Countdown To 2006:
A Guide To San Diego New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Welcoming the New Year is one of those traditions that can set the tone for the rest of the year, so it’s important to do it right. Whether you’re planning to greet 2006 with that special someone or with a few dozen of your closest friends, you want to say good-bye to 2005 in style while celebrating the clean-slate possibilities of a fresh new beginning.

For almost a century, the dropping of the 1,070 pound ball in Times Square has signaled the arrival of a new year to revelers all around the world. The famous lighted ball, which this year will be covered with 504 Waterford crystal triangles engraved with the names of those lost in the World Trade Center attacks, descends 77 feet in 60 seconds and is probably the most universal symbol of New Year’s Eve.

Once the ball has dropped, though, we San Diegans still have three hours of partying to go until our own new year begins. So, as we raise a glass to peace, health, and prosperity, let’s toast some of the best local places to usher in 2006.

Times Square West
There’s no reason to fly three-thousand miles to New York when you can just head down I-5 and enjoy the Spectacular Outdoor Midnight Ball Drop at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. For the past decade, this extravaganza has been dubbed “The West Coast’s Premier New Year’s Eve Celebration,” with its unique pyrotechnic show and laser light countdown.

“This night is really a unique experience in San Diego and people tend to come back year after year,” says Brad Mettler, director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt. “They love that they get to see the ball drop, and there’s no question we have much better weather here than in Times Square.”

With five stages featuring a variety of musical entertainment, the entire hotel is transformed into one big celebration. For $125 per person, guests can groove to smooth jazz in the Grand Ballroom or dance to everything from the Incredible Disco Pimps in the glass-enclosed Barcino Pavilion to the Aventine Steel Drum Band in the Courtyard. The event begins at 7pm with complimentary light hors d’oeuvres served until 9pm.

Ticket prices include party favors and unlimited access to all the festivities, including the highly-anticipated ball drop. For those who want to make a weekend out of it, special hotel packages are available. (858/552-6000, www.timessquarewest.com)

Paris In San Diego
If you’d rather celebrate the New Year with an international flair, pack your bags and journey downtown to the award-winning Westgate Hotel where America’s Finest City magically becomes the City of Lights.

Spend the last few hours of 2005 dining and dancing the night away in the legendary Le Fontainebleau restaurant. The evening begins at 7pm with a Champagne reception in the magnificent grand lobby, followed by an unparalleled seven-course Escoffier dinner created by executive chef Fabrice Hardel. Le Menu, which includes Atlantic red mullet with fennel and picholine olive fondue, cherry tomato, lemon chips, and basil emulsion, paired with Sancerre, Chateau Sancerre, and Loire (and that’s just one course), deserves a celebration of its own. The Jesse Davis Group will provide live entertainment in the Regency Salon, where the floor will be set for dancing.

At midnight, enjoy a Pommery toast and wine pairing. This memorable New Year’s feast costs $250 per person, and special hotel packages — including a luxury room and elaborate Sunday Champagne brunch — are available as well. (619/238-1818, www.westgatehotel.com)

La Costa New Year’s Eve Ballroom Gala
The legendary La Costa Resort & Spa is known for pampering its guests, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. From 8pm until 1am guests can indulge in a culinary adventure, featuring a five-course plated dinner, accompanied by wines and an extensive selection of Viennese desserts.

Beginning with an hour-long cocktail reception, the evening’s festivities will include live musical entertainment, dancing, and a midnight countdown complete with New Year’s Eve party favors and a Champagne toast.
Tickets for the event, which takes place in the Poinsettia Ballroom, are $225 per person. (800/854-5000, www.lacosta.com)

Masquerade Magic
The New Year is the perfect time to try on a new persona, and Thornton Winery provides an enchanting opportunity to do just that at its much-heralded annual New Year’s Eve masquerade gala. Masks will be provided although guests are encouraged to bring their own.

From 7pm until 1am the celebrated winery presents an evening of gourmet food, award-winning wine and champagne, magic, and music at a cost of $155 per person. The Jon Laskin Band will perform into the night, and popular magician Michael Johnson performs an interactive “how’d-he-do-that?” live stage show along with close-up magic at each table.

The sumptuous menu features a Champagne reception with tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, chilled maine lobster tower paired to Thornton 2002 Sauvignon Blanc, duet of prime filet of beef and poached Alaskan halibut paired to Thornton 2002 Cabernet-Merlot, and a dessert trio with Kono coffee crème caramel, moscato infused chocolate dipped strawberries, and dulce de leche ice cream paired to Thornton 2004 Moscato. Midnight is welcomed with a Champagne toast. (951/699-0099, www.thorntonwine.com)

USS Midway
For a more historic perspective, ring in the New Year on the aircraft carrier that served the Navy for an unprecedented 46 years. The USS Midway set new standards of naval aviation in the latter half of the twentieth century, and just may set a new standard of New Year’s celebrations as well.

Peartrees Catering hosts its second annual New Year’s Eve Gala Aboard the Midway Aircraft Carrier, featuring music by Marty Conley and the Big Band Express, a hosted bar, and unlimited trips to the elegant dinner stations. The gourmet buffet, available from 8pm to midnight, includes chef carving stations, a risotto bar, and a Viennese table filled with elegant French pastries. At midnight, Champagne and tray-passed chocolate truffles will be served on the flight deck so guests can take advantage of the 360-degree view of the city’s fireworks.

“Last year we had 300 people doing the bunny hop across the carrier,” says Jerry Siegel, owner of Peartrees. “It’s such a unique venue for a party, and it’s great to combine the carrier’s rich past with the promise of the future.”

Tickets for the event cost $129 per person, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the ongoing preservation and restoration of the USS Midway. Docents will also be on hand to give tours. (619/575-5500, www.peartreescatering.com) — Lois Alter Mark