As New Year’s Eve traditions in central New Jersey go, this one is fairly young — only eight years old. But compared to some other “traditions” that have come and gone since then, such as downtown Princeton’s once popular but now defunct Curtain Calls, the Hogmanay bonfire just gets hotter and hotter.##M:[more]##
Hogmanay, a free event that invites “families of all ages” to the historic Brearley House in Lawrenceville, begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 31. The bonfire harkens back to the ancient Scottish tradition of hurling into the flames tokens of evil spirits from the old year. To make it easy for 21st century revelers, the Lawrenceville Historical Society provides pencils and paper so you can write down those plagues from the prior year and make them literally go up in smoke.
The “grand firemaster” and inspiration of this now annual rite is Joe Logan, Scots/Irish descendent who grew up in Savannah Georgia, a land thickly settled by Scots since the 17th century. Since being transplanted to Lawrence Township, where he volunteers with the historical society, he remembered the traditional New Year’s Eve bonfires from his youth and introduced them to Lawrenceville.
The New Jersey Hogmanay now includes a kilted bagpiper, who circles the fire and then leads the revelers into the 18th century Georgian-style Brearley farm house, first erected in 1761. While most contemporary participants might be happy to rid their persons of bad memories and nuisances through the Hogmanay bonfire, fewer are likely to follow another Scottish New Year’s Eve ritual: Clearing both debts and ashes from the fireplace before the bells of midnight.
Most of the New Year’s Eve activities listed below are likely to cost money. As always, call first to confirm times and make reservations, if necessary.
Hogmanay New Year’s Eve Bonfire, Lawrence Historical Society, Brearley House, Meadow Lane off Princeton Pike, about a half mile east of the I-295 intersection, 609-895-1728. www.thelhs.org. Gather in the Great Meadow to light up the night with a traditional Scottish New Year’s Eve bonfire. A bagpiper plays as lists of bad things from 2005 are tossed into the flames. Refreshments and old-time fiddle music indoors. Free. 6 p.m.
Other Family Events
First Night, Newtown Middle School, Newtown, PA. www.firstnightnewtown.com. Music by Kindred Spirit. Fireworks at. 7 p.m.
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Party, Brunswick Church of Christ, 505 Milltown Road, North Brunswick, 732-398-0252. www.njmissions.com. Board games, refreshments, and a count down to 2006. 7 p.m.
Classical Music
New Year’s Eve Concert, Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra, Patriots Theater, War Memorial, Trenton, 609-396-5522. www.trentonsymphony.org. “Music from Classic Films” features music composed for or used in classic films including Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” Max Steiner’s “Suite from Casablanca,” Rachmaninoff’s “2nd Piano Concerto,” and Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Blue Danube (2002: A Space Odyssey). $25 to $65. 8 p.m.
Drama
Squabbles, Off-Broadstreet Theater, 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell, 609-466-2766. www.off-broadstreet.com. Comedy about a writer of advertising jingles married to a lawyer, her father, and his mother — all under the same roof. $35.25. 8 p.m.
Dancing
New Year’s Eve Party, Central Jersey Dance Society, Unitarian Church, 50 Cherry Hill Road, 609-945-1883. www.centraljerseydance.org. Country two-step lesson with Diane Weinberg followed by dance party. Bring dessert to share. Free with reservation. 8 p.m.
English Country Dance, Princeton Country Dancers, Patterson Center, Monument Drive, 609-683-7956. www.princetonol.com/groups/pcd. Dancing followed by gala dessert break at 11:30 p.m. Sue Dupre, calling, with Daniel Beerbohm on clarinet, flute, and pennywhistle; Barbara Greenberg on violin, and Bill Peek on piano. Bring a festive dessert to share at the buffet. $20. 8 p.m.
Singles
New Year’s Eve Celebration and Dance Party, Professional and Business Singles Network, Best Western New Hope, Route 202, New Hope, 888-348-5544. www.PBSNinfo.com. Midnight toast, hats and noisemakers, and continental breakfast. Dressy attire. Cash bar. $45. 9:30 p.m.
Good Causes
Casino Royal, Crossroads Theater, 7 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, 732-545-8100. www.crossroadsnb.com. Third annual New Year’s Eve fundraising gala with live entertainment, dancing, auction, and soul food buffet. Black tie, valet parking. $85 to $100. 8 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Party, Dahntay Jones Foundation, Doral Forrestal, College Road, Plainsboro, 609-651-2601. Festivities include dinner, dancing, and silent auction of signature items from NBA stars and celebrities. Benefit for youth scholarship programs. Register. 8 p.m.
Comedy Clubs
New Year’s Eve Show, Bucks County Comedy Cabaret, 625 North Main Street, Doylestown, 215-345-5653. www.comedycabaret.com. Terry Gillespie, Ed McGonigal, Sue Kelly, and Jeff Soles. $20. 8:30 p.m.
James P. Connolly, Catch a Rising Star, Hyatt Regency, 102 Carnegie Center, 609-987-8018. www.catcharisingstar.com. Comedy show, four-course dinner, four drink tickets, party favors, champagne toast, DJ and dancing, $329 per couple. Pre-show dinner package and comedy show at 5:30 p.m., $144 per couple. 8 p.m.
Juston McKinney, The Stress Factory, 90 Church Street, New Brunswick, 732-545-4242. www.stressfactory.com. New Year’s Eve show with dinner buffet. Early show, $35. Late show, $85 (includes open bar). Hotel packages available. Register. 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Hotel Packages
New Year’s Eve at the Doral, Doral Forrestal Conference Center and Spa, College Road East, 609-452-7800. www.marriott.com. The Doral’s gala begins with a four-course dinner and includes dancing with open bar until 1 a.m. Champagne toast at midnight. Entertainment by DJ Cisco and Company. $264 per couple or $399 per couple with overnight accommodations and New Year’s Day breakfast bffet. 7 p.m.
Crystal Garden, Hyatt Regency, 102 Carnegie Center, 609-987-1234. www.princeton.hyatt.com. Crystal Garden package includes five-course dinner, Viennese dessert, party favors, champagne, DJ, dancing, and Times Square broadcast, $269 per couple. 8 p.m.
New Year’s Eve, Westin Princeton, Forrestal Village, 888-627-7036. www.westin.com/princeton. Five-course dinner for two at Bimi, the Hibachi-style steak house and sushi bar, $125 per couple; $299 with overnight stay and buffet breakfast. 9 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Package, Hampton Inn, 4385 Route 1, South Brunswick, 609-951-0066. www.hamptoninn.hilton.com. Bottle of sparkling wine or cider, box of chocolates, buffet breakfast, and overnight accommodations. $129 to $149. 8 p.m.
Food & Dining
New Year’s Eve Ball, Amalfi’s Cuisine, 146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Road, Lawrenceville, 609-912-1599. www.amalfis.com. Special menu, open bar, music and dancing, champagne toast, noisemakers. $190 per couple. 9 p.m.
New Year’s Eve, Amarone’s Windsor Inn, 29 Church Street, Windsor, 609-448-7144. www.amaronesrestaurant.com. Food, wine, and entertainment by Billy Hill. Three seatings available. By reservation. $45 to $85. 4:30 p.m.
New Year’s Eve, Mediterra, 14 Hulfish Street, 609-252-9680. Sampling of Mediterranean dishes served family-style, wine tasting, and dancing to the music of Arturo Romay. $140 per person. 8:30 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Party, Nova Terra, 78 Albany Street, New Brunswick, 732-296-1600. Food and wine sampling, salsa music, and dancing. $135. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Live Music
Johnny and the Full Grown Men, 552 Restaurant, 552 Washington Crossing Road, Newtown, PA, 215-968-5300. www.johnnypompadour.com. 8 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Party, Conduit, 439 South Broad Street, Trenton, 609-656-1199. www.conduitmusic.com. Open bar, buffet, and breakfast buffet. $55. 9 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Party, Finnigan’s, 529 Route 130 North, East Windsor, 609-448-8012. Jaded Faith, Switching Heads, and WMD. 21 and up. $5. 9 p.m.
Darla Rich Quintet, Hopewell Bistro, 15 East Broad Street, Hopewell, 609-466-9889. www.acmemusicco.com. Jazz vocals and dancing. Fixed price dinner for New Year’s Eve. 7 p.m.
Red Rover New Year’s Eve Bash, John & Peter’s, 96 South Main Street, New Hope, 215-862-5981. www.johnandpeters.com. 9 p.m.
New Year’s Eve, KatManDu, Waterfront Park, Route 29, Trenton, 609-393-7300. www.katmandutrenton.com. Party bands, champagne, open bar, around-the-world island buffet, continental breakfast. $70. 8:30 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Party, Princeton Elks, Route 518, Montgomery, 609-466-0541. “New Year’s Eve with Jade,” a dance band, open bar, surf and turf dinner, champagne toast, hats, noise makers, and a continental breakfast. $55. 7 p.m.
New Year’s Eve, That’s Italian Trattoria, 101 East Broad Street, Hopewell, 609-333-1710. Jazz. 6 p.m.
New Years Eve Party, Triumph Brewing Company, 138 Nassau Street, 609-924-7855. www.triumphbrew.com. Lazlo presents classic country rock with a modern edge. Noise makers, party hats, champagne toast. $10 cover. Five-course prix fixe dinner features New Zealand rack of lamb, $60. 9 p.m.
Polymer, Triumph Brewing Company, 400 Union Square, New Hope, 215-862-8300. www.triumphbrew.com. 9 p.m.
