New Year's Eve on the Cheap

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT > AC NIGHTLIFE

It’s cool to cut loose on New Year’s Eve, but if your  resolution is to bolster your bank account in 2012,  here’s some economical NYE party ideas.

By Ray Schweibert 

Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Dec. 28, 2011

Last week Atlantic City Weekly mapped out some of the hot spots for big-time area New Year’s Eve bashes. Nearly all the casino and independent nightclubs have package-deal enticements like live entertainment, celebrity guests, open bars and private VIP tables, but let’s face it, those parties can be a bit pricey and may be out of the budget range of some folks in this economy. So below are a few ideas for having fun on NYE and still keeping some of that cash Aunt Bea gave you for Christmas.  

Atlantic City 

A property-wide NYE celebration at the Pier Shops at Caesars will include a celebration at the Continental featuring a DJ starting 9pm, a one-night-only signature cocktail, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and party favors. Also on the Pier Shops’ third level, Buddakan will celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a DJ at 10pm, a surprise gift to guests in traditional Chinese New Year red envelopes, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, Asian-themed noisemakers, party favors for all and “an unforgettable countdown surprise.” The Continental and Buddakan will both have special NYE menus available. 

The Whiskey Bar at Resorts will have live entertainment from 6pm-2am, including jazz singer Brandon Tomasello starting 10pm, and 25 Hours lounge at Resorts will also feature live entertainment Saturday night and a 2-7pm Happy hour with $2 domestic beers, $3 imported beers $4 wines and $5 cocktails.  

The party at Caesars’ Toga Bar will start 8pm and a $10 cover will include a glass of champagne with “edible diamonds.” There are also several bottle service packages available at the Toga Bar too.  

Both the Live Bar and the Rush Lounge at Golden Nugget have affordable shindigs going on. A $20 cover at the Live Bar includes live music by popular rocker John Eddie, two complimentary beverages, a midnight balloon drop and a champagne toast. There is no cover at the Rush Lounge party and features live entertainment, party favors and confetti canons.  

Proud Mary’s Sports Bar & Grille will have a no-cover NYE party with owner Mary O’Brick’s famed free buffet of homemade meatballs, sausage, ziti, hoagies, a champagne toast at midnight, music and party favors.  

Two other Atlantic City parties that are not exactly cheap, but give you plenty for what you’re paying for, will be at the Tun Tavern and the Old Waterway Inn. The Tun is offering a one-hour open bar (8-9pm), live music from 9pm-2am, and a four-course dinner (first seating 8pm) and the traditional NYE festivities for $69.95 per person. The Old Waterway’s Latin New Year’s Eve will run from 9pm-2am and includes a four-course meal, a two-hour open bar and DJ entertainment for $80 per head.  

Brigantine and Downbeach 

St. George’s Pub in Brigantine is having a no-cover NYE party with live music by Paul Strong & Low Down. There will be a complimentary midnight champagne toast and party favors, and a special NYE menu that features seafood jambalaya, alfredo carbonara, coquille St. Jacques and filet Oscar. St. George’s will also be serving a special New Year’s Day breakfast starting 6am and featuring screwdrivers, mimosas and bloody Marys.  

Laguna Grill Martini Bar in Brigantine will have a celebration on the deck that includes a three-hour open bar (9pm-midnight), a 10pm light buffet, a DJ, dancing and party pack for $35 in advance ($40 at the door). There will also be a special four-course, reserved-seating dinner available that includes all of the above.  

At the BYO Grille on Ventnor Avenue in Ventnor, a $30-per-person cost gets you a dinner buffet, live music by the band Either Way, party favors and a “midnight surprise.” The BYO party will go from 10pm-2am.  

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