Celebrate New Year's Eve

As 2010 winds down, it's time to make plans to celebrate the New Year. Douglaston Patch has listed several neighborhood spots that are hosting New Year's Eve events:

1. Douglaston Manor
6320 Commonwealth Blvd, Douglaston
718-224-8787

With a DJ handy to help people dance into the New Year, Douglaston Manor will pull out all the stops for guests to ring in 2011. An entry fee of $125 will include an open bar (from 7 p.m.  to 1 a.m.), and a four-course dinner. There will be a midnight toast and balloon drop to ring in the New Year. Reservations should be made in advance. For listings of the menu, please visit the Douglaston Manor Web site.

2. Strawberry's Sports Grill
42-15 235th Street Douglaston
718-517-8787

Strawberry's Sports Grill will hold its first New Year's celebration. For $35, visitors will be able to enjoy a complimentary drink, buffet and a champagne toast at midnight. Visitors can also pay $65 for the buffet and toast, but also open bar from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Reservations are not mandatory. The grill's staff did not know whether Darryl Strawberry would show up for the celebration.  

3. Giardino by Russo's on the Bay
44-37 Douglaston Parkway
718-224-0589

For New Year's Eve, Giardino will offer a prix fixe dinner. Appetizers will include a Caprese salad as well as cold or hot antipasto. The eatery will offer a chef's pasta tasting with Rigatoni Pomodoro, which includes plum tomatoes, garlic and basil.

Entre choices will be Pollo Napoletana, pork tenderloin, New York shell steak, chicken or eggplant parmigiana, lemon sole marechiaro, veal scaloppine ceppetello, breast of chicken with panfried shrimp, shrimp oreganata or Atlantic salmon. Dessert and a champagne toast at midnight will also be included.

The restaurant is now taking reservations. Visit www.giardinos.com.

4.  Bourbon Street Café
40-12 Bell Boulevard, Bayside
718-224-2200

Bayside's Bourbon Street Café will kick off its New Year's Eve party at 10 p.m. For $50, attendees will get an unlimited supply of draft beer and well drinks. Visitors who pay $65 will also be privy to an unlimited amount of bottled beer, but also top shelf drinks.

There will be live music, party favors, a hot and cold buffet, a champagne toast at midnight and three large-screen televisions. Call the restaurant to make reservations. A deposit is required.

5. Valentino's on the Green
201-10 Cross Island Parkway, Bayside
718-352-2300

Bayside's Valentino's on the Green, located along the Cross Island Parkway in Rudolph Valentino's former home, is offering New Year's Eve dinners for $49 per person from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. or $59 per person from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The second seating will include party favors and a champagne toast.

The eatery will offer six first course options, such as Alaskan crab cake with avocado or Maine lobster bisque and second courses, including Veal Marsala, crisp seared Cornish hen or homemade ravioli.

Desserts will include cheesecake, apple almond crostata or Valrhona chocolate fantastia.

Valentino's will also host a five-course dinner and open bar in its banquet hall for $135 per person. This will include hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, an entrée, dessert and entertainment. Tickets may be purchased on the phone or in person.