Tucson Weekly: It's Millennium Time (December 23

Our Annual New Year's Guide Will Help You Party Like It's You-Know-What.
By Stephen Seigel
WELL FOLKS, ANOTHER new year is nigh, and we all know what that means: Unless you want to be caught at home in front of the idiot box watching the big ball drop in Times Square (with your host Dick Clark!), you've got plans to make.
Music Like it or not, New Year's Eve is a monumental occasion. It's a time of reflection, to remember the good things that happened over the last 12 months, to wash away the bad. It's a time of new beginnings, a time when...Oh hell, who're we trying to kid? Let's face it--New Year's Eve is pretty much just an excuse to go out and get silly drunk.
Then again, you rarely forget where you were and what you were doing last New Year's, do you? (And if you are so fortunate, isn't there always some loathsome friend-witness who's all too happy to remind you?) And we're not just talking any New Year's Eve this time around; we're talking 1999, the last one before the new millennium hits. You know--the one we're supposed to party like--oops, out of time.
So without further ado, we're here to help you make plans for a truly memorable occasion, with details on some of the most happenin' parties in town. Here goes....
You say you're looking for an Afro-Cuban dance party? Well, look no further than the historic Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., which plays host to Celebración Tropicana, featuring Phoenix's Orquesta Pan-Americana, a 12-piece salsa band with members from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and South America (plus you can count on other bizarre side shows, the likes of which have made this venue somewhat infamous). Festivities begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the chance to show off your best lambada are $10.
For the full treatment, spring for the $15 "Club Tropicana" VIP package, which includes balcony seating (yes, it's finally open to the public!), an exotic food buffet, and party favors. Tickets for the Trop will surely go quickly, so snatch 'em up while you can. Both ticket prices include a free champagne toast at midnight. Advance tickets are available at Hear's Music, Yikes! Toy Store, Guitars, Etc., and Zip's University. Call 740-0126 for more information. Maximum capacity is 1,000, and they're expecting a solid 750 for the occasion.
If it's a night of danger, international intrigue, martinis, and lust you're after, then you'll want to be spotted at the annual Congress Royale celebration at the Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. High-rollers, thrill seekers, and spies are all welcome to dance to the sexy samba soul explosion of DJs Tasha Bundy and Manuelito from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Copacabana Ballroom, followed by everyone's favorite international lounge band, the Zsa-Zsa's, who'll be playing 50 of the greatest songs ever written in two hours. The band's motto is, "Bringing Las Vegas-style entertainment to America," and we guarantee they'll put a smile on your face, even if you end up walking out of the joint with Manilow's "Mandy" stuck in your head. In addition to the Copa, the Monte Carlo Lounge will feature casino gambling (with prizes for the top winners), and the piano stylings of Raymond Santoro from 8 to midnight; Kini's Juke Joint jukebox, the best in town, will be rigged up with tunes from the Prohibition era all the way through World War II; The Orient room will supply lush red curtains and low lighting for that special midnight smooch; and Rick's Cafe Americana will have a special New Year's Eve menu. They'll have free champagne and a massive balloon drop at midnight, and black tie is preferred. Tickets are $15 per person, and are available now in the hotel's lobby. Although they'll have an expanded capacity for the event, they strongly recommend buying them early. Call 622-8848 for further details.
The cavernous Nimbus Brewery warehouse, 3850 E. 44th St., will be transformed into an "old gypsy tavern cabaret" for the last night of the year, and the traditional gypsy orchestra known as Molehill will be supplying sounds for your listening and dancing pleasure...along with acid-jazz hip-hoppers Groovebox. In addition, there will be plenty of fire for all when hot performers Flam Chen work their pyro magic and feed you flaming fruit. Only in Tucson can a New Year's celebration happen in an indoor/outdoor setting, and Nimbus will flaunt our locale's fabulous winters by opening up its massive bay doors. As usual, pints of their delicious elixirs will be a mere $2. And they encourage you to dress up cabaret-style. The brewery can safely hold 200 people, and the cover charge will be five bucks. Show time is 9 p.m., and you can call 745-9175 with further queries.
If you're looking to ring in the New Year with ringing ears, make the Double Zero, 121 E. Congress St., your destination of choice. The club will feature the high-decibel punk rock sounds of Los Federales (their first show since August), Bubba Grubz, and Unified Field Theory (U.F.T.), though the crowd itself should provide all the entertainment you'll need. The basement also touts downtown's best keg party, as well as their usual $2 Long Island iced-teas, and other drink specials. Free champagne and other fun stuff round out the night at this 200-capacity bar. Doors open at 5 p.m., music starts at 9:30 p.m., and you'll want to get there early because they're expecting a packed house. Admission is a mere $3 at the door. Call 670-9332 with questions. Even better, you get two parties for this price of one--see the ticket info for 7 Black Cats, below.
The newest addition to our fair city's downtown nightlife, 7 Black Cats, 260 E. Congress St., will host its very first New Year's celebration with rockabilly heroes Al Foul and the Shakes, followed by the spooky sounds of Splendida. Capacity at this intimate venue--be sure to check out the cool loft balcony--is 150, and they'll have free champagne for that special New Year's toast. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the music getting started at 9 p.m. Admission is only $3, and in an effort to encourage club-hopping and give you more bang for your buck, you'll receive $1 off your admission if you go to Double Zero before or after the Gato Negro, and vice versa. More details are yours by calling 670-9202.
Another welcome addition to the downtown, Heart-Five, 61 E. Congress St., hosts a sexy, high-end masquerade soirée for its inaugural New Year's ball. Guests are encouraged to dress in costume; but if you don't have a mask, they'll provide you with one. The live music is still TBA, but you can expect a world music beat, followed by DJs who'll keep the room spinning until the wee hour of 3 a.m. A Spanish tapas buffet, the restaurant's signature, will be offered all night long (if you haven't tried the food here yet, you don't know what you're missing); and free bottles of champagne (that's right, bottles--no modest toasting here!) and party favors will likewise add to the evening's luster. Show time is
9 p.m. at this plush, 260-capacity venue. Tickets are $50 for couples, $30 for singles, available in advance at the club, or reserved by phone at 903-0911. As long as there's room, they'll also be available at the door.
The newly renovated Plaza Pub, 20 E. Pennington St. (former home of the Airport Lounge), was redesigned with live music in mind, and they're offering up a superb double-bill to tout their fresh digs. Local country/cowpunk legends Al Perry and the Cattle soften up the room with a few rounds of electric guitar ammo, with visiting French popsters Amor Belhom Duo (formerly Le Duo) providing improvisational opening slot honors. The $5 cover price includes hats, horns, and a champagne toast at midnight. In addition, there'll be drink specials aplenty. If you need to know more (and we doubt you do), call 882-0400.
While it's become known for hosting the city's best live blues of late, Boondocks Lounge, 3360 N. First Ave., will be the place to go if you want to jig and reel, as raucous Celtic-meets-everything-else party band The Mollys treat loyal fans and new converts to one of their electric live performances at this nifty little venue. At a capacity of 227, this one'll definitely sell out, so get there earlier than the 9 p.m. show time. Your ticket--$10 in advance, $12 at the door--includes a finger food buffet and champagne. Call 690-0991 for more info.
Those looking for a slightly more highbrow evening have a couple of noteworthy options. The Empire Ballroom of the downtown Holiday Inn City Center, 181 W. Broadway, offers a rather tempting package to tantalize your eyes, ears, funny bones, and tastebuds: Local radio personalities Alan Michaels and Joan Lee host this New Year's extravaganza, which features live music from swingers Honey Bee and the Stingers, comedy and juggling courtesy of Jay Almeter, the magic of Bill McRea, and comedian Jerry Johnson. The ballroom will serve a buffet dinner from 8 to 9:30 p.m., to include such delectables as poached salmon in champagne beurre blanc, turkey medallions with lemon-caper sauce, carved prime ribs of beef, and pork tenderloin with merlot demi-glacé, in addition to appetizers, salads, and desserts. There will be a hosted bar for the evening, with a champagne toast at midnight. As if that weren't enough, the package (which runs $199 per couple, plus tax) also includes valet parking and deluxe overnight accommodations with early check-in and late check-out, no less. There's only room for 225 couples, so make your reservations now by calling 624-8711.
Another swanky package, designed especially for blues fans, can be found at Margarita Bay, 7415 E. 22nd St., in conjunction with the Hilton Tucson East hotel, 7600 E. Broadway. Here's the deal: Get to the Hilton for an early check-in, get a free limo ride to and from the party, retire to your hotel room for some much-needed rest, wake up for a free breakfast buffet on New Year's Day, and enjoy a late check-out time on your room. The party at the Bay kicks off at 6 p.m. with the jazz and blues stylings of Tommy Tucker, then from 9 p.m. till 1 a.m. enjoy the soulful blues sounds of Lori Davidson and the Intruders. The $129 per couple ticket price (not including tax and gratuity) also includes a Mexican food dinner, champagne toast, and party favors. Reservations should be made as soon as possible by calling 290-8977.
To put a little swagger in your two-step, enjoy a cowboy New Year's Eve at the elegant Savoy Opera House, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road, in Trail Dust Town. Your $20 advance ticket (or $22 at the door) entitles you to a western buffet dinner, which includes a drink on the house (cash bar after that), and traditional western music courtesy of The Desert Sons, with special guests Tom Chambers, Jorge Bejarano and Jon Richins. Doors for the hoedown open at 6:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m., and the show at 8 p.m. Call 296-4551 for tickets and info.
Other notable New Year's venues include:
The Cocoon, 1501 N. Houghton Road, will host live music by Dale Clark and the Live Wires. Tickets are $10 for the show, or $20 for the show and a ham and prime rib dinner buffet with all the trimmings. Both prices include party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Call 749-1099 for details.
Li'l Abner's Steakhouse, 8501 N. Silverbell Road, will feature the stalwart Dean Armstrong and the Arizona Dance Hands, playing their 50th New Year's celebration. To enhance the nostalgia, the group plans to include in their set list some of the songs they played at their very first New Year's show back in 1948, at the Open Door Nightclub. Call 744-2800 for ticket prices and other information.
Third Stone Bar & Grill, 500 N. Fourth Ave., will kick the tail of the roots-rock crowd with music from Greyhound Soul. Call 628-8844 for the full skinny.
And the New West/Gotham will host a New Year's bash which will include their usual country and alternarock tunes, with a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $10, available at the door only. Call 744-7744, or check their websites for updates (www.thenewwest.com, and www.gotham.com).
It goes without saying that however you choose to ring in the beginning of the end of the millennium, we hope you'll celebrate within the confines of common sense: Keep your beer in your glass and off the road, and leave your celebratory firearms unlocked and unloaded. And if you simply must do something for which you'll be embarrassed for years to come, make sure there aren't any witnesses! Now: Let the mania begin!

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