Midway to New Year's

[Annual Ritual] Looking to escape the hoards on New Year's Eve? A journey to Midway might just be the ticket. 

Midway's Zermatt Resort www.ZermattResort.com offers two New Year's Eve options: There's a 4-course prix fixe dinner at Schneitter's Restaurant ($85 per person, includes tax & tip) with live music from the Murdock Jazz Ensemble, hats, horns, and a Champagne or cider toast. At Zermatt's Bernese Event Center a "Family Fun New Year's Bash" will feature the Salzburger Echo, face painting, Laughing Gravy DJ & dancing, and a buffet dinner. The cost is $39 for ages 12-adult, $25 ages 6-11, kids under 6 free. For more info and reservations call 866-320-3068. 

Over at Midway's Blue Boar Inn www.TheBlueBoarInn.com "Bavarian Splendor" is the theme for New Year's Eve. Chef Eric May's 7-course celebration meal includes entrees such as butter-poached lobster with Chardonnay cream sauce, citrus tuna tartare, roasted veal loin, and duck confit. The Blue Boar will offer two seatings for New Year's Eve: one at 5:00 PM (5-courses for $75) and a 7:00 PM seating (7-courses for $150, including party favors, Champagne or cider, and live music).  Guests will also have the opportunity to ring in the New Year by blowing the 10-foot, curved European Alpenhorn. Phone 888-650-1400 for reservations. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

(Ted Scheffler) 

I Danced America & So Can You

[Local Music] Salt Lake City DJ crew Ted Dancin' (a trio that happens to feature my boyfriend but that in all honesty rocked my world long before we got together) played a special show last Friday with local pop-rockers Future of the Ghost who absolutely killed with the tightest set this writer has seen from them to date. Catch the band before they hit the road for a months-long tour this spring.

Ghost leader Will Sartain's old project The Tremula (which evolved from indie group Redd Tape) will also stage a reunion show of sorts tonight at The Urban Lounge. I saw Sartain along with fellow members Sean, John and Scotty packed together in a car last night and thought for moment that we'd flashed back to 2004. Don't miss this opportunity to trip down memory lane.

You can also get in on Ted Dancin' action this New Year's Eve (again at Urban) when the party gets real with Salt Lake City rockers The Wolfs. If the NYE shindig is anything like last Friday, prepare to sweat. In typical fashion, the packed crowd rocked hard all night, gaining speed on request hits including "We Built This City (On Rock & Roll" and, well, to be honest, it's all kind of a blur. Expect an eclectic mix of James Brown, Salt n' Pepa, Hall & Oates, LCD Soundsystem, Michael Jackson, etc. Also, this could be one of your last chances to see The Wolfs for a while as they plan to duck out and focus on recording a much-anticipated album until it's done, son. (Jamie Gadette)

New Year's Eve? Already?

[Party] Yes, the messages are coming in already: "What's going on New Year's Eve?" Sheesh, can't we at least get Christmas out of the way first?

Anyway, the list is by no means complete at this point, but here are a dozen Dec. 31 musical happenings in the area that we're aware of--if you have more, post 'em in a comment so we can include as many as possible:

Blackhole, Xur @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State

Die Monster Die @ Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State

DJ Matrix @ Tony’s, 3165 S. 1300 East

DJ Radar @ Area 51, 451 S. 400 West

DJ Rebel & Tallman @ Monk’s, 19 E. 200 South

DJ Ryan Powers & Electric Space Jihad @ The Depot, 400 W. South Temple

First Night SLC @ Downtown Salt Lake City

Massacre at the Wake, Cave of Roses @ Club Vegas, 445 S. 400 West

Patter Starts, Tolchock Trio, Future of the Ghost @ Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West

?uestlove @ Harry O’s, 427 Main, Park City

The Wolfs, Ted Dancin’ @ The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East

Tribute to Sinatra’s Rat Pack @ Rose Wagner Theater, 138 W. 300 South

(Bill Frost)