Naughty or nice, plenty of options for New Year's Eve

Enlarge Image

Enlarge Image

Del Barber (TIM SMITH/BRANDON SUN)

Enlarge Image

Sensei Fredrich Ulrich

NAUGHTY NEW YEAR'S: "This is the first year we've done Erotic Bingo at New Year's," says Ron Petryna, manager of the Headingley hotel. "Lots of people come as couples now to the regular Friday night erotic bingo," he says. "For prizes we have toys and gadgets from the Love Nest store (newest location at 3737 Portage Ave.)" plus they buy lingerie as additional prizes. And people who buy certain cocktails, with eyebrow-raising names, get automatic prizes of potions, lotions and thongs. Guests for the hotel's New Year's party get hats and noisemakers and social food -- and admission is FREE. "It's really tough with the drinking and driving, but we're priced right!" says Petryna.

SCARY PARTY: Meanwhile, the alternative crowd is busy getting scary costumes, masks and makeup happening for Apocalypse 2011 presented by Ogremind and the Elysium Social Club at Ozzy's -- with prizes for theme costumes such as Angel of Death or Horsemen costumes. It's a huge blow-out with DJs as well as live bands such as Nocturnal, Divinity and Black Optic, all in the basement club of the Osborne Village Hotel. "Tickets have been selling well," says "Erica Despicable" at Hungover Empire clothing store, which recently opened in Osborne Village. "We're selling a lot of clothing too -- goth, industrial, punk and some vampire stuff." Party starts at 9 p.m. Tickets $10 advance, $15 at the door at Kustom Kulture, Ozzy's, and Hungover Empire.

-- -- --

HIT THE GONG: Want to start 2011 in a gentler way? Help hit the big gong that rings 108 times New Year's Eve, over at the Joya-E New Year's Eve ceremony at Manitoba Buddhist Temple, 825 Winnipeg Ave. (off Notre Dame). "We divide 108 by the number of people who come, and everybody gets to ring the bell a few times," says well-known Sensei Fredrich Ulrich, who is of German, Iroquois and Sioux background (one-third of temple regulars are Japanese-Canadian). "Everybody loves the low sound and it vibrates a long, long time. It gives you the feeling of emptying yourself and starting the new year with a wave of calmness and joy." People of all religions, as well as atheists and agnostics, are invited. That's 7-7:45 p.m., including the10-minute message about finding peace on earth. Then everyone's off into the starry night, for their own New Year's celebration.

-- -- --

BOSS THEME BASH: Del Barber and his band embody Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band in a tribute/dance party New Year's Eve at The Park Theatre on Osborne St. South. "We're expecting people from 18 to 60 for this show which features three sets of Springsteen music, and a contest for the best '80s costumes and embodiment of The Boss," says owner Eric Casselman. Costumes could be Springsteen leather jackets and jeans, or early grunge, or leg warmers and big hair, preppy skinny ties and dress shirts. Think Breakfast Club, Flashdance and the brat pack. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door including a midnight special spread with vegetarian and meat options and appetizers throughout the early part of the night. Doors open at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Tickets available at The Park, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Into the Music and Music Trader.

-- -- --

MUSICAL WHO'S WHO: What a musical happening at Mona Lisa! John Hoeschen (J-Ho), who drums like a madman in the Rod Hussey Revue, organized the jam last week and collected food bank items for Winnipeg Harvest with bass player Rod Hussey and keyboard player Gerry Atwell, and all-star Winnipeg guests. "It was just a bunch of people who wanted to have fun with their friends." Exciting guests came out to play, including dramatic guitarist James Creasey of the wild facial expressions, blues woman Kathy Kennedy, who wailed a three-octave Stormy Monday, plus opening act The Lunch Moms, headed up by Mike Jones and wife Renee Delaurier and reggae band Rockalypso. Spotted at the jam: National Film Board's Leslie Stafford, emerging songwriter/insurance man Tim Bromley, accountant Cindy Pelletier, railway man/musician Rubin Kantorovich (with recording studio in his basement, now he's retired), International Cellars' Sheila Bennett, Turnbull Whitaker's Lori King, National Leasing's Scott Clendenan, Great West Life's Brenda Toutant. Travelling horticulturist Bronwyn Berry worked the door, as the evening wore on. She's home for a white Christmas from her nursery job in Las Cruces, New Mexico "where they get 324 days of sunshine a year." And no snowflakes on their tongues.

Got tips, events, sightings, unusual things going on? Email maureen.scurfield@winnipegfreepress.com or send mail to The Insider c/o The Winnipeg Free Press at 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg R2X 3B6

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 29, 2010 B3