Ring in new year at one of these Carson City events

Carson City has plenty to offer this New Year's Eve " from funky, to festive to family fun.

Decades Bar and Grill is getting groovy Wednesday night with a flashback to the 1970s, complete with a costume contest.

"We all like an excuse to dress up," said Jenny Fox, owner and manager.

The bar has held other theme parties, she said, but this is the first tribute to the disco decade. The dance floor will feature two mirror balls with music from that era.

"I even have an Atari game with Pong on it," Fox said. "And we'll play Lite Brite. We have a lot of quirky things you forget about."

There's no cover charge and there will be a free buffet.

The Feisty Goat Pub will also usher in the New Year with a free Champagne toast. Tommy's Neighborhood Bar will feature music from Road Dawgs.

The Firkin and Fox will celebrate its first New Year's Eve in business with drink specials and music by Lanny, Nancy and Rene.

For families or those not looking for the bar scene, the annual contra dance is scheduled at the Brewery Arts Center.

French for "country," contra dancing is similar to square dancing, with swings, promenades and allemandes. Americans adopted the dance around the time of the American Revolution.

All dances are explained first, so no experience is necessary.

"If you can walk, you can contra dance," said Darla Bayer, who has helped organize the dance, fomerly called the Pioneer Family Dance, for the past nine years.

Dan Allison is a member of the group that gets together about once a month.

"I enjoy the dancing a lot," he said. "I love the music. Even if you weren't dancing, the music would be worth listening to."

The dance is accompanied by a potluck dinner in what Bayer describes as a "clean, healthy environment."

"There's not much for families to do on New Year's Eve," Allison said. "It's a great alternative."

At the end of the night, Bayer said, they pass out resolutions.

"We don't let people make their own resolutions," she said. "We make them for them."

Champagne will be served at midnight for adults and cider for children.

The New Year's Eve Ball Contra Dance will feature calling by Tom Thoreau of California and music by Train Wreck, which is Chris Bayer on fiddle, Mary Siders on banjo, Tom Dose on bass, and Cindy Gray on guitar.

The Carson City Library is hosting a "New York" New Year's Eve Party at the State Library and Archives Building.

"We're hoping it's very successful so it can become an annual event," said Phyllis Patton, chairwoman of the library board of trustees.

The party, which includes finger foods, music, beer, wine and a silent auction, begins at 6 p.m. It concludes at 9 p.m. " midnight in New York.

"Those who don't want to stay up late can go home and go to bed," Patton said. "Those who want to stay up and party can do that."

Patton said the library is "launching bids for a new library," and proceeds from the fundraiser will be used for furnishings.

Reservations must be made today by calling 885-9807. Cost is $35 per person or $60 per couple

- Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.

The Insurance Information Institute offers the following tips on how to host a safe and successful New Year's Eve party:

- Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcohol.

- Consider hiring a professional bartender. Most bartenders are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and can limit consumption by partygoers.

- Limit your own alcohol intake so that you will be better able to judge your guests' sobriety.

- Make non-alcoholic beverages available and always serve food, which can help counter the effects of alcohol.

- Do not pressure guests to drink or rush to refill their glasses. Never continue to serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.

- Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening and switch to coffee, tea and soft drinks.

- If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab, arrange a ride with a sober guest or have them sleep at your home.

- Encourage all your guests to wear seat belts when they drive home.

For more information about insurance, go to iii.org.