Haven’t made plans yet for New Year’s Eve? It’s time to get crackin’! Here are some options for you lollygaggers (check Clubland for complete listings):
• Akumi (28 Wall St.; 236-2577): The sake will be flowing all night long (or at least until 2 a.m.). A DJ will spin dance music and there’s no cover.
• Barley’s Tap Room (42 Biltmore Ave.; 255-0504): The house will be rockin’ with music from The Royal We. Champagne toast at midnight and no cover.
• Bier Garden (46 Haywood St.; 285-0002): The usual party, just amped up a notch. Mmmm … beer …
• Broadway’s (107 N. Lexington Ave.; 285-0400): They’ll still be “partyin’ like it’s 1999” with ’80s dance music at Broadway’s. “It’s guaranteed that at least one person will vomit and I’ll have to clean it up,” one of the beefcakes stationed at the door recently promised. $3 for guests after midnight.
• Decades at Best Western (22 Woodfin St.; 253-1851): Dance party with Sound Extreme DJs. Fill up at the hors d’oeuvres buffet from 7-9 p.m. Admission is $35 before 9 p.m., $15 after. Or purchase a package for $140, room included.
• The Emerald Lounge (112 N. Lexington Ave.; 232-4372): “We’ll have beautiful rockin’ space-grass from some of the area’s heavy hitters,” says a club representative. “Plus there’ll be lots of special guests.” Headlining after midnight will be Larry Keel Experience featuring “Big Daddy” Steve McMurry of Acoustic Syndicate, and Curtis Burch, a founding member of Newgrass Revival. The Jeremy Saunders Band will open the show.
• The Grey Eagle (185 Clingman Ave.; 232-5800): A reggae dance celebration with General Pecos, Haile Maskel, Chiwawa, Cosmic Sound System and more. Starts at 9:30 p.m.; $10 gets you in.
• Gypsy Moon Sofa Bar (13 Walnut St.; 232-4454): Dance music, party favors and a free champagne toast. No cover.
• Hairspray (38 N. French Broad Ave.; 258-2027): Female impersonators, best-dressed-couple contest with cash prize, champagne toast.
• The Hangar at the Holiday Inn (Holiday Inn Airport, Fletcher; 684-1213): Rock 104 hosts the party. A package deal includes dinner, tickets to see The Sharkadelics, party favors, a champagne toast and breakfast the next morning.
• The Handlebar (304 E. Stone Ave., Greenville, S.C.; (864) 233-6173): Southern jam rock from Sevenmore, featuring members of the Marshall Tucker Band with special guest Stickboy. Sponsored by WBZT 96.7 (“The Buzzard”). $12.50/advance, $15/door.
• Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave.; 252-5445): Sons of Ralph turn your grass blue all night. A champagne toast is provided at midnight and there’ll be a special holiday food menu offered. $10 at the door.
• Magnolia’s Raw Bar (26 Walnut St.; 251-5211): The Common Saints play danceable rock ‘n’ roll, funk and top-40 hits.
• McGuffey’s Grill and Bar (1853 Hendersonville Rd.; 277-0440): R&B dance music by Information Network. Champagne toast at midnight and cover is $3.
• O’ Henrys (237 Haywood St.; 254-1891): Still haven’t seen Cher or Madonna in concert? To see the next best thing, catch the drag cabaret starting at 11 p.m. $3 at the door.
• Scully’s (71 Walnut St.; 255-7550): Put this on your bar-hoppin’ list. No cover and no B.S.
• Station 237 (237 Haywood St.; 254-1891): DJs will crank out dance music from 12:30-3 a.m. No cover. You know you want to shake it!
• Stella Blue (31 Patton Ave.; 236-2424): Local hotties The Goodies rock the house with jazz smolder-ers Stephanie’s Id. A scorching combination. Before that, Off Centre will do an acoustic set.
• Thibodaux Jones Meantime Lounge (40 Biltmore Ave.; 225-3065): The Blues Lounge with Cary Fridley, Scott Sharpe and Woody Wood will have your toes tappin’. Pretend you’re in New Orleans, but don’t get arrested. Laws are different here, you know.
• Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues (28 Broadway; 254-7072): High-class and a lot of fun. They’ll have a band, a DJ, a tarot reader, a buffet, a balloon drop and champagne fountains. Suggested attire: garter belts and feather boas.
• Vincent’s Ear Coffee House (68 N. Lexington Ave.; 259-9119): Xopher Robin will spin early while the Sexpatriates pretty themselves for another unforgettable performance. If you’re lucky, there will be gratuitous nudity. Very gratifyingly gratuitous.
• The Watershed (207 W. State St., Black Mountain; 669-0777): Mug and the Knockers will play high-energy blues. $5 at the door.
• Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd.; 225-9782): Crooked Routes will play their off-road alt-country. $6 to see the band, or come early for dinner. $60 includes a full meal for two plus a bottle of champagne. “We had a great time last year,” says a representative.
• Vincenzo’s Bistro (10 Market St.; 254-4698): Bobby Sullivan (high-energy piano).
• Zambra (85 Walnut St.; 232-1060): Cabo Verde (Latin).
— compiled by Rebecca DeRosa
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