Ring In The New Year From Punk To Country, There Is A Party For Everyone Celebrating The Start Of ‘96

Tick. Tick. Tick.

That’s the sound of the last hours of 1995 fading.

And you know what that means? It’s party time.

New Year’s Eve is undoubtedly the one holiday of the year that people celebrate with the most enthusiasm. And who could blame them? It’s a way to both remember all that was good about 1995 and forget about everything that was bad.

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate and welcome the New Year in the Inland Northwest, as always there’s a plethora of options.

But remember. Don’t drink and drive. Paying a cab fare or making arrangements with a designated driver is much cheaper than paying a DWI fine.

Dempsey’s Brass Rail will ring in the New Year with a dance party. Those who want dinner before need reservations. Party starts at 9 p.m. There’s no cover. Party favors will be waiting at the door.

Rare Mountain Air will play for party-goers at Capone’s Sports Pub in Coeur d’Alene. Come for the beer toast at midnight. Fun starts at 9 p.m. The cover is $5.

One thing always holds true for the Swackhammer’s New Year’s Eve bash: It will sell out. DJ Randy Lee will spin the latest dance crazes. Doors open at 6 p.m. Unless you want to stand out in the cold, get there early. The cover is $10 at the door only. The night also features prizes, party favors and bubbly.

Get a true taste of a Western New Year at Chili D’s. The club’s popular house band True Texas will be laying down the tunes. Champagne and party favors will also be dealt out. The cover is $5.

Looking for a culturally enriching way to spend New Year’s Eve? The Spokane Folklore Society is holding its annual New Year’s Eve Contra Dance at the Woman’s Club Hall, 1428 W. Ninth. Music will be churned out by Roger Muat and Rena Magi (fiddle and piano dance music) and the Starry Night Dance Band (Celtic and traditional dance music). There will also be a waltz workshop. Bring a snack for the snack potluck. Singles, couples and families are welcome. Festive or silly attire is encouraged. The dance starts at 8 p.m. and lasts until 1 a.m. Admission is $5 for Spokane Folklore Society members and $8 for nonmembers. For more information, call 747-2640.

You can enjoy a quiet New Year’s at the Wine Cellar in Coeur d’Alene. The popular, atmospheric restaurant will serve a five-course dinner. There’s a choice of three entrees. The dinner costs $47.95 per couple. Live music will be provided by Bones, Bolan and Willis.

Has the holiday season left you with a bad case of the blues? That’s all right; you’ll be in good company on New Year’s Eve at the best blues joint around - the Fort Spokane Brewery. Portland’s highly touted Yo And De Cats will entertain. Like last year, the brew pub will have an appetizer buffet. There’ll be champagne and party favors. The cover is $12 (you must be at least 21) and $11 for Blues Society members.

New Life Singles Ministries presents its annual New Year’s Singles Dance on Saturday night, the day before New Year’s Eve, at Cavanaugh’s Inn At The Park from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Stagecoach West, a ‘50s- and ‘60s-style country band, will provide the live music. Advance tickets are $8 and are available at all G&B outlets. It’s $10 at the door.

Sully’s will be serving up a steak and lobster dinner for $24.95 between 5 and 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The lounge will have free hors d’ouvres. Two Cool Cats, featuring Kelly Porter and Lester Paulsen, will play in the lounge. Champagne at midnight. The cover is $5.

Hobart’s in Cavanaugh’s Fourth Avenue Hotel will be celebrating the New Year Brazilian-style with “Hot Brazilian New Year’s Eve.” The party will draw from a Brazilian carnival theme and will feature the fabulous sounds of Desafinado, a nine-piece Brazilian jazz group.

You can access the party one of three ways. The first is the overnight package for couples, which includes accommodations, dinner in Hobart’s and the party for $119.96 per couple. There’s a dinner/party package for $40 per person. If there’s space, people can go for just the dance for $20 per person. Call 838-6101 for reservations.

Thudpucker’s recommends people show up around 7 p.m. if they want good seats for its New Year’s celebration.

Included in the bash is champagne, hors d’oeuvres and party favors. Playing the Top-40 dance hits is local band Legend. The cover is $10 at the door.

The No Name City Saloon at State Line will party down with country band the Rough Riders. Champagne and party favors will be given out to all over 21. The cover is $3 for those 21 or older and $6 for anyone under 21. Bring ID.

The ever-popular Eastern Washington University New Year’s Eve Casino Night returns to the Ridpath Hotel on Sunday. The event, presented by the EWU Alumni Association features real money gambling. There’ll be blackjack, over-under, roulette and many others. Gambling starts at 7 p.m. and continues through midnight. Coinciding is a dance lasting from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. All proceeds benefit EWU scholarship funds and alumni activities. You must be at least 21 to attend. There’s no cost for admission.

Lots of excitement will be on tap at Eichardt’s in Sandpoint. Entertaining is Edwards-Park. There’ll be a free buffet after the kitchen closes. There’s no cover. For dinner reservations call (208) 263-4005.

Grobal Productions is planning a cynical New Year’s celebration in true punk rock style, with a punk rock show at Ichabod’s North. Local faves the Flies, Crudlers and Big Comb will play along with new Capitol Records signee Less Than Jake. The highlight of the night will be the reunion of Mother Load, which headlines. Music starts at 8 p.m. The cover is $6.

This year marks the first New Year’s Eve extravaganza at Bolo’s in the Valley. And it already appears the bar and grill is off to a great start. For $15 per person, you can have dinner. Entrees are chicken marsala, New York strip and shrimp scampi. Plus, there’ll be a stand-up comedy from Don Parkins and Nick Theisen during dinner. Following the meal, you can dance off the year and the calories to Nightshift. Party favors and champagne are included in the deal. Not interested in the dinner? You can still join the dance party for $5. And, Bolo’s is even offering a free shuttle service. For reservations, call 891-8995.

The Jim Baker Orchestra will be playing the Davenport Hotel on New Year’s Eve at 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $45, $40 for seniors and are available at G&B outlets. The cost at the door is $50 and $43 for seniors.

Kelly’s at State Line ought to be packed for its year-end blow-out. The talented and widely-followed Kelly Hughes Band will blast out the country music. Tickets are $6 for adults 21 and over and $10 for adults 18-20 and are available at all G&B outlets.

If shooting stick is all you want to do on New Year’s, head to Bogey’s Billiards and Bistro in Coeur d’Alene. The bar is putting on a pool tournament. The bistro will be preparing a special prime rib dinner for two. The cost, including a bottle of bubbly, is only $22.95.

Safe Sax will perform at Ankeny’s at the Ridpath Hotel on New Year’s Eve. Of course, the club will have party favors and champagne. The cost is $15 for hotel guests and $20 for the public.

The Stockyards Inn will kick things off early at 4 p.m. Champagne is $1 a glass and $12 a bottle. Don Larson and the Cynics entertain. You’ll get your hats and noise makers when you pay your $5 cover at the door.

For $15, you can party at JJ’s, which will have Kid Sister on stage. It all begins at 8 p.m.

Wine Stein’Z in the Valley will have lots of drink specials to keep those New Year’s toasts flowing all night long. There will also be a host of giveaways, hats and noise makers. If you’d like to have dinner, too, call 891-8466 for reservations.

The Laughin’ Blues will play Salty’s By The Falls. Festivities start at 9 p.m. There’ll be champagne and party favors.

The Big Dipper will reopen its doors for New Year’s Eve. DJ Sir Charles will pump out the tunes, ranging from funk and hip-hop to soul and R&B. The party commences at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $8 at the door. ID and nice attire is required.

Outback Jack’s will usher in the New Year with DJ Ryndog. The night begins at 7 p.m. There’ll be lots of prizes and give-aways.