NEW YEAR'S EVE 2000: Cleveland's Choices

[Erock2000]

Hey all. Erick here in Cleveland OH USA.

It's that wonderful time of year again...and I definitely do NOT mean Christmas! The last holiday of 2000 is at hand, so what is there to do in the New American City (http://www.cleveland.oh.us)?

PLENTY! For any Manhattanite, Angeleno, Chicagoan, MiamiDader or anyone anywhere with a loss for where to go on the 31st, here's some North Coast ideas:

1. RENAISSANCE CLEVELAND HOTEL: The City's flagship hotel celebrates its most grand & glorious (and always sold-out) tradition. A collection of Celebration Packages designed to create an evening of sensational style include dinner, dancing, noisemakers, the Midnight balloon drop & champagne toast, deluxe accomodations and a New Year's Day brunch. Packages start at $346. Call Susan Miller at 216-902-4109, or go to http://www.renaissancehotels.com.

2. SHERATON CITY CENTER: A relatively new tradition begun at the end of our City's Anniversary Bicentennial in 1996, the Sheraton Cleveland City Centre Hotel offers an alternative for those without a Renaissance budget. The fourth annual affair features dinner, Midnight champagne toast, entertainment, deluxe accomodations, a New Year's Day brunch, and a 3PM checkout. Call 216-771-7600 or 1-800-325-3535 or log onto http://www.sheraton.com.

3. HISTORIC WAREHOUSE DISTRICT (http://www.warehousedistrict.org)

A. FUNKY BUDDHA: The newest nightclub on America's North Coast is preparing the biggest party of the <A HREF="http://www.clubplanet.com/newyearseve/">new year</a> . Champagne toast at Midnight and party favors. $40 per person. 216-776-7777 or http://www.funkybuddhabar.com.

B. SPY: Only the beautiful people should try for a highly-coveted ticket to "Caligua," a tribute to ancient Rome hosted by Jason Sabo with music from E-mas. Individual tickets are $50. Talk to Nicole Giglio at 216-621-7907 or email her at thespybar@aol.com.

C. WISH: DJ Sammy-O returns from MiamiDade's South Beach to preside over the third annual gala with an open bar, party favors, a hors d'oeurve & dessert buffet, and the famous Midnight light & laser show, all starting at 8:00PM. 21 & over. 216-902-WISH or http://www.wishnightclub.com.

D. THE MERCURY LOUNGE: Ted Sahley & Jeffrey Allison host this elegantly upscale carriage trade parlor's very first NYE celebration this is limited to 150 guests. It will feature music from uptempo lounge crown prince HRH MIKE FILLY, plus a dinner buffet at 8:00PM, the Midnight champagne toast couresty of Perrier Jouet, and a breakfast buffet at 2:00AM. $45 per person. 216-566-8840 or http://www.themercurylounge.com.

E. THAT GROOVEE LITTLE NIGHTCLUB: "Dance 2001" is the theme for the third annual gala featuring party favors, hors d'oeurves, a Midnight champagne toast, Grande Dame Robin Harris at the turntables and a gift-filled Midnight ballon drop. $25 advance. Call 216-696-5355 for reservations.

F. THE METROPOLITAN CAFE: Located at West Sixth Street & West Saint Clair Avenue, the New American City's newest warehouse restaurant features a decor hinting of MiamiDade's decadently glitzy Historic South Beach. Packages for New Year's Eve start at 2:30PM, with Robert Sherwood, the City's immortal elder stateman of electronica, starting the music at 10:00PM sharp. Call 216-241-1300.

3. FAT FISH BLUE: The third annual New Year's Eve celebration at this bayou-inspired spot features a Motown revue with Lady Sunshine & the Band of Metro Detroit, plus valet parking, an OPEN BAR, all-night bottomless buffet, desserts and the Midnight champagne toast. $99 per person or $190 per couple. 216-875-6000 ot http://www.fatfishblue.com.

4. THE FLATS (http://www.voiceoftheflats.org)

A. METROPOLIS: The weekly celebration of music known as "The Church" evolves into a New Year's EVe of the City's finest spinsters, starring technomaster IAN MARIANO & house lord ROB BLACK, plus Tigger, Tik Tak, Kid Velocity, DJ Joseph, DJ Wishr and Still Life--all starting at 9:00PM. Five fully-stocked bars and two rooms of sound & lights. 18 & over (photo ID required). 216-241-4007.

B. ROCK BOTTOM BREWERY: Starting at 8:00PM, an exclusive dinner buffet, appetizers, desserts, an OPEN BAR, DJ & dancing, and the tradtional Midnight balloon drop & champagne toast highlight the evening. $125 per person, $200 per couple. 216-623-1556; ask for Suzanne. Group discounts are available. NOTE: Mention their ad in the Cleveland Free Times and save $25!

C. ODEON CONCERT CLUB: New Year's Eve Weekend begins on Friday 29 Dec with Cyde, Mialso and Suspect headlining the annual "Mid-Winter's Night Groove" presented by Grooveyard Studios at 9:00PM. $5 advance. Sat 30 Dec is the annual year-end concert from Cleveland's own Michael Stanley & Friends with special guest Sinomatic, presented by 98.5FM WNCX at 8:00PM. The main event is "Put-In-Palooza" at 8:00PM Sun 31 Dec with Mike "Mad Dog" Adams, Bob Gatewood & Calabash and Ray Fogg & the Swingin' Lesbian Frogs. Tickets: 216-241-5555, 330-945-9400, all Ticketmaster outlets or http://www.theodeon.com.

D. FADO IRISH PUB: This Irish pub chain's Cleveland location opens at 6:00PM with NO COVER (!) and features $2.50 pints to 8:00PM and live music by Zoo Station starting at 9:00PM. 216-771-0066 or http://www.fadoirishpub.com.

E. JIMMY'S: No gimmicks here--just a damn good time are part of Jimmy's 15th annual New Year's Eve night, one of the City's wildest and loudest. Doors open at 5:00PM, with complimentary party favors & champagne splits and the Midnight balloon drop. 216-566-1460.

F. DICK'S LAST RESORT: Steel Pulse is the entertainment for the evening at the one place totruly get "Dicked." The NYE 2001 package includes a full dinner, hors d'oeurves, dessert, champagne, party favors & noisemakers, all at $26 per person. 216-241-1234 or http://www.dickslastresort.com.

G. NAUTICA QUEEN: At 8:00PM, the popular luxury cruise ship takes one final trip along Lake Erie & the Cuyahoga River for 2000, to return on Easter 2001. New this year, hotel packages with the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites are available. Call 216-696-8888 or visit http://www.nauticaqueen.com to make reservations.

5. FIRST NIGHT AKRON 2001: The Rubber/Polymer Capital of the World and home of the National Inventors Hall of Fame throws its fifth annual family-oriented, booze-free celebration of the arts on Main Street from the Akron Centre Superbolc to Canal Place, with help from the Akron Beacon Journal, the City of Akron and Omnova Solutions, Inc. A $10 First Night Button serves as admission to the gala, which starts at 5:00PM and features a Pied Piper Procession and two sets of fireworks--one for the kids at 8:30PM and the other at 11:30PM. Children nine years and younger are free with a button-clad adult. For more information call 330-762-8568 or visit http://www.downtownakron.com.

For more events, be sure to check http://www.travelcleveland.com.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT LIKE ANY NEW YEARS' EVE, TICKETS TO ALL VENUES LISTED ABOVE ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED AND GOING FAST; THEREFORE ADVANCE PURCHASE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

Happy New Year!

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Erick Adam "E-rock" Sanders