New Year's Eve Wednesday pops the cork on the party, and events in Jackson and beyond get the jump on 2009 with bubbly, fun, food, good tunes and good times.
Get the new year off to an arty start with a Joie de Vivre New Year's Eve presented by AT&T, 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Mississippi Museum of Art.
As a celebration for the upcoming Raoul Dufy: A Celebration of Beauty opening Feb. 7, the black-tie bash has a French theme to toast the French Fauvist painter (1877-1953) whose colorful, exuberant style stretched far beyond the frame, into fabrics and fashion.
"The museum will be transformed into a French market," says museum spokeswoman Ann Becker. "The whole feel of it is sort of an evening in old Paris." The 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. party includes cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, dancing, champagne and fireworks at midnight. The music swings from jazz standards by Renee Baldwin to a command performance of the Malemen to a late-night breakfast with music by DJ Mario. For tickets, $100 each, call (601) 960-1515 or visit www.msmuseumart.org. Raffle tickets, $10 each or $20 for three in advance, might win you luxury items throughout the evening. The museum is at 380 S. Lamar St. in Jackson.
The economy has most folks thinking 2008 bites. So you do the same to close it out and welcome a fresh start.
Creative cuisine hits a 14-year high note at Bravo's New Year's Eve: A Night to Remember, where the six-course prix fixe menu goes from foie gras and fig aspic to gnocchi and candied wild boar bacon to pork three-way to lemon pound cake and much more. Two seatings, at 6 p.m. ($70) and 9:30 p.m. ($90) can hold no more than 80 people each, for a fairly intimate dining experience. A wine flight of six menu-matched wines is an additional $45. Reservations, guaranteed with a credit card, are required; call (601) 982-8111 or e-mail valh@bravobuzz.com. The late seating includes champagne, party favors and indoor fireworks; patrons can collect their kisses by sparklerlight. Bravo is located in Highland Village in Jackson.
Sal & Mookie's makes a pitch as a New Year's Eve party place for the family, keeping its usual 9:30 p.m. closing time Wednesday for those calling it an early night. The going-out crowd can check out the takeout baby sitter special there - two pies and a pint (of ice cream). It's located at 565 Taylor St. in Jackson.
Pan-Asia's New Year's Eve Night Out offers an exotic celebration with a five-course prix fixe dinner which includes a sushi sampling and dessert. Live music is provided by the Chris Alford Quartet at 9 p.m. in the bar. Two seatings are available, one at 6 p.m. and the other at 8:30 p.m. They are $45 and $55 per person, respectively. Patrons are required to reserve their seats by calling (601) 956-2958. Pan-Asia's new location is at 720 Lake Harbour Pointe Crossing in Ridgeland.
The City of Soul New Year's Eve Gala at the Hilton promises an elegant evening to close out 2008. The event features luxury overnight accommodations, a cocktail reception, a five-course dinner with wine pairings and live music from the Dowell Taylor Jazz Orchestra. It's located at 1001 E. County Line Road in Jackson and starts at $250 per couple. Call (601) 957-2800 for details.
Nero Denaro presents NYE3, an annual New Year's event at the Mississippi TelCom Center, located at 105 Pascagoula St. in downtown Jackson. The event, for ages 21 and older, lasts from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and there will be music, dancing, food and a cash bar. Advance tickets are available at all Be-bop Records locations and cost $10. For more information, call (601) 317-6376.
Rock in the new year and a new Web site at the Metromix Official Launch Party at Club Fire in downtown Jackson. Walk down the blue carpet, hear live music from Crossin Dixon and enjoy free Bud Light long necks from 8 to 9 p.m. There will be a balloon drop and champagne at midnight. The doors open at 8 p.m. and you have to be 21 or older to attend. Admission is $20. Call (601) 592-1000 for details.
Shucker's Oyster Bar in Ridgeland invites you to enjoy the beats of the Big Daddy Band while enjoying party favors and a champagne toast. Admission is $15 per person and it begins at 8 p.m. Call (601) 853-0105 for details.
A decadent evening awaits as Elixir puckers up for Kiss 2008 Goodbye. The $60 admission (excluding tax and tip) includes champagne and a four-course meal with steak and lobster. Make reservations at (601) 981-7896. Elixir is located in LeFleur's Gallery in Jackson.
Meanwhile, Olga's Fine Dining presents a five-course gourmet dinner with live piano music. The menu features a loaded potato soup, seafood stuffed mushrooms, blackened prime rib strips and more. Two seatings, one at 6 p.m. and the other at 9 p.m., are available. The first seating is $65 and the second is $75. Prices do not include gratuity or tax. Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling (601) 366-1366. Olga's is located in Jackson next to the Habana Smoke Shoppe.
Two Rivers Restaurant hosts A Catered Affair for New Year's, with a four-course dinner, chilled champagne and live music from the Frazier Riddell Band and Shane Foshee Hobgood. Seating is at your discretion, but the kitchen closes at 10 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person plus tax and gratuity. Advance reservations are required. Call (601) 212-0016 for more information and to reserve seating.
Castlewoods Country Club in Brandon, along with Wedding by Muse, hosts a New Year's extravaganza which includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, a three-course dinner, champagne and party favors. Admission is $35; call (601) 992-1942 for reservations.
The Dance Studio, located at 665 S. Pear Orchard Road, hosts a New Year's Eve bash with special holiday prices for lessons.
Welcome the new year with a dollop of blues at Schimmel's New Year's Eve Party, featuring Jimmy King and the Central Mississippi Blues Society Band, described as "the Subway revisited." Admission is $50 for access to the hors d'ouvres buffet, table seating, champagne and the show while $25 gets the show and champagne only. It all starts at 10 p.m. Call (601) 981-7077 for details.
Philip's on the Reservoir in Ridgeland hosts a special New Year's party with a prix fixe menu featuring crab cake appetizers, a salad, a choice of three entrees and dessert. Guests also receive a complimentary glass of champagne. There are seatings at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and admission is $29.95 per person. Call (601) 856-1680 for reservations.
Ro' Chez, 204 W. Jackson St. in Ridgeland, has 6 p.m., 8 p.m and 10 p.m. seatings Wednesday for the holiday, plus blues music by Bill Abel and his cigar-box guitar at Jammin' Beignetz. It's $50 per person with a $10 corkage fee; reservations are recommended at (601) 503-8244 or rochezdining.com. Music only carries a $5 cover.
The Vicksburg Blues Society has a New Year's Eve Party at the B.B. Club, 721 Clay St. in Vicksburg, featuring Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry and Alphonso, 9 p.m. Wednesday. Admission - $50 advance, $60 at the door - includes hors d'oeuvres, party favors, a breakfast buffet at midnight and champagne toast, cash bar; e-mail shirleywaring@bellsouth.net or call (601) 634-6179 or mail check to Vicksburg Blues Society; Box 373; Vicksburg MS 39181 (payable to Vicksburg Blues Society).
City Grocery in Oxford cooks up its 17th annual New Year's Eve dinner, an eight-course affair paired with wine, port or champagne; it's one seating, $125 per person (doesn't include tax or tip); reservations are required, call (662) 232-8080. As per tradition, Wiley and the Checkmates rock the bar upstairs; call for cover.
Also in Oxford, there's the Blue Mountain with Tate Moore New Year's Eve Show at The Lyric, 1006 Van Buren Ave. The 18-and-up show is 9 p.m. Wednesday (doors open at 8), $15. For tickets online, visit www.thelyricoxford.com.
In downtown Columbus, the New Year's Eve Block Party 2008 delivers the grass roots country of Nash Street, 8 p.m. Wednesday till 12:30 a.m. Cover's only $5.
Casinos
Ameristar, Vicksburg - $25.99 buffet extravaganza at Heritage Buffet, 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesday; free entertainment includes BB Secrist playing oldies in the Cabaret Lounge, 9 p.m to 1:30 a.m.; in the Bottleneck Blues Bar, Meet the Press, 8 p.m. Wednesday and Dr. Zarr's Funkmonster at 1 a.m. Jan. 1; champagne and party favors included with balloon drop at midnight. See www.ameristar.com.
Diamondjacks, Vicksburg - Michael Anthony & The Groove at the Legends Theatre, 10 p.m. Wednesday, free. Visit www.diamondjacks.com.
Beau Rivage, Biloxi - Singer, songwriter, musician, dancer and recording artist Earl Turner entertains at the Beau Rivage Theatre, 11 p.m. Wednesday, with tickets $21.35-$32.05. Call 1-888-566-7469 or visit www.beaurivage.com.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Biloxi - Live music by Right On and a balloon drop at midnight are among the draws, 10 p.m. Wednesday; $20. For tickets, (601) 355-5252 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Pearl River Resort, Choctaw - Nucorp in the Xenon Lounge and Area Code in the Starlight Lounge, 9 p.m. Wednesday, free; 1-866-44PEARL.
