225’s Guide to New Year’s Eve in the city and beyond

Can’t decide how to ring in the new year? We did your homework for you. From downtown champagne stops to free cab rides, 225 has plenty of choices for you to kick off 2009 in style.

But first, a word about safety.

Don’t even think about drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve. The Baton Rouge Police Department will have an aggressive enforcement program with plenty of units patrolling the streets. Just about every taxi driver in the city will be working—and some of the taxi rides are free.

Waiting around a little while longer for a cab ride sure beats the expense of a wreck, possible jail time and outrageous court costs (not to mention your name in the newspaper the next day). So go ahead and save this number in your cell phone: 926-6400. Mockler-Budweiser joins forces with Yellow Cab Company and Guy’s Towing to offer another Safe Ride Home Program. Yellow Cab will have some 50 taxis on the roads to handle the extreme volume. The free cab program is good for now through New Year’s Day, seven days a week from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.

In the city

The Hilton Capitol Center offers a glorious view of the Mississippi River with Celeauxbrate ’09. The party features free champagne, an open bar, plenty of hor d’oeuvres and Motown dance music by the Tip Tops in the Riverview Ballroom. A breakfast buffet starts at midnight, and the historic downtown hotel guarantees late checkout. $400 per couple. Call (225) 344-5866 for reservations.

Holiday Inn Select continues its long-standing New Year’s Eve tradition. Funky dance music by Krossfyre starts at 8 p.m. in the Premier Ballroom. Overnight packages vary in price and include champagne and a breakfast buffet. Tables of 10 for $150 are also available. Call (225) 925-2244 for reservations or more information.

Don’t bother planning to meet at the Shaw Center rooftop. The LSU Museum of Art, Manship Theatre and Tsunami will be closed.

Experience the Ball Drop at the Ballroom as Lyceum Dean on Third Street sponsors a photographer, live music by Konfuzion and DJ OttO, plenty of food and champagne. The party at the new-and-improved ballroom continues until 2 a.m. $25 per person or $45 per couple.

Bistro Byronz invites you to bring the entire family out for a little bubbly, bites and bon temps. Reservations for family dining are available until 6 p.m. Later that night, the Bistro features a more refined five-course menu for your more “grown-up” friends. Reservations for this refined evening of cuisine are available at 7 p.m. Visit bistrobyronz.com to learn more about Bistro Byronz.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is preparing a special lobster menu paired with Napa Valley reds for New Year’s Eve revelers. Enjoy Australian Wagyu filet mignon paired with cold-water Australian lobster tail for $75.95. You can choose the fresh herb-crusted Australian rack of lamb with generous chunks of Maine lobster en fuego, prepared with shallots, sriracha chile-soy sauce and orze, for $59.95. Or you can order the colossal north Atlantic cold-water lobster tail, butterflied and baked with lemon-vanilla butter for $49.95. Reservations and details available at flemingssteakhouse.com.

Mississippi’s Colour Revolt returns to Spanish Moon for a New Year’s Eve show, following the release of a successful EP and semi-major-label debut Plunder, Beg and Curse. The band hits the stage with local up-and-comers Man Plus Building, who are planning to release a split with Wildnerness Pangs in the near future. Special appearances by Velcro DJs OttO and the Real Steven. 10 p.m. 18 and up. $12 online at ticketweb.com.

DJ Triz-A spins the best of old-school and modern dance hits on The Varsity stage. Free champagne toast at midnight and plenty of party favors and drink specials. Doors open at 9 p.m. $10 for 18 and up.

Though the Belle of Baton Rouge is having an invitation-only party for its top players, the rest of us can still enjoy New Year’s Eve on the casino floor with champagne, party favors and drawings every half hour from 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Must be 21.

The Washington Post calls his music “terrific, tasty rock ’n’ soul with a New Orleans twist.” Rootsy singer-songwriter Eric Lindell, with his new album Low on Cash, Rich in Love, performs a New Year’s Eve show at Chelsea’s Café. 10 p.m. chelseascafe.com.

Belly up to the Texas Club at 8 p.m. for free “U Call It” drinks until 10 p.m. as DJ Dwight mixes retro country and party music. Free party favors at the door and the LSU-Georgia Tech bowl game on the screens. $12 until 10 p.m., and $10 afterward.

It’s the final day for ice-skating at the River Center. $10 gets you 90 minutes on skates and a Coke. Slots are open for 9:30 a.m., noon, 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Click here for details.

Karaoke and free champagne at Red Star Bar on Laurel Street. Redstarbar.com

Roux House and Happy’s Irish Pub on Third Street downtown host a bigNew Year’s celebration. Roux House opens at 6 p.m. and will set up a projecter outside for the LSU game. Music later that night by Beer for Breakfast and Another Hero. Happy’s, the sister bar across the street, will set up a tent and open up the parking lot in the back. Advance tickets are $10, while tickets at the door are $20. VIP tickets, $75, allow you upstairs access and free beer and well drinks all night. Must be 21.

Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s downtown hosts a masquerade party, featuring the swampdelic sounds of Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band. The balcony opens at 3 p.m. with drink specials such as the original Happy Hour Countdown concoction and great prices such as $1 well drinks from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Champagne packages are $20 to $50, pending brand quality. Masks are available for purchase or bring your own.

Station Sports Bar will host a South Louisiana party band, The Animal Krackers, as well as drink specials, free champagne and party favors at midnight. At 6:30 p.m., catch the LSU vs. Georgia Tech game on the 12-foot, high-def TV screen. $5.

If you love John Lisi, you’ll really love the funky blues by the Ryan Patterson Experience, as Dalton’s on Lafayette Street hosts a party with free champagne and party favors. The best news: No cover charge!

Local alt-rockers One Wants plays at The Caterie. Free champagne. $5 for ages 18 and up.

“Noon Year’s Eve” with the children

The Children’s Museum of Acadiana invites families to Lafayette to countdown to noon, featuring a ball drop, confetti, face-painting and other surprises. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $5. Details available at childrensmuseumofacadiana.com.

In New Orleans, the Audubon Zoo rings in Noon Year with all-girl pop band Everlife, the New Orleans Hornets’ Junior Stingers and Honeybees, and the Radio Disney Dance Party. Admission is free for zoo members. $7.50 to $12.50 for non-members, which varies by age. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also in NOLA, the Louisiana Children’s Museum hosts its annual Noon Year’s Eve party with a ball drop, confetti, party hats, bowties and live music. 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $2 for members, $8 for non-members. Visit lcm.org for details.

If you’re in NOLA…

Celebrate the coming of 2009 at Jackson Square in the French Quarter as the Crescent City Countdown Club hosts live music, a gumbo drop and midnight fireworks over the Mississippi. The free party starts at 9 p.m. Visit crescentcitycountdown.com for details.

The Steamboat Natchez is taking reservations now for it’s New Year’s Eve celebration, featuring live dance music by Ivy, party favors and a front-row seat for the midnight fireworks on the Mississippi. Boarding opens at 9:30 p.m. Sailing is from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. starting at the Toulouse Street Wharf adjacent to Jax Brewery. Visit steamboatnatchez.com for details.

Playing around New Orleans is Better Than Ezra at the House Of Blues; Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and Papa Grows Funk at Howlin’ Wolf; Galactic and Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Tipitina’s Uptown.