I don't do New Year's resolutions.
I've learned it's better to live one night at a time -- especially when it comes to New Year's Eve.
One year, I was bitten by a dog on New Year's Eve. Another year, I passed out in a pile of snow. Another year, I got hit by a car and ended up kissing a telephone pole.
Even when I tried to be cautious, I stumbled. I loaded up on canned food in advance of Y2K. Nothing happened, so I spent the next month staring at Chef Boyardee.
That's why I've resolved to make minimal plans.
I don't even know what I'm doing for New Year's Eve -- I'm still checking the list and looking around.
Oh, here's the list: The Last-Minute Guide to Celebrating New Year's Eve.
Good luck in 2011, and I hope you don't get bitten by a dog.
PD fileRing in the new year, Brazilian-style, at Sergio's Serava. Rio on a shoestring budget Expedia.com alert: New Year's Eve in Rio for only $2,500 per person. Woohoo, sounds great -- except for the $2,500 part.
For a lot less, you can party like you're in Rio at Sergio's Sarava, 13225 Shaker Square, Cleveland. The restaurant-bar will host a Samba Party that boasts Brazilian percussionists, dancers and a DJ spinning samba, salsa and Afro-Cuban beats.
Woohoo, at midnight there's even a drawing. Grand prize? A trip for two to Rio. The bash starts at 10 tonight and costs $20. Dinner package is $75. Call 216-295-1200.
Somewhere between Times Square and Vegas New York is too cold. Las Vegas is too far away. No problem -- go to Pickwick & Frolic, 2035 East Fourth St., Cleveland.
The restaurant-bar-comedy club will host a New Year's Eve extravaganza that features a comedy show by Greg Behrendt, a buffet with prime rib and six other entrees, a champagne toast, dancers and live music.
Whoa, there's also the Rat Pack-themed Midnight Martini Show. The entire package fetches $129.
The comedy show starts at 8:15 p.m. The action runs nonstop until 2:30 a.m. in Pickwick's snazzy basement bar and cabaret room. Call 216-241-7425.
PD fileNo cover. Cheap drinks. The basics at Reddstone.Like a house party Expressions of New Year's Eve party-hearty grandeur are often the bravado of an amateur. Reddstone, 1261 West 76th St., Cleveland, can back up its claims for its NYE party.
The bar is a den of partying year-round. It's also throwing a bash that's more house party than gala. No cover. Cheap drinks. The basics.
The party starts at 5 p.m. with dinner -- just the regular menu. At 10 p.m., DJ Justin Nylias will spin.
No big deal? That's the point, and I bet a lot of people go for that reason. Call 216-651-6969.
Soul party Can't wait to check out Zanzibar, the new soul-fusion place in Shaker Square. Can't go wrong with Southern cooking -- and I've heard good things about the food here.
Zanzibar, 13114 Shaker Square, Cleveland, is promising more than food come NYE. Yup, it's Soulstyle -- a soul-themed bash that boasts live music, dancing and, of course, food.
There's a four-course dinner at 6 p.m. that fetches $95. Or you can go to the party portion, at 10 p.m., for $25. Call 216-916-9422.
Still time to learn salsa Your New Year's resolution for 2010 was to learn salsa? Well, lucky you -- you still have time.
Yes, the Tropical Cleveland New Year's Eve bash hits Roseangel, 5800 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Yes, the $20 cover features party favors, a champagne toast, salsa dancing and an appetizers buffet (9:30-11:30 p.m.).
But it also offers up salsa lessons at 9 p.m. Admission is $10 after midnight. Call 216-961-5800.
A toast to no frills Gala NYE packages are dandy. But isn't it great just to be able to walk into a joint and have a beer with a bunch of other people who walked in to have a beer?
That's the deal with Garage Bar. The rock 'n' cars joint, 1859 West 25th St., Cleveland, will throw an Old School Dance Party with DJ (and co-owner) Ursula spinning.
Let's hear it for no cover, no frills. Let's hear it for the cash bar -- where the deal is simple and spelled out when you and the bartender make the exchange. 9 p.m. Call 216-696-7772.
Party with the Dead "What year is this again?" I'm sure that's the punch line to some Deadhead joke.
But the Winchester isn't kidding with a soiree guaranteed to get Deadheads singing Auld Lang Syne. The club -- 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood -- will ring in the new year with Grateful Dead tribute band Into the Blue. 9 tonight. $10. Call 216-226-5681.
Scott Shaw, Plain Dealer fileZack Bruell's Chinato on East Fourth is the classy place to be this New Year's.Late-night fine dining Yes, Chinato is a fine dining experience. Yes, it will be serving a five-course meal that sounds yummy. Yes, it will host a three-piece jazz band.
But it's also doing something you rarely see on NYE.
At 11 p.m., Zach Bruell's Italian eatery will roll out its happy hour menu -- as in, $5 plate-and-drink deals. It will also roll out a dessert buffet stocked with truffles and cookies and cakes.
At midnight? Yup, it's the Midnight Breakfast, a menu that boasts morning staples as well as pizza, pork jowls and oxtail. Call 216-298-9080.
Whale of a deal No trip to the islands this time? Sorry, buddy.
The Blue Snapper Grill does have tiki decor, an oceanic mural and aquariums full of happy-go-lucky fish, though. The restaurant-bar -- 18590 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights -- is also hosting a New Year's Eve bash that puts a warm spin on things, complete with island vibes, a dance party and food deals that could make a whale happy.
Like the $39 bar package that features a free pizza buffet and all you can drink domestic beer, house wine and well liquor. The deal stars at 7 p.m.; the DJ at 9:30. Call 440-234-1001.
Insane party posse Spending a Benjamin on NYE might seem like a steep price. Well, have you seen how they party at BarRoom? The joint, 200 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, and its sister club Cadillac Ranch are party-hearty zones run amok, where the cup spilleth over -- especially when the woohooers get too tipsy.
In other words, people like to drink like crazy here.
In other words, $100 isn't that much when you consider that BarRoom will be offering an open bar from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., at all EIGHT bars in the BarRoom complex.
There's also a $25 deal, if you don't wanna party that hearty. Call 216-685-0000.
Free money, free other stuff What, your New Year's resolution is to win big money in Dan Gilbert's casino in 2011? Well, Around the Corner will offer you a chance to practice while you're ringing in the New Year.
The bar -- 18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood -- will hosts a NYE bash trimmed with casino games. Partyers get $2,000 in "fun money" that they can parlay into prizes. Yippee!
They also get to listen to cover tunes by Echo Forte and get free party favors, even a complimentary champagne toast. 8 tonight. Free. Call 216-521-4413.
Doesn't feel like the first time . . . I've heard people argue passionately that Foreigner was better than Journey. But there's no argument -- that is, if tribute bands are the barometer.
There are just way more bands covering "Don't Stop Believing" than "Cold as Ice."
What does this have to do with NYE?
Not much -- except that one of them, Frontiers, will be ringing in New Year's Eve at the House of Blues, East Fourth Street and Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. 9 p.m. $25. Call 216-523-2583.
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