Many people are very happy to say, "Goodbye, 2009." It was a tough year with a full-blown recession causing havoc in many people's lives throughout the nation. It was capped off last week with a blackout on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Hopefully the lights will stay on through the end of Thursday, Dec. 31, so the Wood River Valley can celebrate the arrival of 2010 and departure of 2009.
In celebration of businesses opening and perhaps the waning of the recession in Ketchum, newly opened Sego Restaurant and Bar plans to have a liquor license in place to throw its first New Year's Eve party from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
A $10 cover charge will include a champagne toast. Attendees will enjoy music selections by DJ Alex Hegewald from New York City and the restaurant will have tented and heated outdoor patio spaces and fire pits. The bar and restaurant will serve signature cocktails and chef Taite Pearson will present bar snacks as well as lamb and pig roast. These items will be available for purchase.
The Roosevelt Grille in Ketchum will also entertain folks with a New Year's Eve party, which will include music by DJ Lenny, a champagne toast and party favors beginning at 10 p.m. for a $40 admission fee. Papa Hemi's Hideaway in Ketchum will include live music by Bart Budwig and friends from 8 p.m. to midnight during a second dinner seating.
Other restaurant experiences to celebrate New Year's Eve include Sun Valley's Lodge Dining Room New Year's Eve four-course dinner with music by the Brooks Hartell Trio. A cocktail hour will take place with pianist Aaron Baker in the Sun Room from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 9:30 p.m. in the Lodge Dining Room. The evening affair is $145 for adults and $85 for children under 12.
In addition, the Sun Valley Limelight Room will have a New Year's Eve party with live music by the High Street Band with a cash bar, heavy hors d'oeuvres, dancing and champagne toast from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission is $75.
Sun Valley offers plenty of activities for youth and children for New Year's Eve. The Sun Valley Inn Continental Room will feature arcade games, crafts and fast-track auto racing. Snacks, beverages and adult supervision are included. The fun takes place from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. for children 6 to 14. Each child is $75. For reservations, call 622-2135. Sun Valley Playschool Evening care will also be available. For details on child care, call 622-2288.
Ketchum will offer several opportunities to blow horns on New Year's Eve with live music by The Damphools at the Casino starting at 10 p.m. with a $10 cover charge. Across the street at the new Whiskey Jacques', take part in a New Year's Eve party with live music by the band Marmalade Hill. A $50 entry includes party favors, gifts and champagne toast.
In Hailey, Zou 75's New Year's Eve Bash will include DJ music, dinner, dancing and champagne toast starting at 7:30 p.m. for $85 per person. The Hailey Hotel will celebrate 2010 with music by DJ Rage from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
At The Mint in Hailey, it will be a rocking New Year's Eve with two shows by legendary musician Dave Mason. Mason will play a show at 8 p.m. and a show at 11 p.m. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Tickets for the 11 p.m. show, which include a champagne toast, are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. For tickets, call 788-1051.
Mason played with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to form the band Traffic. He also wrote the lyrics to the song "Feelin' Alright," which has been recorded by at least 48 artists. Joe Cocker performs the song's most known version.
Mason left Traffic in 1969 and left England to perform as a solo artist in the U.S. His album "Alone Together" is considered a rock classic. He performed on the Rolling Stones' "Beggars's Banquet," George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass," Paul McCartney's "Listen to What the Man Said" and Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland."
The song, "All Along the Watchtower," on the "Electric Ladyland" album features Mason playing acoustic guitar. This song, written by Bob Dylan, remains a favorite in Mason's live shows.
In addition, Mason played with the band Fleetwood Mac and toured with the group for two years. Mason's career spans over 37 years, and he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band Traffic. His latest projects include launching an electric guitar company in 2004 with his partner Ravi Sawhney. Mason's latest release, "26 Letters ~ 12 Notes" in 2008 is a solo album, which took six years to make and was produced by Mason at his home studio.
Looking for a more entertaining New Year's Eve, head to Bellevue and attend The Brickhouse restaurant's burlesque show. This multi-faceted spectacle of talent will include gender-bending performance art, hula-hoop by Boise Hoopla, pole acrobatics and tribal belly dance by Kristen Hill. Tickets are $35 and $30 for those dining at The Brickhouse. The performance will take place from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. and includes a champagne toast. For reservations, call 788-4999.
Also in Bellevue, the Silver Dollar will feature live music by the band Electric Snack at 9 p.m. for a New Year's Eve party.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Dave Mason will play two shows at The Mint in Hailey on New Year’s Eve at 8 and 11 p.m. Photo by
