CP NEWS: What Day is New Year's Eve?

[ddm-news]

When it comes to New Year's Eve parties, there's no such thing as a stupid question. That being said, someone called us and asked, "What day is New Year's Eve?"

Damon, one of the party experts here at NewYears.com, said, miraculously without a hint of sarcasm, "Um, this year it falls on a Sunday, ma'am."

The caller, impatient, "No, no, no. Please tell me the calendar date."

"That would be December 31," Damon said.

The sad thing? It wasn't the first time we got the question. Which got us thinking. There are some aspects of New Year's Eve that are obvious to people in the industry, but not-so-obvious to everyone else. (Okay. December 31 should be obvious to everyone, including my 7-year-old nephew.)

But on NewYears.com, in our hundreds of party listings, promoters casually toss around jargon that might make sense, might not. Just in case, here's a round-up of our most frequently asked questions.

What does Open Bar mean? Does that mean the bar is open for business?

When placed side by side, "Open" and "Bar" are the two greatest words in the English language. This means the alcohol is free. Typically, the Open Bar is valid for a few hours (example 9pm - midnight). When we know the exact times, we put it in the party listing. (If it's not on the party listing, unfortunately, the promoter hasn't told us that information.)

Yeah. I know. I'm not an idiot. But what, specifically, is included in an Open Bar?

Stuff like domestic beer, generic liquor, soda--that kind of thing. It's likely to have gin, vodka, whiskey, and the like, but you can't expect it to be Grey Goose or Bombay Sapphire.

Hnmmmm, well it's New Year's Eve, damnit, and I want Bombay Sapphire. Where would I find it?

Now, if the promoter specifies "Premium Open Bar" or "Top Shelf Open Bar," that'll include the pricier labels like Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire.

One piece of advice…even when the Open Bar is included in the price of admission, it might not be required, but it's a good idea to tip the cocktail waitress or bartender--those poor saps are working on New Year's Eve, after all. (And the more you tip, the more they'll look your way when you're running empty.)

Let's get to music. What kind of music does DJ Such-An-Such play?

DJs are a funny lot. Sometimes the club likes to put up a big banner saying "DJ Cobra Commander: in the HOUSE!!!!" and then expect everyone to know what DJ Cobra Commander plays. At NewYears.com, when we know what kinds of genre the DJ is going to spin, we'll put it in the listing.

But I don't see a genre for DJ Cobra Commander? What should I do?

When it only has the DJ name, sadly, the promoter didn't tell us. If you're interested in learning more about the DJ, your best bet is just to google the DJs name…you'll probably be taken to his or her official site or MySpace page, which will give you a better feel for the vibe.

What should I wear?

Many parties give sorta cryptic advice like "Stylish Apparel," "Dress to Impress," "Sexy Classy" or, my personal favorite, "Festive Stylish." You're right. It can be confusing.

Rule of thumb on New Year's Eve: go more formal than you ordinarily would. People like to dress up. The clubs like you to dress up. And even if you have a ticket, if you're not following the dress code, the doorman has the right to refuse admittance.

Some guidelines:

Formal / Black Tie -- A tux for the guys, a cocktail dress or evening gown for the ladies.

Semi-formal -- Jacket for the guys (not necessarily a tie), cocktail dress or skirt ensemble (or maaaaybe a dress-pants-type-deal)for the ladies.

Dress to Impress -- No, no, this doesn't necessarily mean a suit. (Although you can wear one if you'd like.) Just pretend that you really want to dazzle a first date, and wear that. No baggy jeans. No sneakers. No jerseys. No baseball hats. No jumpsuits. (Sorry, K Fed, that goes for you, too.) For guys, one fallback option is a stylishly-fitted pair of jeans, collared shirt, and dark jacket.

And for the ladies?

For the ladies, Dress to Impress includes stuff like designer tops, cocktail dresses, strappy stilettos, flirty little numbers. You know, think Paris Hilton, but with underwear. And yeah, you can wear jeans, but just sex 'em up a cute top, boots, or hot heels.

Stylish Apparel -- Same as Dress to Impress. Just look good.

Smart Casual -- George: "Jerry, she wants me to wear Smart Casual! What does that even mean?" Jerry-- "I don't know, but you don't have it." See Dress to Impress, and whatever you do, don't dress like George Costanza.

I got an e-mail saying that my E-ticket is confirmed. But I don't have any tickets! What do I do? OH MY GOD, WHAT DO I DO!?!?!?!

Relax. That e-mail is your ticket. Such is the beauty of the Web 2.0. You don't need to receive any additional hard tickets. Just print your e-mail out, bring it to the club, and show that along with your photo ID.

This party is hosted by Vincent Chase. Does that mean I'm guaranteed to meet him?

Sadly, no, it doesn't guarantee that you get to hang with Aquaman. When a party is hosted by a celebrity, there's no guarantee that you'll even see them, much less grind with them to Sexy Back.

Still have a question? No problem. Give us a shout at info2006@NewYears.com.

Link To Original Article