New Year's Eve 2012 in Shreveport BUMPED AND UPDATED

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It's Christmas Eve but lots of folks are already making New Year's Eve plans.  I'm posting my annual guide now because many of these events require advance reservations.

Here is a line up of your choices this year if you're in Shreveport:

At Harrah's Louisiana Downs there will be a free New Year's Eve party featuring entertainment by Disco Inferno, DJ Love and a spectacular fireworks show!  The show starts at 8:00.

At Valencia on Cross Lake there will be a grand Gala.  Website here:

BWebbConnected is looking forward to raise the bar and bring to Shreveport-Bossier City one of the hottest celebrations to welcome in 2012! ~All-Star Line Up Entertainment~Shreveport-Bossier City's Own~ **Alter Ego Live Band Entertainment** *Louisiana Go DJ Slim Live in the Mix** NYE Gala Details: The VIP Pass grants you Early Access -Guided escort to your VIP seating area to enjoy an intimate 5-course meal**, Champagne or Premium Brand drink of choice and a Jazz ensemble with lakefront view. Champagne Toast at Midnight. NYE Party Favors. General Admission: -Hot Hors D'Oeuvres Buffet Style -Champagne Toast at Midnight -NYE Party Favors >>Formal/Semi-Formal Dress Attire Appreciated<< ~Tickets Info~ **This is an ALL-INCLUSIVE EVENT**VIP PASS-$85 **General Admission (Open Bar Armband)-$40 *General Admission (Entry & Hot Hors D'oeuvres)-$25 Tickets can be purchased at www.nye2012gala.com or TOO GROOVE in Pierre Bossier Mall or call 318-820-6395. Space is limited!! 

Dominique's Event Facility on Texas Street has a party:

Dominique's Event Facility now open: New Year's Eve party will be over the top, the tickets are $20.00 at the door come and bring in the New Years in an elegant and historical atmosphere. There will be free food and cash bar . Please call for more information (318)402-935.

Sam's Town Casino in downtown Shreveport will have Rockin' Dopsie, Jr., free party favors, and champagne at midnight.

The El Dorado Casino is having a masquerade ball with a cash prize; details here:

The Elite Masquerade Ball, sponsored by Stoli Elit Vodka, is December 31 in Eldorado’s Celebrity and Allure Ultra Lounge. Dress for the Masquerade and walk the red carpet – the best masks win cash. Reserve your table with bottle service, featuring Stoli Elit and champagne, or order your entry wrist band today. Rock in the New Year with Triggerproof live in Celebrity Lounge. Sophisticated nightlife attire required. Doors open at 7 pm and space WILL GO FAST. Table reservations and general admission wristbands are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Holiday Lanes on Old Minden Road in Bossier City is ringing in the New Year bowling.  It's a kid friendly event.  See here for options.

9:00 pm - Bowl in our New Year with Holiday Lanes. You can enjoy a great night of bowling, food and drinks with your friends and family. Our fantastic New Year's Eve party package gives you:

• UNLIMITED Intergalactic Bowling all night (9 pm - 2 am)

• Breakfast Platter

• Party Favor Pack

• Glass of bubbly at midnight (or regular fountain drink for under 21's)

Another kid-friendly event is at SciPort at noon:

Start the New Year off with us this year at our annual New Year's at Noon party on Saturday, December 31. As the clock strikes Noon in Shreveport, we will be commemorating our East Asian counterparts as they celebrate their New Year at Midnight. Come celebrate, and learn about the traditions of East Asian cultures, which include our traditional Dragon Dance! Plan to count down to Noon at Sci-Port with a balloon drop! 

Fatty Arbuckle's in downtown Shreveport is hosting an event with Flow Tribe.

Chicky's Boom Boom Room on Texas Street downtown will have Bushrod Jenkins kicking off at 11.  I can vouch for the wonderful oysters on the half shell at Chicky's!

Nearby, The Noble Savage will have Dirty Red Jazz.  Dinner is from 7-10 and reservations are required.  Those spots are going fast so act quickly.  Wild Boar is on the menu!

Lake Street Dance Hall will feature the Bayou Boogie Band but seats are limited to 100 so make your reservations!  (Bonus!  Buddy Flett will be there Friday for a Blues Happy Hour from 5 - 7!)

Updates with more events to follow as they develop.  If you know of an event, drop me a line and I'll post it.

Added:

The Northwest Louisiana Square and Round Dance Association will be dancing in the New Year at the Promenade Hall, 5400 Benton Road, in Bossier City.  Snacks and finger foods provided; Admission is $15 per couple and $8 individual.  Call 318-752-1474 for more information.

The American Legion Post 14 hosts its annual NYE bash.  Music will be provided by the Rockin Red Eye band.  A breakfast buffet will be served and there will be a cash bar, party favors, and fireworks.  Details here.

Code 3 will host its New Years Eve bash again this year with The Smith Brothers band.  This will be the club's last big party before it goes under new ownership so there will be deep discounts at the bar.  It should be a grand time!  Code 3 is located right next to Beams Restaurant at 2826 Barksdale Blvd.

The Robinson Film Center will be screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 10 p.m.  Come dressed up, of course, and enjoy some cheap champagne.  After the film, watch the ball drop on the big screen.  Big fun!

(12/30/11:  The event at the RFC is now sold out)

Update:  Fat Cats is having a party:

One of the area's hottest, most buzzed about new bands of the year, Super Water Sympathy, will help ring in the new year at Fat Cats, 10 p.m.- 2 a.m. Dec. 31.  Fresh off the release of their debut album, "Vesper Belle," the quintet will perform live with Jacob Davis on stage under a big heated tent between Fat Cats and City Bar.

The event will include drinks, a light show, Mario Kart and Super Mario 3 video games, as well as Micronesian designer Vegas Rose IV, who will be developing Oxygen Child Y.

A reader asked about taxi services - a very good point.  Put some of these numbers into your cell phone before you head out:

Golden Stripe Cab:  318-675-0411
Able Taxi:  318-459-3800
Action Taxi:  318-222-8294
Yellow Checker Cab:  318-621-9823
Ace Cabs:  318-425-3325

I've used most of these companies to shuttle The Teenager to work before he got a car.  I don't have complaints from any of them.  Ace Cabs gets high marks here, though.

Added:

You want to eat first and you're not going to an event that serves food?  Well, if you're partying at one of the casinos, they each have multiple dining options.   Other than that, here are some SIGIS recommendations (and I'm noting local places, not chains.  We have plenty of those too if that's your preference):

We love The Blind Tiger in the downtown area.  It's casual, has great food and atmosphere, and has a bar.  It's on the corner of Texas and Spring so you can people watch while you eat.

Close to downtown but on the fringes, we like the neighborhood Fat Boys Bar and Grill.  They've got the best hamburgers in town.  We like the onion rings and sweet potato fries, too.  I also like the beef quesadillas.  An added bonus, the service is the friendliest I've found anywhere.

You want something a little more formal?  You can't beat L'Italiano on Barksdale Blvd. in Bossier City.  It sits in the shadow of the casinos and five minutes from downtown Shreveport.  It's fine dining Italian and if you're lucky, Claudio will cruise by your table and sing in Italian.  Beautiful!  They've got fabulous specials each day and I favor the fish dishes.

Away from downtown yet nestled amongst all the plain vanilla chain places is Vince's Southport Restaurant.  We love the Steam Pot: a plate full of boiled shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn.  Can't beat it!

Another great neighborhood place is Marilynn's; it's located in a renovated service station and follows that theme.  There's a deck for outside seating and jazz playing over the speakers.  The menu is New Orleans style:  po-boys, red beans and rice, shrimp creole, and beignets on demand.

If you're in the mood for Mexican food, our favorite is Nicky's on Airline Drive.  Again, great service and the best Mexican food. 

Added 12/30/11:  The Shreveport Times list of events.