio Road, Nicasio, 415.662.2219. The Other Ones With George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic and the Steve Kimock Band. Dec 31, 7pm. $66. Oakland Arena, Oakland, 408.998.2277. Phil Lesh & Friends With Warren Haynes and Matt Abts of Gov't Mule. Dec 31, 7pm. $40. Henry J. Kaiser Arena, Tenth and Fallon streets, Oakland, 408.998.2277. The Reverend Horton Heat With the New Morty Show. Dec 31, doors 8pm. $50. Maritime Hall, 450 Harrison St, San Francisco, 415.974.0634. SFNYE Superior Bash 2000 With Macy Gray, Basement Jaxx, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Vivendo de Pao, the Cheeseballs, Tainted Love and Bay Area DJs. Themed rooms, laser shows, exotic dancers, balloon drops and a midnight surprise are included in the celebration. Dec 31, 9pm. $70. Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 747 Howard, San Francisco, 408.998.2277. Starry Plough New Year's Eve With 86, Nickel Beer Riot and the 10 Foot 5. Dec 31. $7. Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, 510.841.2082. Santa Cruz County and Down the Coast First Night More than 25 venues participate in art events and performances throughout downtown Santa Cruz. Dec 31. $6-$12 adv/$6-$17 doors. www.firstnightsc.com or 831.425.7277. Superbooty Dec 31, doors 8pm; show 9pm. $35/$40. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.1336. Candye Kane A New Year's Eve bash with the blues diva. Dec. 31, 9:30pm. $15. Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz; 831.479.1854. Fiesta Disco Sandy Shore Productions throws a Latin-theme party featuring flamenco with Cerro Negro, Disco Inferno 3, a Mexican buffet and late-night taco bar. Dec. 31, 8pm-1am. $95. El Palomar, 724 Abrego St, Monterey; 831.649.1223. The Firebirds Lobster dinner and all the fixin's followed by rock & roll at 9pm. Dec 31, 7pm. $40. Henfling's Tavern, 9450 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond; 831.335.1642. First Night Monterey Monterey's annual celebration features dozens of musical, dance, art and theater performances downtown. Dec 31, 2pm-midnight. $8-$15. Downtown Monterey; 831.373.4778. Mutha Ship A lively, funky dance party. Dec. 31, 9:30pm. $10. Crow's Nest, Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor, Santa Cruz; 831.476.4560. New Year's Eve The year's dinner/dance gala, "Ports of the USA," features music by '50s band Sha-Boom and Caribbean dance band Broken English. A gourmet buffet, midnight countdown and balloon-drop round out the festivities. Dec 31, 7:30pm-1:30am. $79-$129. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz; 831.423.2053. Trout Farm Inn A private table for the evening includes a three-course meal, dancing to Something Else, and a champagne toast to the New Year. Dec. 31. $39.95 per person. Trout Farm, 7701 E. Zayante Rd, Felton; 831.335.4317. Quicksilver Messenger Service New Year's celebration options include an overnighter ($260/couple), a dinner/dance party ($120/couple) or just the dancing ($18-$29). Dec 31, 9pm. Brookdale Lodge, 11570 Hwy 9, Brookdale; 831.338.7633. Youth Dance Venue A special First Night event for the young and the restless, with DJ Dao, Sneaky Creekans, Lonely Kings, Alysha and Sweet Heat Motion-Pacific Hip-Hop Dancers. Dec. 31, 7-11pm. $6. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium; 831.425.7277. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]