Newport-Mesa set for New Year’s countdown

Deirdre Newman

Whether you prefer to party on land or on sea, the Newport-Mesa

area offers a plethora of possibilities to ring in the new year.

If cruising around the harbor floats your boat, Luxury Yacht

Cruises will host a four-hour yacht cruise, complete with a DJ,

full-service bar and complimentary champagne toast. The celebration

costs $55 per person.

The nautical celebration offers “an inexpensive alternative

located in close proximity to local residents, avoids having to stand

in long lines trying to get in [different places] around town and is

an opportunity to meet new people,” said Leslie Blakely, charter

consultant.

For landlubbers looking to dance the night away, the View Lounge

at the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel and Tennis Club in Newport Beach

will have a live band between 9 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. playing Top 40 and

pop music. The cover charge is $25 and includes complimentary

champagne.

Pierce Street Annex in Costa Mesa will have a DJ spinning tunes

until 2 a.m. The $15 cover charge includes party favors, hats, horns

and leis.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center will hold its New Year’s Eve party

from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the center. The celebration will

include dinner, dancing and a champagne toast for $25 per person.

The Center has not had a New Year’s Eve celebration in a few

years. This year, members took it upon themselves to arrange

something.

“They are really in charge, [along] with the program director,”

said Aviva Goelman, executive director. “They will have dinner,

dancing. There’s a band, and they will have champagne at midnight.”

Some restaurants will also offer special menus on New Year’s Eve.

Skosh Monahans’ New Year’s Eve specials include roasted yellow

corn soup with Canadian snow crab and steak and lobster or tarragon

spaghetti. The full regular menu will also be available and the

kitchen will stay open until 1 a.m.

The Yard House in Costa Mesa will not take reservations, but will

accommodate guests on a first-come, first-served basis. An American

Fusion menu will be enhanced with an a la carte celebration menu

featuring a pair of special entrees available after 5 p.m. The

special entrees are Australian lobster tails and steak and lobster.

Josh Slocum’s in Newport Beach opened just in time to celebrate

the new year with a bang. A $75 cover charge will get you appetizers

and champagne. VIP sections are also available to rent out. The

restaurant will offer dancing starting around 9 p.m.

For party-hoppers or those who don’t want to drive, the Orange

County Transportation Authority will provide free bus service from 6

p.m. on New Year’s Eve to 4 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The route serving

the Newport-Mesa area is No. 57, which serves the Block at Orange,

South Coast Metro and Fashion Island.