Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Nite Out

Dancing, dining, toasting

If staying home in your jammies with Dick Clark isn't your idea of fun, there are plenty of party opportunities to help you kick off 2006.

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Published December 29, 2005

It's like a perfect storm for party planners: a party-hearty holiday like New Year's Eve landing on a Saturday. Just about everybody has a party planned that night.

Here are some of the nightspot highlights:

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Orient Road and Interstate 4 in Tampa has a choice of one party or two. The Naughty New Year's Party by the pool will have entertainment, an "upscale buffet" plus party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. That ticket costs $50 a person. For $90, you can get into that party plus the West Coast Toast at Floyd's at 2 a.m. hosted by Playboy's Miss May 2005 and featuring DJ Diamond. That runs all night. Call 813 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100 or check www.ticketmaster.com

The Florida Aquarium Party with the Fishes in downtown Tampa starts at 9 p.m. with bands, a great view of fireworks over Tampa Bay, complimentary beer and wine from 9 p.m. until midnight, a champagne toast and food tables throughout the aquarium. The party is for ages 21 and older and costs $90. Buy tickets at www.flaquarium.org or call 813 273-4000.

Jackson's Bistro, 601 S Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa, has a mix of entertainment, a great view of the waterfront and fireworks and a bevy of DJs and choreographed shows. Tickets range from $25 for a basic one up to $1,000 for a private cabana for 10. Call (813) 265-1234 or get tickets at whatshappeningtampa.com.

Storman's NightClub, 2675 Ulmerton Road, near St. Petersburg, will have its trademark dancers, fire breathers and fine-tuned DJs. Tickets range from $20 for a champagne toast, balloon drop and breakfast buffet, to $50 to add on an open bar for five hours, to $100 for all that plus dinner, an open bar all evening and a reserved table. For tickets, call 727 571-2202, ext. 2675, or go to www.stormansnightclub.com

Suncoast Resort, 3000 34th St. S, St. Petersburg, has drag queens, male go-go dancers, fireworks over the courtyard at midnight and breakfast at 1 a.m. Admission is $10 after 8 p.m.; a special prix fixe dinner is $29.99. For information, call 727 867-1111 or go to www.suncoastresort.com

Club Manilla holds its alternative lifestyles night and puts on a splashy Euro-fab party with Belgian duo DHT performing their remix of Listen to Your Heart by '80s blond-phenom Roxette. The Belgian duo performs after midnight, preceded by the DJ stylings of Greg Anderson. Tickets are $15 and are available at www.outintb.com/escape Club Manilla is at 2620 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. Call 813 493-1234.

Yacht Starship Dining Cruises out of the Tampa port at Channelside is having a New Year's Eve Fireworks Cruise. For $99 a person you get an open bar, food stations, champagne toast, party favors and live entertainment. Call (813) 223-7999.

Or dance away the evening at the Ring in the New Year Gala featuring Tampa jazz phenom Eric Darius with Karen Briggs and Nadia Darius. The party beings at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Tampa. Tickets are $100. (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100.

If you shouldn't drive, don't. AAA and Budweiser will pay your way home, sponsoring "Tow to Go" throughout Florida. Any adult who needs a ride home from a bar or restaurant through New Year's can call 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357). AAA will dispatch a tow truck and take both the driver and the vehicle home, free of charge.

[Last modified December 28, 2005, 09:18:06]