Santa Barbara New Year’s Events 2006

Services

Old Mission Santa Barbara

The Mission’s Renewal Center hosts a weekend-long retreat. Fri.,
Dec. 29, 5:30pm through Mon., Jan 1, 11am. Old Mission Renewal
Center, 2201 Laguna St. Call 682-4713.

Unity Church of Santa Barbara

For those less inclined to booze and cruise in the New Year,
Unity Church of Santa Barbara offers two services for the
spiritually minded. Two morning worship services will address the
topic “Mapping the New Year,” and the sanctuary will be host to an
evening burning bowl ceremony. Traditional worship service, 9am;
contemporary service, 11am; burning bowl ceremony, 7pm. 227 E.
Arrellaga St. Call 966-2239.

Out and About

Arlington Theatre

The Santa Barbara Symphony presents its annual New Year’s Eve
Pops Concert. The evening’s theme, Wild West New Year’s Eve, brings
back conductor Richard Kaufman and includes a special birthday
salute to The Duke, John Wayne. Tom Demer, fiddle virtuoso, will be
joining the orchestra for several “barn-burning” numbers, as well.
8:30-10:30pm. 1317 State St. $30-$60. Call 963-4408.

Chumash Casino Resort

Ring in the New Year at the Chumash’s Samala Showroom and dance
the night away with hits from the ’70s and ’80s. Fun-filled
activities — sans alcohol — include live performances by the
Spazmatics and Disco Inferno. 9pm-2am. Highway 246 in Santa Ynez.
$20. Call (800) 585-3737 or visit chumashcasino.com.

Couchez

The newest club in town is doing it up Roaring ’20s style for
its first-ever New Year’s party. The Gatsby-themed evening will
feature two deejays and a complimentary champagne toast. Don’t miss
it. 214 State St. $30 pre-sale. Call 965-3585.

Earl Warren Showgrounds

Earl Warren hosts the largest New Year’s Ball to hit Santa
Barbara. Spend your night with Mix Master Mike from the Beastie
Boys, as well as world-renowned deejays. The event features a
complimentary bar from 9-11pm as well as complimentary tapas
service from 7:30-9:30pm. Exhibit Building, Earl Warren
Showgrounds, 6030 Hollister Ave. $100. Visit groovetickets.com or email info@lushSB.com.

Elsie’s

Rock in the New Year acoustically with Rey Villalobos and Eric
Ahlgren of The Coral Sea, plus special guests. 9pm-2am. 117 W. De
la Guerra St. $10. Call 963-4503.

Sandbar

Sandbar kicks off the New Year with an evening of glitter and
glam. Complimentary appetizers will be served from 8-10pm, followed
by a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, with party favors,
noisemakers, deejays, and dancing the whole night through. 514
State St. Call 966-1388.

Sharkeez

Chef Alfredo Chávez presents a five-course dinner with options
like coconut shrimp appetizers, Islander Cabo salad, tri-tip steak,
lobster tail, homemade cheesecake, and a complimentary bottle of
champagne per table. And of course, once the meal is through,
deejays will be spinning all night long. 416 State St. $25. Call
963-9680.

Wildcat Lounge

A midnight ballroom and champagne specials await you at the
Wildcat’s New Year’s Eve 2006. DJs Pat and Calvin Riley will be
spinning, and, by the night’s end, you’ll be, too. 15 W. Ortega St.
Presale tickets $40. Call 962-7970 or visit wantickets.com/therapy.

Fine Dining

Blue Agave

2007 Woo Year’s Eve benefit party features appetizers, a
three-course meal, cocktails, and champagne all to benefit
community development projects in Latin America. After dinner, the
dining room will become the dance floor. 20 E. Cota St. Cover,
meal, and limited drinks $100. Call 899-4694.

Bouchon

For those in favor of French cuisine, bouchon offers two dinner
seatings. The first, beginning at 6pm, features three courses of
fresh, locally grown ingredients, and will conclude early enough
for participants to head across the street for the S.B. Symphony’s
Pops concert. The second, more formal dinner will dazzle diners
with six courses. Food service concludes at 11:30pm, but the party
rages on for those wanting to stay through the New Year. 9 W.
Victoria St. Call 730-1160.

Elements Restaurant & Bar

If foie gras and truffle-stuffed free-range chicken breast, Kobe
prime rib, or Thai-style lobster thermidor sound tasty, head to
Elements to ring in the New Year. Regular seating begins at 5:30pm
and runs through 9pm. 129 E. Anapamu St. $97. Call 884-9218.

Epiphany

What better place to set a New Year’s resolution than epiphany?
Evening festivities include two seatings. The first meal — open for
seating from 5:30-6:15pm and priced at $50 per person — includes
three courses. The second “Limo Ride” meal begins at 9pm, runs
through midnight, and includes five courses and a complimentary
champagne toast, all for $85 per person. For the less committed,
the bar is open with no cover charge. 21 W. Victoria St. Call
564-7100.

Hotel Andalucía

For a swanky evening out on the town, Hotel Andalucía presents
two dinner seatings. The 6pm seating features three courses, and
the 9pm meal has four. And for those just dropping in, there will
be live music and dancing for all. 31 W. Carrillo St. $55-$75. Call
884-0300.

Opal Restaurant & Bar

Santa Barbara favorite Lady Blue & The Roadhouse
Daddies — fronted by the remarkable Donna Greene — bring blues and
jazz to Opal for a swinging evening of food and fun. Regular
restaurant hours; music starts at 9pm. 1325 State St. Call
966-9676.

Palace Grill

Ring in the New Year with Palace Grill’s annual Mardi Gras
celebration. The evening features a five-course dinner with a
complimentary bottle of champagne per couple; J.T. and the Zydeco
Zippers will be performing. Make your reservation; the beads and
masks await you. 6-9pm. 8 E. Cota St. Call 963-5000.

Sage & Onion

Sage & Onion showcases their fusion cuisine in two separate
New Year’s Eve dinner seatings. The first, 6-6:30pm, is a
three-course meal that includes a choice of porcini mushroom-seared
beef tenderloin, roasted arctic char, or winter vegetable and white
truffle stew. The second seating, 8:30-9pm, features seven courses,
including a choice of roasted rack of venison, arctic char, or
market vegetable special. 34 E. Ortega St. Call 963-1012.

SOhO

With a four-course dinner and Brazilian dance band Sambada, you
can’t go wrong at SOhO this New Year’s Eve. Price includes dinner,
dancing, and a champagne toast at midnight. 1221 State St. Dinner
package $100. Call 962-7776.

Zaffiro

Goleta’s former Pascucci restaurant has been transformed into
Zaffiro, and to kick off the New Year, the Italian bistro will host
a New Year’s Eve menu with reservation seating for parties of eight
or more. For smaller groups, it’s first-come, first-served, so get
there early. Dinner will be served from 5-10pm. 6920 Marketplace
Dr., Goleta. Call 968-6201.