Allow us to be the first to say goodbye to 2016. With old acquaintances—both forgotten and remembered—we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, and we’ll start with these New Year’s Eve parties around the North Bay. From delectable dinners to cabaret shows and blowout concerts, here’s a selection of ways to ring in 2017.
Happy New Year,
Charlie Brown
Kids love New Year’s Eve as much as the rest of us, but staying up late is not their strong suit. Instead, take them to the Charles M. Schulz Museum for a fun afternoon of crafts and games, with a big balloon drop and root beer toasts at noon and 3pm. Hey, it’s New Year’s somewhere. 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. 10am to 4pm. $5–$12. 707.579.4452.
Mischief Masquerade
The North Bay Cabaret never fails to surprise in its eclectic monthly variety shows, and master of ceremonies Jake Ward is pulling out all the stops for this New Year’s Eve spectacular. Attendees to the masquerade are encouraged to dress the part, eye masks included, and the night’s elegance will be matched by the entertainment. Burlesque, belly dance and circus and sideshow acts all come together for a night of dazzling feats, with DJs spinning until 2am and Champagne at midnight. There’s even a raffle with proceeds benefiting Syrian refugees through local nonprofit the Schoolbox Project, which provides education and support to refugee children and families. Whiskey Tip, 1910 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. 8pm. $20–$25 (21 and over). mischiefmasqueradenye.brownpapertickets.com.
Bubble Ball
The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is getting into the New Year’s Eve game this year, debuting its own showcase of local music, wine, beer and more in the first annual Bubble Ball. Dance the night away with popular local bands like Wonderbread 5, Kingsborough and the Pat Jordan Band, while sipping (or chugging) the best local brews and vino, and tasting local culinary masters. A general admission ticket gets you a little bit of everything, including the Champagne toast. The night
also benefits Greenacre Homes
in its quest to serve Sonoma County youth with special needs. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 8pm. $95 (21 and over). 707.546.3600.
Rivertown Ball
Each summer, the popular Rivertown Revival turns downtown Petaluma into a wonderland of DIY arts and local music. This year, the folks behind the revival, including the North Bay Hootenanny and Second Octave Entertainment, turn their eyes to New Year’s Eve and premiere the Rivertown Ball. Tobias “the Mystic Man” Weinberger of the vaudeville-on-wheels Traveling Spectacular hosts, San Francisco soul-powered band Monophonics headline, and Marin’s El Radio Fantastique and Sonoma County’s ragtag Oddjob Ensemble fill out the lineup. All the while, aerialists and sword swallowers roam, and libations from Lagunitas and Sonoma Cider fuel the fun. The Rivertown Ball also benefits Friends of the Petaluma River, and proceeds will help keep the watershed vibrant. Petaluma Veterans Memorial Hall, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma. 8pm. $70; $55 for designated drivers (21 and over). rivertownrevival.com.
New Year’s Eve
at Barndiva
The Healdsburg culinary destination has a motto: Eat the View. For New Year’s Eve, the view is looking particularly delicious, as Barndiva’s restaurant and bistro offer two separate menus of elegant dining in a festive and fun atmosphere. In the restaurant, a six-course meal of classic favorites features scallops and short ribs with special wine pairings available. In the relaxed bistro setting, the music gets pumping as you choose between beef fillets and roasted sole before working off the calories with a dance or two. Reservations are recommended. 231 Center St., Healdsburg. 707.431.0100.
New Year’s Eve at Spoonbar
Whether you want an amazing dinner to start the night’s fun, or a spot for late-night cocktails to wrap up your New Year’s Eve, Spoonbar has what you’re looking for. First up, a decadent four-course meal boasts luxurious caviar, truffle ravioli, seared black bass and roasted lamb loins on the menu. After the meal, DJs get the dance party going while photo booths and other fun activities keep spirits high. If you show up after 10pm, you can still partake in the dessert bar and sip on handcrafted cocktails before a glittering Champagne toast rings in the new year. Spoonbar,
219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 6pm, dinner; 10pm, party. $125 dinner; $55 party. 707.433.7222.
Petaluma Museum’s
Gala Concert & A Night
in Vienna
Sky Hill Cultural Alliance and the Petaluma Museum Association present their eighth annual gala concert and dance with classical flair and marvelous entertainment. First up, the historical museum and library hosts members of the San Francisco Symphony in concert. Violinist Yun Chu, cellist Shu-Yi Pai and viola player Nancy Severance have been performing in the gala since the series’ inception, and this year they are joined by North Bay mezzo-soprano Karen Clark for a program of awe-inspiring artistry and music. After the show, it’s time to dance the night away, as the action moves to nearby Hermann Sons’ Hall for “A Night in Vienna,” featuring many traditional Austrian dishes and desserts, and waltzes performed by a live orchestra. This black-tie-optional event toasts New Year’s in stellar fashion. Gala concert happens at 20 Fourth St., Petaluma, 6pm. $50–$70. “A Night in Vienna” happens at 860 Western Ave., Petaluma. 8:30pm. $150. 707.778.4398.
New Year’s Party
in Sebastopol
After a year of vitriol and anger on all sides of the spectrum, Sebastopol wants to ring in the new year with an emphasis on peace. The party at the Sebastopol Community Center will offer lots of live music and drink, but there will also be thoughtful moments during the celebration to reinforce the feeling of love and togetherness that the west Sonoma County town has come to embody. Onstage, R&B funk masters Soul Fuse and laidback rockers the Rhythm Rangers, winners of the 2016 NorBay Music Award for best Americana and Country band, co-headline the night. Other local favorites like Levi Lloyd, Buzzy Martin, Sarah Baker and Mr. Music and the Love Choir also contribute to the positive vibes. Amid the dancing, a full bar will warm the belly and
a peace ceremony led by shaman and author Francis Rico will
warm the heart. 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. Doors at 7:30pm.
$18–$25. 707.823.1511.
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Ramekins New Year’s
Eve Celebration
The culinary school in Sonoma goes for the Hollywood glam this New Year’s Eve, so dress in your red-carpet best and enjoy an all-inclusive array of delicious bites, beer and wine, Champagne toasts and live music by the French Disconnection.
450 W. Spain St., Sonoma. 8pm. $125. ramekins.com.
Brian Culbertson
at Blue Note
Since opening last October, Napa’s Blue Note Jazz Club, which occupies the first floor of the historic Napa Valley Opera House, has gotten busy bringing world-class talent to one of the North Bay’s most intimate stages. This New Year’s, Blue Note welcomes multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson for two nights, including a New Year’s Eve celebration. Culbertson is best known as the founder and champion of the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway. He is also known across the country for his 16 self-produced solo albums and collaborations with everyone from Barry Manilow to Bootsy Collins. Join Culbertson for a jazzy New Year’s on Dec. 30–31. 1030 Main St., Napa. Friday, 7pm and 9:30pm; Saturday, 7:30pm and 10:30pm. $55 and up. 707.880.2300.
Red Tie Affair
The Westin Verasa in Napa is seeing double and throwing not one, but two parties to ring in 2017. First up, a dinner party at La Toque offers a Champagne reception before a sumptuous six-course dinner with a sommelier wine-pairing option. After the meal, the Red Tie Affair kicks off next door at Bank Café and Bar, with dancing and cocktails leading up to the Champagne toast. 1314 Mckinstry St., Napa. Dinner at 7:30pm; after-party at 9pm. $75 and up. 888.627.7169.
Rockin’ Country New Year
If formal attire is not your forte, Napa also has a denim-appropriate affair with a rollicking night of country rock at Silo’s. Live music from the Cripple Creek Band gets the boots stomping for two shows. Special desserts, party favors, bubbly and down-home fun culminate in two ball-drops, one for each coast. 530 Main St., Napa. 7pm and 10pm. $45–$75. 707.251.5833.
A Night in Paris
The Napa Wine Train is a popular attraction for wine and travel enthusiasts, and this New Year’s Eve event travels all the way across the sea for a night of Parisian delights. Sparkling wine awaits you at the station, and a decadent four-course meal is served while the sights of the Napa Valley pass you by during the three-and-a-half-hour ride. Once you return to the station, DJs get a dance party started
and a cabaret club atmosphere brings Paris to California.
1275 McKinstry St., Napa. Reception at 5pm; train departs at 7pm. $299 and up. 800.427.4124.
Speakeasy New Year’s Eve
Wine country public house Goose & Gander’s annual New Year’s bash includes two dinner seatings, cocktails and authentic ragtime music by Bob Ringwald before DJ Rotten Robbie spins vinyl in an after-party perfect for flappers
of any era. 1245 Spring St.,
St. Helena. Dinner at 5pm; after-party at 9pm. $40 admission to the party. 707.967.8779.
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
A popular sight in the North Bay, the psychedelic rock and roll family that is the Chris Robinson Brotherhood largely operates somewhere in the wilds of Marin County that Robinson has dubbed “Unicorn, California.” This past year saw the brotherhood release their acclaimed roots-rock album Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel, and now the former Black Crowes frontman and his bearded band of merry men take over Terrapin Crossroads on New Year’s Eve, with two nights of jams and joy. The brotherhood flies the freak flag Dec. 30–31, 100 Yacht Club Drive, San Rafael. Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 9pm. $40; $75. 415.524.2773.
New Year’s Eve Stand Up Comedy Showcase
Osher Marin JCC’s seventh annual New Year’s Eve event boasts more laughs than you can shake a bottle of Champagne at. This show always sells out in advance, and for good reason: the stellar lineup of performers and festive atmosphere is the perfect way to countdown to midnight. This year, the showcase outdoes itself with five comedians on the bill. Hosting the show is New York City native Jeff Applebaum, who has spent over 20 years making crowds laugh in his adopted hometown of San Francisco. His clean comedy sets the mood for the night, and the laughs keep coming from comedian and radio/TV host James P. Connolly, New Age optimist Karen Rontkowski, award-winning comedian Lamont Ferguson and the lovely Jason Love. A selection of cocktails, beer and wine start the party,
and a midnight toast wraps it up. 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Pre-show party starts at 7:30pm. $35 and up. 415.444.8000.
Mademoiselle Kiki’s European Cabaret
The alter ego of Bay Area performer Moana Diamond, Mademoiselle Kiki transports audiences to Paris for a night of sultry entertainment and partying. In an intimate Cabaret-style nightclub setting, the mademoiselle leads the Chez Kiki Orchestra in interpreting the music of Edith Piaf and others while burlesque dancers and others take your breathe away with dazzling performances. There’s also a VIP pre-party for those wanting to get started early, and a Cabaret after-party keeps the dancing shoes on until 2am. Harmonia Wellness & Social Club, 2200 Marinship Way, Sausalito. Pre-party starts at 7pm. $30 and up. 415.332.1432.
