Photo by The Commercial Appeal files, Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal files // Buy this photo
Each year, thousands gather on Beale Street for New Year's Eve festivities.
Photo by Mike Brown
Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal Files You never know who might run into on Beale Street on New Year's Eve. It could be anyone from Elmo to raucous tourists, ready for some revelry during the street party that will culminate with fireworks and the annual guitar drop at midnight.
The Mayans were wrong, and the calendar keeps rolling along. But now there's another problem: What to do on New Year's Eve. There are plenty of public parties around town this Monday, more than we could fully detail here, but here is a rundown of some noteworthy celebrations to ring in 2013.
Beale Street is to Memphis New Year's celebrations what Times Square is to New York's. The entertainment district continues to live up to its reputation with music in all the clubs and an epic eight-hour outdoor party planned for Hard Rock Café (315 Beale), culminating in fireworks and the fifth annual guitar drop, sort of Beale's version of the Times Square ball drop.
Thirteen bands, including blues artist Kitty Dearing and rockers Evolve Through Scars will perform on two stages, one inside the Hard Rock and one outside, starting at 5 p.m.
Cover is $10. For more information, call 901-529-0007 or visit hardrock.com/Memphis.
Elsewhere on Beale, the New Daisy Theater (330 Beale) will sing in the New Year with a concert featuring former Memphis singer-songwriter Todd Snider.
Snider, who cut his musical teeth playing at Memphis bar The Daily Planet (his first album was called Songs From the Daily Planet), has been raking in the end-of-the-year accolades for his latest album, Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables, which has made the best-of lists of American Songwriter and Rolling Stone.
Also performing will be Will Kimbrough and another former Memphian (and American Songwriter accolade recipient), Cory Branan, whose 2012 album Mutt is named one of the year's best elsewhere in this issue.
Show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $26 and are available by phone 866-468-7630, online at newdaisy.com, and at Spin Street, Re-Plays, Freewheelin' Franks, or the New Daisy Theatre.
Off of Beale the place to be on New Year's in Memphis is The Peabody (149 Union).
Both of the restaurants that received "South's Grand Hotel" awards will be offering special menus, with Capriccio Grill serving a three-course dinner for $75 (call 901-529-4199 for reservations) and Chez Philippe's five-course dinner going for $140 (call 901-429-4188 for reservations).
Both restaurants also offer guests the option to get Peabody New Year's Eve Party Passes for $30, $5 off the regular price. The passes get you entry into a concert featuring Lord T & Eloise, Seeing Red and DJ Mark Anderson as well as the midnight lobby balloon drop.
Advance tickets are available online at peabodymemphis.com through 6 p.m. Sunday. After that tickets can be bought at the hotel. VIP tickets are also available and include admission to a lounge, and appetizer buffet, unlimited champagne, and draft Stella Artois.
For more information, call 901-529-4000 or visit peabodymemphis.com.
Cooper-Young bar Celtic Crossing (903 S. Cooper) will hold its second annual New Year's Eve Midnight Masquerade with proceeds benefiting the Memphis & Shelby Country Humane Society.
There will be party favors and photos, a midnight champagne toast, and music from DJ Tree starting at 10 p.m. Admission is $5 for entry and standard bar service; $45 per person for guaranteed table seating, champagne and three-course dinner; and $40 per couple for seating, champagne and an appetizer.
For tickets call 901-274-5151. For more information, visit celticcrossingmemphis.com or memphishumane.org.
Two more of 2012's most acclaimed local music acts will be in concert New Year's Eve at the Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar). Folk pop band Star & Micey and singer-songwriter Kait Lawson team up for a fundraiser for the in-the-works Memphis music documentary "Meanwhile In Memphis."
The show starts at 9 p.m. Cover is $10. The event is bring-your-own beverage. For more information, call 901-325-6550.
Fresh off the release of their debut EP, Memphis reggae band The Chinese Connection Dub Embassy head up the "Irie New Year's Eve Party" at the Blue Monkey in Midtown (2012 Madison). R.I.C.O. and special guests will also perform.
Show starts at 10 p.m. Admission is $3. Call 901-272-2583 or visit bluemonkeymemphis.com.
New Year's Eve at the P&H Café (1532 Madison) is highlighted by the debut of Future IS Now, a super group of sorts organized by musician Richard James and featuring members of Tiger High, The Sheiks and James' The Special Riders, who are also on the bill with The Woodsmen, Dream Team, and DJs Carl Sagan Jr. and Stratosphere Into My Cosmos.
Doors open at 9 p.m. Cover is $7. For more information, call 901-726-0906.
Cooper-Young restaurant The Beauty Shop (966 S. Cooper) continues its tradition of a New Year's Eve four-course dinner and jazz music by The Gary Johns Quartet. There are two seatings but space is limited. Reservations can be made by phone at 901-272-7111 or e-mail at roadsidekc@gmail.com.
Finally, the last New Year's Eve at storied Memphis rock club the Hi-Tone (1913 Poplar) features local heavy rock favorites The Dirty Streets, Heavy Eyes and the Electric Gringo Orchestra, which is made up of members of Gringos and The Joint Chiefs. The show includes a free midnight champagne toast.
Doors open at 9 p.m. Cover: $5, advance tickets available online at hitonememphis.com. For more information, call 901-278-8663.
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