Ring in the New Year locally

MONTROSE  — Many people enjoy ringing in the New Year with traditional noisemakers, champagne toasts, and gathering with good friends looking hopeful to the future. And one doesn’t need to look far — these unwritten laws of New Year’s Eve can be fulfilled right here in Montrose.

There is an array of events from live music and DJs, to drink specials and dances.

The Montrose Pavilion Senior Center is hosting a New Year’s Eve dance from 9 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be music; tickets are $12 each and are available at local banks.

There are several other places with live music. The new Belly’s restaurant will have a live band starting at 8 p.m.; Red Barn’s band will begin around 9 p.m.; and Cazwella’s will also have live music. Sam’s Tavern will have a DJ starting after 8 p.m.

The Bridge’s is having a bash starting at 8:30 p.m. upstairs and running until 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $30 and include a champagne toast, light appetizers, music and a limo ride to and from the party. Reservations are required and limo reservations must be made by 3 p.m. today.

Many Montrose businesses are open regular hours, making them great places to get the night started.

The Camp Robber has live music from 6-8 p.m.

Camp Robber, Smugglers, Red Barn, Remington’s at the Bridges and the new Stone House are running dinner specials that include steaks and seafood. Many other places, such as Niko’s and Suds taverns, are having midnight champagne toasts.

For that festivalgoer looking for a glass of wine, Jovis Coffee is giving out $5 wine cards to the first 25 people that come through its doors starting at 11 p.m. Its new wine machine has about 20 different wines sold by the ounce so one can get just the right amount.

The Stone House is hosting a lounge party after the dinner reservations and will be open past midnight.

Most places said they would be open as long as people where there, however, law requires them to shut down by 2 a.m.

With good fun also comes responsibility. The best way to have a safe New Year’s Eve is to designate a sober driver. Red Barn’s staff said they would try to accommodate rides. Montrose also has a cab service that can be reached at 275-8965.

“This is the companies third New Year’s Eve and we are ready for it,” Montrose Taxi operations manager Larry Braden said.

Four cars will provide service until 3 a.m. New Year’s Day.

And for about the cost of a couple drinks, one can get home safely through the taxi service. Prices vary on distance, but most in-city rides cost $7.50 for the first person and $2 for each additional person, Braden said.

And if you decide that New Year’s Eve is not your style, Pahgre’s is having live music starting at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Day and the Red Barn is hosting a brunch with its same New Year’s Eve menu.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com