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Written by NEXTnc staff
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Thursday, 28 December 2006 |
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New Year’s Eve is the ultimate party holiday. At least, it used to be, when you were young and in college and could drink until midnight and then bounce back for breakfast the next morning.
But if you don’t still party like a rock star at the ripe age of 30-something, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun on New Year’s Eve.
In the spirit of all things fun, NEXTnc staffers found 47 things to keep you happy around New Year’s.
From a Piggies concert at the City Limits Lounge to First Night with an artistic twist, from bowl games on TV to a Disgruntled Elf in your glass, this is what we love the most — in no particular order. Happy New Year, everyone.
1.
That smooch when the clock strikes midnight. It’s the one time you can get away with kissing random people without getting slapped. Everybody needs a little love, so pucker up!
2.
Getting slapped. (This one is for those of you with specific predilections.)
3.
Champagne toasts. Clean, crisp and bubbly, here’s to another year. Tired of the same old tradition? Find new things to do with your champagne on PAGE 39.
4.
The great specials when you (and everyone else with a fitness resolution) sign up for gym memberships.
5.
Not shopping. The gift-giving is over. Bah-humbug.
6.
The Super Bowl is only 31 days away, on Feb. 4. More football. Yesss.
7.
11th Annual First Night 2007
• 6-10:30 p.m., downtown Fort Collins
This nonalcoholic art-basted celebration features theater, dance, art, music, comedy, storytelling, magic shows and craft projects — perfect for families.
• TVS and Two Fingers, a Fort Collins trio, performs at 9 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. at the Silver Grill Cafe, 218 Walnut St.
• $10 at all Fort Collins and Loveland King Soopers, The Information Center in Old Town Square and at the Lincoln Center Box Office, children 6 and under get in for free.
New Year’s Eve Party with The Piggies
• 9:30 p.m., City Limits Lounge, 320 S. Link Lane, Suite B, Fort Collins
• $8 general admission, $15 includes VIP reserved seating and a bottle of champagne for every two tickets purchased
New Year’s Bull Riding
• 7:30 p.m., Budweiser Event Center at the Larimer County Fairgrounds, Loveland
• $12, $17 and $25 for VIP chute seating, available by calling 877.544.TIXX, online at ComcastTix.com, or at the Budweiser Events Center Box Office, Fort Fun in Fort Collins, Colorado Eagles Office in Windsor, Woody’s Newsstand & Café in Greeley and the Taco John’s Event Center in Cheyenne.
• $5 cover for New Year’s Eve “Bull Bash” to follow the pro bull riding event at the First National Bank West Exhibition Hall. With cash bar, local DJ and champagne toast at midnight.
Club Static New Year’s Eve Party
• 9 p.m. for ages 18 and older at Club Static, 1437 E. Mulberry St., Fort Collins.
• With DJs Papa Gongo, AJ Khan and Chaotic. Free champagne toast at midnight, $3 cosmopolitans.
• A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Northern Colorado Aids Project.
New Year’s Eve Contra Celebration
• 8:30 p.m. dance, 7:30 p.m. free lessons, Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins.
• This is an alcohol-free and smoke-free event.
• $20 at the Lincoln Center Box Office or call 221.6730.
Reverend Horton Heat, Drag the River
• 8 p.m., Aggie, 204 S. College Ave., Fort Collins
• $30 at www.aggietheatre.com or box office
Horsetooth Mountain Rangers
and Lonesome Traveler
• 8 p.m., Avogadro’s Number, 605 S. Mason St., Fort Collins
• $10 in advance, $12 at the door
Soul Feel free show
• 9 p.m., Lucky Joe’s, 25 Old Town Square, Fort Collins
Zebra Panic concert
• Time TBA, Mishawaka, 13714 Poudre Canyon Highway, Bellvue
New Year’s Eve party featuring
live music, dancing, DJ
• 7 p.m., River Forks Inn, 1601 U.S. 34, Drake
• Includes a prime rib dinner, champagne and party favors. For details, call 970.663.0130
Bob Purcell and the Outriders
• 9 p.m., Sundance Steak House & Saloon, 2716 E. Mulberry, Fort Collins
• Dinner package for two available. Call 484.1600 for reservations
Jess Redmon Band
• 9 p.m., State Armory, 614 8th Ave., Greeley
• 352.7424 for details, cover charge TBA
Happy Honkies Extravaganza
• 9 p.m., Swing Station, 3311 W. Larimer County Road 54G, Laporte. Free, call 224.3326 for details
Firehouse concert
• 9 p.m., Yukon Bar & Grill, 5400 N. Garfield Ave., Loveland
• $20, call 593.1661 for details
New Year’s Eve with Tick 60
• 9:15 p.m., Out of Bounds, 281-A E. 29th St., Loveland
• Free champagne toast and party favors included. No cover. Call 663.1550 for details
8.
Those lists that all the papers publish recapping the last year’s notable events. Time flies and before you know it, you start to forget where you where and what happened a year ago. (Look at the one on PAGE 63.)
9.
The ball drop — it’s the only time of the year where a giant disco ball isn’t a blast from the ‘70s.
10.
We get to write a new number on memos, letters and reports. How boring would it be to write 2006 forever?
11.
That loud, short pop, followed by a subtle mist, once the cork is launched from the champagne bottle.
12.
Those ridiculously tacky sparkly hats. The ones you know are dorky, but you wear anyway and lose by the end of the night.
13.
Those blowy-horn things that unroll and roll back up. We love those. Just watch our XCast at www.nextnc.com!
14.
Balloons and confetti, especially when we aren’t the ones who have to pick it up in the morning.
15.
The incriminating pictures of yourself — or better yet, your friends — dancing on the bar from the night before. If it wasn’t for Canon, those memories would be lost forever, like your car keys. (Want to see how others ring in the year? Check out our In Your Face photo albums on nextnc.com and post your best.)
16.
That New Year’s resolution that you really are going to stick to this year. If you don’t, at least you’ll have something to work on next year.
17.
Greasy Big Macs from McDonalds in the morning. (Yes, we use the term loosely, morning meaning 3 p.m. when you finally roll out of bed, if you don’t have a job to get to sooner.) We also love that there are several restaurants open on New Year’s Day. We called a random sample of five good breakfast places in Fort Collins: Farmer’s Table opens at 7:30 a.m. and both Lucile’s and Perkin’s open at 8 a.m., but the Silver Grill Cafe and McCoy’s Morning Glory will be closed. We recommend calling ahead if you aren’t sure if your favorite restaurant will be open.
18.
Not puking, especially through the nose. Don’t try it. Really.
19.
Spending the day in PJs.
20.
It’s the best time for people watching. Everywhere you go, there’s people everywhere.
21.
Fireworks. The Fourth of July just isn’t enough.
22.
Actually being able to stay up to the wee hours like you used to in college.
23.
Drinking a nice shiraz or rusty nail by the fire.
24.
The day off. This is a no-brainer.
25.
Saying “Hair of the dog.”
26.
That moment in “When Harry Met Sally” at a New Year’s Eve party when he gives her the “when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible” speech.
27.
Singing “Auld Lang Syne,” even though we have no idea what it means. Being curious and lovers of Google, we did a search. Here’s what we found, courtesy of howstuffworks.com:
“It turns out that “Auld Lang Syne” is an extremely old Scottish song that was first written down in the 1700s. Robert Burns is the person whose transcription got the most attention, so the song is associated with him.
A good translation of the words “auld lang syne” is “times gone by.” So (incorporating a couple other translations) when we sing this song, we say, “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet for times gone by.”
28.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s. No one really works. And if you do, no one expects you to be too productive.
29.
You regain your sick days and maybe even more vacation days if you’re lucky.
30.
The promise of a new year. You get yet another fresh start.
31.
It’s 2007. Like your great-grandparents, instead of Oh-7, you can say Ought-7.
How cool is that?
32.
Making the perfect drink for your party. And we have the perfect holiday drink.
It’s called the Disgruntled Elf, courtesy of Kass Kaylor, 22, bartender at the Red Robin, 701 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins.
“A few of these and you won’t be disgruntled,” Kaylor said.
After downing one these concoctions, we concur. Kaylor gave us the proper mixture for one drink — put those hard-earned math skills to work and you’ll be able to make a big batch for your friends:
Disgruntled Elf
1/2 oz. tequila
1/2 oz. gin
3/4 oz. triple sec
3/4 oz. rum
1/2 oz. sweet and sour margarita mix
1/2 oz. (or more) sour apple syrup (this gives it the green color, too)
Sprite, to taste
Our glass was ringed with sugar and topped with a cherry.
33.
We’re only seven days away from Randy Newman’s first performance at the Lincoln Center on Jan. 8. Details at lctix.com.
34.
Pitchers and catchers report in 44 days. Play ball!
35.
Bloody Marys. Perfect example of how naming a drink makes it sound more appetizing than it actually is. Really, does vodka and tomato juice mixed together sound good? Come to think of it, Bloody Mary isn’t that appetizing a name either. Good thing they’re good, despite it all.
36.
In 90 days,the Colorado Rockies first game is April 2 at home versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.
37.
No more stupid holidays this month.
38.
Walking through Old Town on a crisp evening with all of the lights glowing.
39.
That friend who agrees to be the designated driver.
40.
Shopping at Cira Limited in Old Town for that perfect party outfit. Not only do they have dazzling tops, they also offer tons of accessories to add that icing on the cake. If you’re looking for glam, this is the place to go.
41.
It’s a good excuse for a road trip:
• Fireworks at 9 p.m. and midnight on the 16th Street Mall in Denver.
• The Denver Nuggets play the San Antonio Spurs at the Pepsi Center.
• Big Head Todd and the Monsters play at 9:30 p.m. the Paramount Theatre in Denver. Tickets are $55, if you can still get ‘em.
• Hotels in Denver like the Grand Hyatt and Hotel Monaco have fancy New Year’s Eve specials. But, if you haven’t booked by now, you’re probably screwed.
42.
Going back to the office on Jan. 2 and hearing co-worker’s stories of mischief and mishaps.
43.
Being the one with the best story.
44.
Being the one who has no story at all.
45.
We’re only 37 days away from a new episode of “Lost,” one of the coolest shows, ever.
46.
Only 364 more days until New Year’s Eve 2007.
47.
Bowl games. And more bowl games.
Get comfy in front of your biggest TV for post-season college football that leads right on into the new year:
Dec. 28
• 2:30 p.m. - ESPN - Independence Bowl, Oklahoma State vs. Alabama
• 6 p.m. - ESPN - Holiday Bowl, California vs. Texas A&M
• 6 p.m. - NFL Network - Texas Bowl, Rutgers vs. Kansas State
Dec. 29
• 11 a.m. - ESPN - Music City Bowl, Clemson vs. Kentucky
• Noon - CBS - Sun Bowl, Missouri vs. Oregon State
• 2:30 p.m. - ESPN - Liberty Bowl, South Carolina vs. Houston
• 5:30 p.m. - NFL Network - Insight Bowl, Minnesota vs.. Texas Tech
• 6 p.m. - ESPN - Champs Sports Bowl, Maryland vs. Perdue
Dec. 30
• 11 a.m. - ESPN - Meineke Car Care Bowl, Navy vs. Boston College
• 2:30 p.m. - ESPN - Alamo Bowl, Iowa vs. Texas
• 6 p.m. - ESPN - Chick-fil-A Bowl, Virginia Tech vs. Georgia
Dec. 31
• 5:30 p.m. - ESPN - MPC Computers Bowl,
Nevada vs. Miami
Jan. 1
• 9 a.m. - ESPN - Outback Bowl,
Pennsylvania State vs. Tennessee
• 9:30 a.m. - FOX - Cotton Bowl,
Auburn vs. Nebraska
• 11 a.m. - ABC - Capital One Bowl,
Wisconsin vs. Arkansas
• 11 a.m. - CBS - Gator Bowl,
Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia
• 3 p.m. - ABC - Rose Bowl, USC vs. Michigan
• 6:30 p.m. - FOX - Fiesta Bowl,
Boise State vs. Oklahoma
Jan. 2
• 6 p.m. - FOX - Orange Bowl,
Wake Forest vs. Louisville
Jan. 3
• 6 p.m. - FOX - Sugar Bowl,
LSU vs. Notre Dame
Jan. 6
• 10 a.m. - ESPN2 -
International Bowl, Cincinnati vs. Western Michigan
Jan. 7
• 6 p.m. - ESPN - GMAC Bowl,
University of Southern Mississippi vs. Ohio
Jan. 8
• 6 p.m. - FOX - BCS National Championship,
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|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
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