Are You Planning Ahead for New Year's Eve 2012?

Here are some helpful tips and suggestions

by Tony Miller

I realize it is not even Christmas yet, but New Year's Eve is just around the corner and many people are already making plans – whether it is having close friends over for a get-together or going all out at a fancy soiree.

Here are some hints and tips for planning ahead & making it a special night.

Get a Babysitter

New Year's Eve is a coveted night for babysitters – the ones you want have party plans, the back-ups are already scheduled with other families.   So now it the time to schedule your regular sitter or the Grandparents to come spend the night on New Year's Eve.

I said “spend the night” because most of us will be getting home after 2 am and it is not safe for a teenager to drive that late because they will be sleepy and there will be other tired or impaired drivers on the road.  It is better just to let them crash on the couch till morning – If your sitter is a teenager, make sure you speak to their parents so they know they are safe and sound.

Carla Hutchinson, owner of Tallahassee's ARTS AfterSchool, gives this advice,  “Always say goodbye to your children, don't try to just sneak out of the house.  Especially with young children, they need to be reassured that you are not abandoning them and you will return.”

“Also, make sure the sitter has all pertinent phone numbers, including the non-emergency line for the local police.  Plus, set down ground rules on whether the children are allowed to call you or only if it is an emergency.”

Most children will be excited to stay up until Midnight to ring in the New Year.  You might as well allow this or your sitter could have a battle on their hands.  My advice is to make it fun for them, provide games (maybe even surprise them with a new game or rent a movie they want to see), pizza and snacks and New Year's Noisemakers.  After all, why should you have all the fun?

Get an Outfit

If you are planning on going to a fancy New Year's Eve Bash, you have to dress the part.

Ladies, you new favorite store will be Fashion House Boutique – affordable and chic – located in Duval Plaza on Thomasville Road (you know the shops just south of the shopping center with Fuzions Yogurt and Beef O'Bradys in it?)

Get a Designated Driver

Andy Berentsen with Tallahassee Police Department told Grapevine, “If you don't have to go behind the wheel, avoid it. More people will be driving under the influence on this particular night, so avoid a potentially dangerous accident by staying off the road. Otherwise, be alert and drive defensively.”

AAA & Budweiser offer the Tow-To-Go Service through January 2nd this year.  You do NOT have to be a AAA Member to use this service.   If you or someone else at the party has been drinking, then call (800) AAA-HELP and a AAA tow truck will come, tow your vehicle home and give you a lift in the cab of the truck for free.

It is 100% confidential.  Best advice is to call about an hour you want to leave before to give the truck enough time to get there.

Program the number (800) AAA-Help into your cell phone.   It might also be a good idea to program the numbers of local cab companies and the non-emergency line for the police department.

Officer Berensten also gave this advice, “Crashing at a friend's place nearby or getting a hotel room is a convenient solution.”

Get a Meal

It is always nice to start off your evening with a good meal.  You are already dressed up. You are probably with loved ones. What better way than sharing a meal, breaking bread together to welcome in another year of being in each other's lives.

Plus, it is always good to eat before you drink - especially a good, healthy meal and not greasy buffet or fast food.

Avenue Eat and Drink on Park Ave will offer a series of feature dishes and a champagne menu.

Shula's 347 is serving up a prefixed 5-course meal for only $90 per person.  Reservations are required by calling 850.224.2005 for seating between 6pm and 9pm.

Get a Scene

Statistics show that 62% of adults just stay home on New Year's Eve (which should help in finding a babysitter.)  But there are several options to have fun and stay safe at the same time.

Have an intimate gathering with close friends and family.  Have them over to your house for a relaxing night and you get to ring in the New Year surrounded by love.  Play board games (my favorite's lately are Apples to Apples and Would You Rather, I have also heard great things about Wits & Wagers.)

Make sure your friends do not drive impaired, either pair them up with a sober friend to drive them home or let them spend the night. You can even include the kids by having your friends bring their children over and set them up in the dining room with crafts, games, pizza and a movie. Then let them watch the Ball Drop in Times Square on TV.

Go to the local pub with friends. TPD's Andy Berensten says, “Stick Together. This way we can look out for our friends and family. Going out to parties and nightclubs means a fast-paced, crazy night; so be sure to travel in groups. Having a safety net around you in this environment, especially for women, is imperative.”

Tallahassee has a lot of great bands playing New Year's Eve.  The Wailin' Wolves will be rockin' in 2012 at The Corner Bar in Havana.  Wailin' Wolves' Bert Calderon told Grapevine, “We are going to be playing from 9pm till 2am with a free champagne toast at midnight.  It is reasonably priced with just a $5 cover and drink specials, so people can have a great time with some local live music and stay on budget.”

Rock in the New Year

with Local Bands

 such the Wailin' Wolves

If you truly believe 2012 is going to your year, then you should welcome it in style at Hotel Duval's New Year's Eve in Paris celebration.  The Horizon Ballroom will be transformed into Paris for one night, with complimentary champagne and French food. 

There will be a DJ on the Level 8 terrace and if you need a breather, live music at Le Roc featuring a baby grand piano. There will be surprises galore, including a “Human” Ball Drop (I can only imagine what that is.)

If you really want to make it a romantic night, upgrade to the VIP Package and get accommodations at Hotel Duval, you won't even have to check out till noon!

Learn More by Clicking Here.

And At the Stroke of Midnight . . .  

Get Some Common Sense!

Grapevine spoke with Dr. Bob Orsillo of Tallahassee's Orsillo Vision Care. Dr. Orsillo told us, "We see New Year's Eve eye injuries due to fireworks and champagne corks. When popping the cork, be sure to point the bottle upwards and away from people.  There is 90 pounds of pressure behind that cork, and getting hit could knock the wind out of you.  If it hits someone in the eye, it could knock their lense out and detach their retina.  It will cause hiphema, bleeding in the eye, which leads to glaucoma."

I see a lot of injury from fireworks, like sparklers, bottle rockets, and roman candles. The sparks can fly up in your eye and burn your eyeball.  Firecrackers are also a problem because they kick up debris, like sand, and we have to remove the irritant from the eye. If you do recieve an eye injury, go to the emergency room immediately."

An eye injury would be a miserable start to the new year,

especially since they are preventable with a little common sense." - Dr. Bob Orsillo

Whatever you choose to do, make it memorable, take pictures and remember that Tallahassee Grapevine and our wonderful sponsors wish you abundance in 2012!