Happy New Year!

Somehow another year has passed and it's almost 2014!  If you feel like braving the cold and are looking for a place to celebrate, www.citypages.com and www.vita.mn list out the venues in the Metro that are hosting New Years Eve celebrations.  Beware, most places in downtown Minneapolis are charging cover fees.

If you feel more in the mood for a night at home with friends, here is a fun idea to count down to midnight: Wrap a box for each hour:  7:00, 8:00, 9:00, etc.  Open a box each hour.  The boxes could contain games, 2013 trivia, props for fun pictures, 2013 souvenirs, snacks, props for ringing in the new year at midnight.

 Note:  Haskells and Surdyks currently have champagne on sale!

Here are some of my favorite New Years cocktails:

• champagne and POM (pomegranate juice)
• champagne and chambord (raspberry liqueur)
• champagne with fresh fruit
• the classic mimosa:  champagne and OJ

Here are some of my favorite non-alcoholic mocktails:

•  POM, sprite, orange slices
•  POM, sparkling water
•  sparkling water with fresh fruit