compiled by Julie Weaver


illustration by Lisa Kirkpatrick

My only resolution this New Year’s is that I’m not making any damn resolutions. They only last a couple of weeks anyway, and then I just end up feeling bad that I’ve broken another set of promises. So forget it — there are plenty of other things to feel crappy about in this life. I’m going to live free — free to indulge in my vices, or, more importantly, free to stop indulging in them if I feel like it (not because I’ve made some half-baked promise I’ve felt coerced into making just because the calendar is rolling over once again). And I invite each and every one of you to join me in my quest for guilt-free living — drink that cup of coffee, smoke that cigar, eat that piece of triple fudge brownie cake with raspberry filling and real whipped cream on top — or don’t. Just do what feels right and do it without remorse. Oh, as to why I’m babbling about all this: Below you’ll find some really fun stuff to do while celebrating your new-found freedom. Happy New Year, and in the words of one of my favorite film characters, “It’s best not to be too moral, otherwise you’ll have nothing to talk about in the locker room!”



A PRE-NEW YEAR’S TEEN CELEBRATION will be held at the South Austin Recreation Center, 1100 Cumberland Rd., sponsored by the Central East Austin Community Organization. The event will feature live performances by Latin Swing and Police Ice, as well as dance music provided by several well-known Austin DJs, including DJ Kayos, DJ Hi-C, and the Boys in the Box. Numerous door prizes will be given away, and food and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase. $1 discounts if you bring canned goods for CEACO’s Emergency Food Pantry. Tue, Dec 30, 7-11pm. 472-5575.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR EARLY with country & western star Larry Gatlin as he joins the Austin Symphony for “A New Program of Old Favorites” at the Holiday Pops concerts at the Palmer Auditorium, S. First & Riverside Dr. ASO Associate Conductor Timothy Muffitt will conduct the performances. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring picnic suppers; cash bars will be set up around the auditorium (as all beverages must be purchased at the auditorium). Tables for ten are available on the auditorium floor at $25 per person; individual seats in the balcony are $15 each. Tickets are available now at the Symphony Box Office, 11th & Red River. Tue & Wed, Dec 30 & 31, 8-10:30pm. 476-6064.

GHOSTLY DOINGS AT THE DOUBLETREE sets a comedy whodunit among the halls of a haunted hotel. Over a four-course dinner, watch Mary Astor-Turf try to contact dead ancestor Colonel Jack and help solve a crime. The Capital City Mystery Players present a special New Year’s Eve version of their most popular show at the Doubletree Hotel, 15th & Guadalupe. Tickets are $49. Wed, Dec 31, 8:30pm. 478-7000, x660.

ROCKIN’ NEW YEAR’S PARTY is the Zachary Scott Theatre Center’s pop holiday fantasy given a little post-Christmas spin. The seasonal tunes that fueled Rockin’ Christmas Party have been replaced with more party tunes that rocked the charts from the Fifties to the Seventies. Jacqui Cross, Felicia Dinwiddie, Lisa Holmstrom, Adrienne Longenecker, Andra Mitrovich, Melissa Santos, Roderick Sanford, and Kenneth Williams still star, and Dave Steakley still directs. (Review in this issue’s “Exhibitionism.”) Presented at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress. Tickets are $15-$35. Wed, Dec 31, 8pm, 469-SHOW.

CAPITOL CITY COMEDY CLUB makes the leap from 1997 to 1998 in Cap City style with prince of pop impressions Mark McCollum. Sharing the bill are Rick Gutierrez as feature and Jesse Pangelinan as emcee. Choose from two shows: early, with a light appetizer buffet and free pass for one in 1998 (8pm, $17.50); or late, with champagne and party favors at midnight, breakfast after the show, and free pass for one in 1998 (10:30pm, $35). 8120 Research. Wed, Dec 31, 8 & 10:30pm. 467-2333.

RIDE IN THE NEW YEAR IN STYLE on the Twilight Flyer, Austin’s own excursion steam train run by the Austin & Texas Central Railroad. The memorable Hill Country train ride will depart from Cedar Park and take passengers on a two-hour trip. Once aboard, train-goers will enjoy the jazz music of saxophone player Greg Wilson, a box lunch, and complimentary beverage, and the sights and sounds of the Hill Country in the evening. Tickets begin at $20 in coach seating. Call for reservations. Wed, Dec 31, 7pm. 477-8468.

SIMPLE ELEGANCE, the third annual New Year’s Eve Gala, will be presented by the Umbrella Foundation at the Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto. Proceeds will benefit AIDS Services of Austin and ALLGO/Informe SIDA. DJ Dig’m from Oil Can Harry’s will spin the tunes, and the event will also feature an open bar, hors’ d’ouevres, a raffle (featuring American Airline tickets for anywhere in the Northern hemisphere), and a silent auction. Cost is $75 per person; with a special room rate $109 for the hotel. Tickets are available at Lobo, Book Woman, AIDS Services of Austin, and Informe SIDA, or by phone at 406-6175. Wed, Dec 31, 9pm.

A NEW YEAR’S REGGAE BALL will be held at Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. Sixth, featuring live music with the Killer Bees, and lots of tasty Jamaican food. Wed, Dec 31, 9pm. 474-9336.

DANCE INTO THE NEW YEAR to the big band sounds of the Nash Hernandez Orchestra, who will perform at the Omni Hotel, Eighth & Brazos. The dance will also feature party trimmings, a cash bar, breakfast buffet, and more. $75 per person. Wed, Dec 31, 8pm-1am. 259-5441.

KAYA TEAHOUSE & REGGAE CLUB will host a New Year’s Eve Party in reggae style, featuring DJ DJ. As always, bring your own spirits (beer, wine, etc.). The “house” is located at 505 E. Seventh. Wed, Dec 31, beginning at 9pm. 457-0147.

A NEW YEAR’S EVE EXTRAVAGANZA to benefit the Save Our Springs Alliance will be held at The Public Domain, 807 Congress. The event will feature live music with Afrodite and Inkululeko, dancing, a complimentary buffet, an open beer and wine bar, and more. Tickets are $35 per person/$60 per couple. Call for reservations. Wed, Dec 31, beginning at 8pm. 477-2320, ext. 41.

A NEW YEAR’S EVE MASQUERADE & EROTICA BALL will be held at Anchovies, 73000 N. I-35. Packages are $100-$199 per couple, plus tax. Call for reservations. Wed,
Dec 31. 371-9876.

CLUB MAX will host a special party to ring in the New Year right. Festivities include party favors, great drink specials, a midnight champagne toast, dancing, live music by Flashback, an endless breakfast buffet, and more. The club is located in the Red Lion Hotel, 6121 N. I-35. Wed, Dec 31, beginning at 9pm. 323-5466.

Restaurants:

BERTRAM’S RESTAURANT will ring in the New Year with a wonderful menu created by chef Miguel Ravago, featuring special dishes from the interior of Mexico. Party favors and a complimentary glass of champagne will be included in the package, and live jazz will be performed by the Suzie Stern Trio. Cost for evening is $55 per person. Bertram’s is located at 1601 Guadalupe. 476-2743.

CASTLE HILL CAFE marks the beginning of 1998 with a lovely three-course menu featuring a variety of delectable dishes. Courses include fried Asian springrolls with sticky rice and tamarind-ginger sauce, grilled marinated beef tenderloin brochette in red wine and fresh herbs, mocha toffee torte, and much more. Cost is $32.50 plus tax & gratuity. Reservations are necessary. The cafe is located at 1101 W. Fifth. 476-7218.

GILLIGAN’S is now booking reservations for their New Year’s Eve Early Inspirations and their Primetime menus. Live music will be featured, performed by Tribal Nation and the CMB Jazz Trio. The restaurant is located at Fourth & Colorado. Cost is $50/couple for the Early Inspirations menu (seated by 6:30pm; order by 7pm); and $90/couple for the Primetime menu. 474-7474.

JEAN-LUC’S FRENCH BISTRO will offer a special four course prix fixe menu, complete with champagne and party favors. The menu includes duck confit crepes, lobster bisque, lamb noisettes with green peppercorn sauce, wild mushrooms and potato gnocchis in puff pastry, desserts, and more. Cost is $50 plus tax and gratuity; call for reservations. Seatings are at 6, 8 & 10pm. The Bistro is located at 705 Colorado. 494-0033.

JEFFREY’S RESTAURANT will feature fabulous delectables by Chef David Garrido, who assures us he will find the most exotic and decadent of ingredients to create unique and exciting dishes. The restaurant is located at 1204 West Lynn. Call for reservations. 477-5584.

TOP OF THE MARC features a special New Year’s Eve package, including a multi-course gourmet dinner, the fabulous Las Vegas-style La Cage Revue, live music with Mike Milligan and the Midnight Movers, and more. Reserved seating is $100 per person, or $125 per person with room for two at the Radisson Hotel (quite a deal!). A generous portion of the proceeds will benefit AIDS Services of Austin. Top of the Marc is located above Katz’s at 618 W. Sixth. 472-5420.

ZOOT is offering a fine four-course dinner, complete with hats, noisemakers, and more. The prix fixe menu includes Red and Yellow Sweet Pepper Bisque with Shrimp Escabeche, Lamb Osso Bucco with Posole Succotash, Roasted Black Angus Strip Loin, Cherry Chocolate Truffle, and much more. Cost is $65 plus tax, wine, and gratuity. The bistro is located at 509 Hearn St. Reservations available between 5:30 and 11pm. 477-6535.

Music:

See “City Beat” for addresses and phone numbers. An asterisk (*) indicates show begins before 8pm.

311 CLUB Joe Valentine & Lynn

ANTONE’S Storyville, Trish Murphy

ATOMIC CAFE reg. Choreboy, Dead End Cruisers, Bickley

AUSTIN MUSIC HALL Fred Eaglesmith, Robert Earl Keen

BABES/BABES STAGESIDE David K./Litzbomb, Canvas

BACK ROOM SSIK, Custard Pie

BATES MOTEL Chumps, Jesus Christ Superfly, Squat Thrust, Headhunters

BLACK CAT LOUNGE Phil Pritchett, El Kabong

BROKEN SPOKE Alvin Crow

CAROUSEL LOUNGE Matt Jones’ Swing Dance*, Jay Clark

CHELSEA ST. LAKELINE Greg Passmore

CONTINENTAL CLUB Mr. Pete’s Party Hour*, Naughty Ones, Cookie & the Cupcakes Memorial

DONN’S DEPOT Donn & the Station Masters

EGO’S Sebastian, Layne & Thomasson

ELECTRIC LOUNGE Hamell on Trial, Damnations

ELEPHANT ROOM Jazz Pharaohs*, Concerto Grosso

EMO’S New Bomb Turks, Sons of Hercules, Econoline, Kiss Offs

FAT TUESDAYS Adam & Chris, Reunion

FLAMINGO CANTINA Reggae Ball w/Killer Bees

FLIPNOTICS COFFEESPACE Herman the German & Das Cowboy

GILLIGAN’S Tribal Nation, CMB Jazz Trio

GINO’S ITALIAN GRILL OM: Rusty Wier

HOLE IN THE WALL Let’s Get Big*, Wannabes, Stretford, Scarlitt

JAZZ Melodious Thunk

JOE’S GENERIC BAR Blue Diamond*, Slashbelly & Voodoo Hounds

LA PALAPA Pete Benz

LA ZONA ROSA Sister 7, Scabs, Kacy Crowley

LIBERTY LUNCH Brave Combo

LUCY’S RETIRED SURFERS Reckless Kelly

MAGGIE MAE’S Popgun, Lunar Sue, Lee Person

MAMA MIA’S Bill Forrest*

MIGUEL’S LA BODEGA Dario y Comborican

PEARL’S OYSTER BAR Dysfunkshun Junkshun

RHYTHM HOUSE Van Wilks

RINGSIDE @ SULLIVANS Ron Brown, James Polk, Jon Blondell, Karan Chavis

RITZ LOUNGE Ta M�re

RUMORS Riverchild

RUTA MAYA COFFEE HOUSE Bakers Moonshine Caravan

SARADORA’S Brian Mullin*

SAXON PUB Omar & the Howlers

SPEAKEASY Brent Gorrell & 47 Indians

STEAMBOAT Breedlove, Steamroller, Holy Moellers

STUBB’S BBQ The Derailers, The Gourds

SULLIVAN’S Sandy Allen Trio*, Hank Hemsoth Trio

TEXAS BAR & GRILL Major Burkes

THE SALOON Jaded Lovers

TOP OF THE MARC La Cage Follies!, Mike Milligan & Midnight Movers, Tapestry Dance Co., Ballet Austin members

TRIPLE CROWN Dr. Zog

TROPICAL ISLE E-7

Taxi Cab Numbers:

Free Ride Home:

Dec 24 through Jan 1, 7pm-3am: 434-7788

Fare:
American Yellow Cab: 452-9999

Austin Cab: 478-2222

Roy’s Taxi: 482-0000

This article appears in December 26 • 1997 and December 26 • 1997 (Cover).

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US