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New Year’s Celebrations proliferate in Park City

MATT JAMES Of the Record staff
While this scene took place at the Park City Cocktail Contest, there will likely be a similarly happening atmosphere elsewhere this New Year s. Photo by Grayson West/Park Record.
0Scene

It’s party time, Park City. With ski season in full swing and plenty of people on vacations, New Year’s Eve is prime party time in town. The scene at some bars and restaurants will be reminiscent of their normal nights, while others will provide special menus and live music.

While much of the celebration will occur on Main Street, the first New Year’s event will happen at Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge. There, guests can view the resort’s annual Torch Light Parade, which will take place on the Big Stick ski run at approximately 6 p.m. with hot cider and cookies courtesy of Deer Valley.

From there, the holiday will run at full speed, through Sunday morning. The Canyons Resort will present its annual New Year’s Eve celebration the next evening at 7 p.m. in the Resort Village. The event will feature live music from 1970s cover band Solid Gold and, at 7:30 p.m., a fireworks display.

"Our New Year’s Eve, this has grown to be quite an event," said Katie Eldridge, spokesperson for The Canyons.

"It’s similar to what we did last year," she added, "and each year we get more people."

The band will play until 9 p.m., and throughout the show, food and beverages will be available from the shops around the Resort Village.

The Park City Performing Arts Foundation will also host a concert that evening, presenting the Neville Brothers in a sold-out show at the Eccles Center.

On Main Street, several restaurants will offer special prix fix menus, including Shabu, which will offer a seven-course tasting menu with a midnight champagne toast for $100, and 350 Main Brasserie, which will offer a five-course meal, including party favors, for $145.

At the same time, Bacchus Wine Bar will offer a similar program, with a four-course food and wine pairing for $125.

"It’s just very high-end wine and good food," said Meshelle Eicher, the establishment’s owner.

All of the establishments will offer live music, with Leraine and the Desert Island Band playing for 350 Main’s second seating and the Pat Carnahan Trio playing Shabu. Bacchus’s usual Saturday night act, Ricky Straub, will play there.

Next door to 350 Main, The Spur will offer the same dinners as its sister establishment, with a slightly different twist.

"At The Spur, we’re offering the same menu and there will be [live music from] Grand Junction," said Jeff Ward, the general manager for 350 Main.

According to Casey Metzger, manager of The Spur, the club will open its doors to regular patrons at 10 p.m. for a cover charge.

"It’s nothing too unusual," he said.

Meanwhile Harry O’s will offer its brand of New Year’s entertainment starting at 7:30 p.m. that evening.

"Basically we’re having what we’re calling a Black and White Masquerade Ball," said Konstantine Desilis, the establishment’s owner.

The room will be extensively decorated to match the theme and the evening, he said, will include a fashion show and five DJ’s, including the headliner, DJ Rectangle.

"He’s amazing," said Desilis. "He’ll play everything from Def Lepard to Madonna and 50 Cent."

Harry O’s will also provide complimentary hors d’oeuvres and desserts for the evening.

"It’ll be very high-end," said Desilis.

Tickets for the event are $50 and are available through SmithsTix.

At the top of Main Street, The Star Bar will offer a special show, New Years Rockin’ Eve, with Fat Paw and DJ JD, while a few doors down, Cisero’s will present the Rockin’ Rhinos, featuring Tony Oros.

"We’ve had a lot of reservations and it’s been a lot of ages," said Debbie Hansen, the general manager of Cisero’s and Bistro 412. "It’s been a 50/50 mix of locals and tourists."

"We usually sell out beforehand," said Jimmy Powers, who owns the clubs. "It’s a fun lively atmosphere."

Tickets for Cisero’s event are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the show.

Powers and Hansen said the Bistro 412 Bar will offer its regular fare.

Star Bar owner John Sutton said the Fat Paw show there will feature two sets with a DJ JD playing the rest of the night.

"It’ll be festive," said Sutton.

He also noted that that evening, the club would be shooting its newest commercial.

Tickets for the evening are $20 and include a champagne toast. Sutton said his aim was to keep the prices relatively low.

"We want to be the locals’ nightclub," he said.

Down the road, at 804 Main Street, Sutton’s other bar, J.B. Mulligans, will offer a performance from the Saul Kaye Band, a San Francisco-based jam-rock band. Tickets for that event are $10.

At the same time, out in Kimball Junction, Suede will present the Diamond Experience, an eight-piece Neil Diamond cover band, with a DJ playing between their sets.

Suede owner Tara Cinelli said the Diamond Experience was returning after a successful New Year’s Eve last year.

"The crowd just loves ’em," she said. "It’s good high-energy, good, clean fun."

The event will cost $15, which includes a champagne toast and party favors.

Additionally, other clubs and restaurants will likely offer events, so the holiday will certainly be a big one. And for those uninterested in coming to the party?

There are always the slopes the next morning, bright and early, at 9 a.m.


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