happy new year! - EU Jacksonville

Celebrate New Year’s in a Hotel
Most every hotel with a restaurant and bar will be holding some kind of New Year’s bash, get a room
so you can just trundle up to bed after getting completely snockered. The beaches have a myriad of bar/hotel
options. Here’s just two of the places you can go in Ponte Verdra, St. Augstine and Amelia Island:
At the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, you can take in New Year’s Eve at their Glacial Gala at the Polar Bar
featuring a martini ice luge. Take a walk in the ice garden, enjoy live music, dancing, extravagant buffet, open
bar, complimentary champagne and midnight fireworks. Cost is $175 per person. There are also packages
that include rooms. Call (904) 277-1028 for info.
SwingIn’ the New Year 2007. Popular ‘60s
band The Swingin’ Medallions will return to Northeast
out of town
See the Tybee Beach Fireworks at the
Tybee Island Pier in Georgia on the corner of
Tybrisa St. & Strand Ave. Fireworks will launch
at midnight to celebrate the New Year. Come
early to capture that perfect spot in the sand.
Free parking. Earlier in the day you can take the
Polar Bear Plunge, meeting at 9AM to take a
plunge into the icy Atlantic precisely at Noon.
Last year over 3,000 people participated some
in costumes, even a wedding dress or two.
18 december 28-january 3, 2006 | entertaining u newspaper
Florida to again perform at the big New Year’s Eve
bash at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village
in St. Augustine. Famous for such classics as the million-selling
“Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love)” and
“Hey, Hey, Baby”, The Swingin’ Medallions are known
for their impressive stage shows, and are often
called “The Party Band of the South.” The “SwingIn’
the New Year 2007” festivities will be on Sunday,
December 31, 2006 in the resort’s St. Augustine
Ballroom. The Renaissance Resort is offering several
New Year’s Eve packages. “The Party Package” is
$125 per person (plus tax), and it includes admission
to the party, a four-course buffet dinner, an open bar
throughout the evening, champagne toast at mid-
night, party favors, a huge balloon drop, and a “Resolution Breakfast” after midnight. Other packages include
deluxe accommodations for one or two nights as well as golf packages. For reservations, or for information
on any of the packages, call (904) 940-8000 or (888) 740-7020, or visit www. WorldGolfRenaissance.com.
You can party, eat fabulous food or both at the Marriot Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra. Packages run from
$49-$99. Choose from two venues within the hotel. There will be a Vegas style casino for entertainment as
well as live acts and all the usual drinks and favors. (904) 285-7777.
New Years Eve Eats
You’ll need to make a reservation at any of these restaurants for New Year’s Eve. Call quickly because they fill
up fast. All the costs don’t include tax or gratuity.
The Grape (904) 642-7111 and Simon’s (904) 396-8088 are both wine bars that will feature a great
spread for New Year’s Eve. Call for reservations, they are both filling up fast. The Grape will have a six course
wine dinner at $100 a person, including a champagne toast. Simons will have a multiple course dinner paired
with wine and a midnight toast as well.
If you’re heading for an Irish pub keep in mind that most of them celebrate New Year’s twice. Once at
7PM, when Ireland rings in the New Year, and once at Midnight. Fionn MacCools VIP package will include an
open bar and a three course meal at $100 per person. Don’t Tell Amy will be the live entertainment from 9PM
on. Culhane’s will have two seatings, one at 7PM and one at 9PM for $60 a person. Expect a sumptuous set
menu.
The Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant (904) 270-0025 will be holding a Greek themed New Year’s with
Club/Pub Crawl in
style
River City Social & Travel Club’s Annual New
Year’s Eve Pub Crawl can help you bar hop in
three different neighborhoods (The Beaches,
Southside and Orange Park) without getting a
DUI. Starting at one of four stops in each area,
you will be transported via bus to a different
pub, bar or restaurant every hour until arriving
at your last destination, located at or near your
starting hotel/bar, in time for your champagne
toast to ring in the new year. The cost is only
$39.95 if purchased NOW and $49.95 shortly,
pending availability. They highly recommend
you get a room, and to make it even easier
by arranging for reduced rates at various area
hotels. Go to http://www.rivercityclub.com/
for more information or call (904) 505-4746.
music from Greek Wave. Leg of lamb, whole roasted
snapper, baklava and a chocolate fountain are the
main attractions. The cost is $100 per person.
There’s going to be a great party at the Beaches
Woman’s Club at 2nd Avenue North and Penman
Road for New Year’s Eve. It will be catered by JJ’s
Bistro of Ponte Vedra and for an evening with Rod
Stewart Tribute Artist Kenny Holliday. There will be
a complimentary Champagne Toast at midnight. The
proceeds of the evening will go to benefit Make A
Wish foundation to finish off their Children Of Light
campaign. Please come out and celebrate this great
cause. Tickets are $65.00/each. If you wish to
purchase a ticket; please call Donna LeTellier at 537-
1629 to reserve.
New Year’s Eve,
Theater style
Take in New Year’s at the “Pelican Club” for a
trip down memory lane to the nightclub era, the 20’s
thru the 40’s. The show starts at 8:30pm - 1:00 am
at Players By The Sea Tickets are $50.00 in advance
Limited VIP seating available ON THE STAGE! Table
for 2 including a bottle of Champagne is $150.00 Martini Bar, Beer, Wine, after show hor doerves and sodas
included.
Not everyone lives to see the new year when Murder Mystery Players, Inc. serve up hearty laughs with a
special New Year’s Eve at Dave & Buster’s. This fun-filled, interactive, murder mystery includes dinner as well
as the performance. The evening begins at 8:00pm. Audience members have a chance to win prizes and decide
who did what to whom. New Year’s Eve will never be the same as guests enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres, a chefcrafted
four-course meal, complimentary power card, champagne toast, midnight celebration, and a hilarious
mystery performance. The package price is $130.00 per couple + tax and gratuity. To make reservations for
this hilarious evening of murder mystery and audience participation, call Dave & Buster’s at (904) 296-1525.
Reservations are required, as seating is limited. www.mysteryplayers.com.
Get to the Comedy Zone for a night of laughs, food, drinks and dancing. A lavish buffet in GiGi’s with prime
rib and crab legs, favors, a champagne toast and comics Ronnie Bullard, Tim Statum and Al Ernst are part of
the evening. Tickets are $69.97 per person plus tax. You can also separately arrange to stay at the Ramada Inn.
(904) 268-8080
At Atlantic Theatres, this year’s theme is going to be everything 007 and feature several rooms with various
activities and screenings. Music will be provided by DJ Casey, of the Maxim national tour, local celebrity DJ
Kevin Durgin and DJ Infader. Jon’Ra will headline a special live musical performance later in the evening.
Food, valet parking, and a complimentary champagne toast will be included. Tickets:$50 for General / $90
each for VIP. Atlantic Theatres, 751 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach - 8 pm Info: 249.PLAY (7529) or info@
atlantictheatres.com.
other Bashes and Entertainment
BEACH BLAST OFF 2007 IN ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH
There won’t be another place you’ll rather be than St. Augustine Beach to kick off another great year! Enjoy
a blast of flavor, icy sculptures and fireworks when several St. Augustine favorite restaurants serve up chili
recipes for tasting and judging at the Fire and Ice Chili Cook-off from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. While tasting these
fiery delights, enjoy the icy art of professional ice sculptor, Mike Riesmeyer. After things cool off from the
chili – the Fireworks begin at 7:30 p.m. This display will stun visitors and help usher in the New Year! Sunday,
Dec. 31, 2006, St. Johns County Fishing Pier and Pavilion