From Marionettes to Michael's, Ringing in the New Year With a Free Ride Home

By Teresa Rochester

As some Santa Monicans hoard canned goods and bottled water in fear of a Y2K meltdown, the city's restaurants, clubs and attractions are putting the final touches on all-out New Year's celebrations.

From a Happy 2000 Millenium Earth Party, sponsored by local activist Jerry Rubin's Alliance for Survival, to a $500-per-person dinner featuring a complimentary cocktail reception, tray passed hors d'oeuvres and a raw bar at Michael's Restaurant, there is a Millenium celebration somewhere in the city to suit every taste and pocketbook.

The turning of the century has inspired not only pricey celebrations but creative ones as well. Locando del Lago restaurant will celebrate the New Year with "Un Millennio di Italiani Famosi," a five course meal featuring food inspired by famous Italians throughout history for $129 per person.

"The chef and the owner are both from the Bellagio region in Northern Italy and so we just decided to celebrate the end of the millenium with famous Italians who have touched our lives," said restaurant Manager Megan Sheehy. "From that he [the chef] took the person and created the dish."

The menu includes an aperitif inspired by Sophia Loren, a Leonardo da Vinci inspired salad and handmade ravioli prompted by the travels of Marco Polo, who happened to introduce new shapes of pasta to Italy.

"It's a beautiful menu," said Sheehy.

If food inspired by famous Italians doesn't work for you, or if Michael's $500-a-person shindig is outside of your price range, Rix will offer a four-course meal, dancing and a bottle of Dom Perignon as a party favor for $425 per person. Shutters on the Beach will host a $275-per-person gala dinner and the Fairmont Miramar Hotel will hold a $225-per-person celebration at the Grille.

For those who want to be outdoors during the unseasonably balmy weather, Pacific Park on the pier will feature live music, free swing dance lessons, picnic dinner, unlimited rides and free popcorn and cotton candy for $85-per-adult and $45 for children under twelve. Only credit cards are accepted.

Kids also can ring in the New Year with "Turn-of-the-Century" performances of Puppetolio, featuring marionettes, ventriloquists, magic and more at the Puppet and Magic Center.

For those who don't want to fight traffic or have had too much to drink, the Big Blue Bus will offer free service on all bus lines after six p.m.

For more information on bus schedules and a list of a whole host of millenium celebrations follow the following links. And of course, have a happy New Year.

SantaMonica.com
Link to free Blue Bus rides.