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Published Monday, December 29, 2008 in Local

Merchants plan New Year's Eve festivities

By Brenda Pedraza-Vidamour

The Times-Herald

It doesn't matter if you prefer beer, wine or champagne -- it's all offered to partygoers in Coweta County on New Year's Eve.

The same applies to entertainment and your choice of food fare. It ranges from hot wings to lobster and from a self-titled lounge lizard act to watching your date try to pull off a John Travolta dance move.

At André's off the Square in downtown Newnan "Dave the Lounge Lizard" will perform Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett classics.

"He's awesome," said André Kross. "He puts on a great show."

In addition to the regular menu, André's will feature other specials, serving dinner "as late as people want to eat."

"We'll be here till midnight, I know that," Kross said. "There'll be fresh seafood, steaks and wild game."

At Alamo Jack's, Amy Murphy is calling everyone to pull on their polyester bellbottoms, platform shoes and wigs for Alamo's New Year's Eve celebration.

"We are doing a '70s disco party," Murphy said. "There'll be champagne toasts and ridiculous outfits."

There's no cover charge, and the DJ starts spinning the disco tunes around 8 p.m.

If the Bee Gees and Donna Summer aren't your thing, cross over to Ten East Washington or Uncork'd, two other downtown restaurants that will also feature live music with fine dining.

George Rasovsky at Ten East Washington offers a New Year's Eve menu downstairs in the main dining room and "soft rock and roll on acoustic guitar" in the Martini Room upstairs.

"At midnight, we'll have a champagne toast," he said.

At Uncork'd, Connie Ravo will offer four-course and six-course entrees and $8 wine pairings for dinner. The $45-$65 menus, which feature such mouth-watering delectables as filet and lobster, herb crusted rack of lamb and tea rubbed duck breasts -- come with complimentary champagne toasts. The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. and "It's All That Jazz" starts playing at 7 p.m.

Farther east toward the bypass, JJ Bajas will feature live music with Stokeswood, an Atlanta-based band, and DJ Sun. The music starts about 9 p.m. The cover charge is $2, and with the ticket, attendees will receive a champagne toast. Partygoers can call ahead to reserve a table. Table reservations come with a bottle of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

Farther south on the bypass, the Corner Tavern across from Target will feature two DJs who will spin a mix of dance music. A prepaid $20 cover charge will net partygoers a Corner Tavern T-shirt, six hot wings and a champagne toast. It's $25 at the door. The tickets will be raffled through the night for give-aways that include a 26-inch flat screen TV, a digital picture frame, and gift cards. DJ Mike and DJ John start about 9 p.m.

"We've been booking a band every year, but every band costs a lot of money so we charge a minimum and give it out to the people and have more fun," said new owner Suk Banks.

Gary Hyde of Jekyll and Hydes in Avery Park will also be offering prizes and give-aways during its New Year's Eve celebration on Wednesday. The partying starts about 9:30 p.m. and ends at 2 a.m. Hyde said the restaurant will offer some "specials for the day," and there'll be a $5 cover.

"Just show up and have a good time," Hyde said.

At Taco Mac, Ryan Buchanan said they'll stay open until 2 a.m., but the "family-oriented sports restaurant" won't be offering anything more on its menu than it does other days, including calling on taxicabs when requested.

"If people are hungry and want to come out for a low-key beer, we'll be here," Buchanan said. "We'll have the cabs ready for everybody."

Maguire's Irish Pub in Senoia, which stays open until 3 a.m., will offer wine pairings with their dinners, per head chef Robert Shepherd. Three-course dinner entrees will be offered that include a champagne toast as the last course.

"We're also offering a VIP room for that night," he said.

For $200, a partygoer can rent a table for six people in the pub's downstairs level. The table includes a bottle of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

A DJ will play music starting at 10 p.m. And, a $10 cover will be charged starting at 10, too.