Friday, January 01, 1999
Tristate festivities shape up for 2000
BY MIKE PULFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
If you're taking a trip to 2000, check out AAA.
Cincinnati's AAA Royal Tours, the plan-ahead specialist, has organized a 1999 New Year's Eve bash for the Museum Center at Union Terminal. There will be room for as many as 1,600 revelers, said Mitzi Harrison, area coordinator.
Events still being organized for New Year's Eve 1999 include:
• First Night Cincinnati Downtown-Northern Kentucky. Jay Downie, president and CEO of Downie Productions Inc., said details are sketchy for the event, one of 140 First Night celebrations being planned around the country. Local venues will be “lobbies, the street and skywalks,” he said.
The night's emphasis will be on the visual and performing arts.
Mr. Downie compared the celebration to the Countdown events held downtown on New Year's Eve from 1988-1992.
• The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which has a tradition of New Year's Eve galas, confirmed a party at Music Hall next year, but hedged on specifics.
“It's hard to say what direction we're going in,” said spokesman Rosemary Weathers. “But we're hoping for an even bigger event” than Thursday night's.
• BB Riverboats plans a cooperative event package with Greater Cincinnati hotels — one that will extend the celebrating through New Year's Day 2000. Again, the plan is in conceptual stages.
• A celebration related to the Millennium Monument in Newport is still in the works, monument officials said. But, because of construction delays, a site has not been determined.
At the AAA bash at Union Terminal, there will be two bands, a disc jockey and guests will have access to Museum Center facilities.
Because of time and seating restrictions, there will be limited access to the Omnimax theater, Ms. Harrison said.
An oversize video screen in the Museum Center rotunda will show when the famous ball drops in New York's Time Square.
“Plus, there will be some surprises we're not going to talk about,” Ms. Harrison said. “Midnight will be something to remember.”
Complete details will be announced to AAA members in the March-April issue of Home & Away magazine.
Ticket price has not been determined, but AAA officials hope to keep it under $150 per person, which will include dinner.
If you think you'll be more in the mood for a smaller celebration next New Year's Eve, many Tristate restaurants are waiting for your reservations.
An exception is the Maisonette, downtown. It's booked for New Year's 1999 — but by the same group that books the five-star restaurant every New Year's Eve.
Other restaurants reported ample seatings available for next year, but no one seemed anxious.
“It's a little early,” restaurateurs said.
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