As you nestle with your loved ones on a cold December day, it’s easy to reminisce on how far you’ve all come within the last year. This year, St. Louis residents overcame the Polar Vortex and the loss of the Cardinal’s NLS title loss. Through the good and the bad, the end of December is a time for reflection and determining your resolution for 2015.
As December closes, it’ll be time to dress up in glitter hats, 2015 glasses, and cocktail attire to celebrate the ringing in of the New Year. In St. Louis County, you have a variety of options for the eve of the New Year. You could stay at home with your kids, gather with close friends at a local restaurant, or take on 2015 with full force at a great party.
While the Finney family will most likely gather around the TV and watch the ball drop, St. Louis County offers dinner parties and nightlife that many cannot resist. Here are a few of the most trending and popular events for New Year’s in St. Louis County.
Location: Downtown
The newest dining and entertainment neighborhood is hosting ita first annual New Year’s Eve event. Tickets include inclusive drinks, access to bars and restaurants in the area, live music and DJs, and fun. This year’s theme is “Glitter & Glow, a Night in Hollywood,” so be ready to dress to impress.
The tickets give you access to: FOX Sports Midwest Live!, Budweiser Brew House, PBR St. Louis, The Barn, Howl At The Moon, and Cardinal’s Nation.
You can buy a general ticket or a Diamond Package Upgrade which gives you early access to the FOX Sports Midwest Live! Mezzanine pre-party and an entry to win a diamond from the Diamond Factory.
Location: Downtown
Celebrate the New Year 400 feet above the gateway city in Three Sixty. The packaging ticket will include reserved tables, bottle service, a custom ball drop, and champagne toast at midnight.
Location: Gateway Arch
Celebrate the future with a trip into the past. On the night of New Year’s Eve, take a boat ride on a 19th century replica steam boat, and eat and drink the night away. The 3.5 hour long cruise will include a marvelous dinner, including a salad, vegetables, potatoes, shrimp, filet mignon, and the chef’s special desert. It is an open bar and a DJ will provide music all night.
Location: Near Airport
Voted by the Riverfront Times as one of the “Best New Year’s Eve Events in St Louis”, the New Year’s Eve Ball is a highlighted event for many St. Louis County residents. Come downtown and enjoy an extravagant night in St. Louis Marriott’s Grand Ballroom, dance to music by Contagious, drink from the open bar, and eat a three-course meal that is fit for a king.
The general admission ticket gives you access to this sold out event after 9 p.m., and the dinner package starts earlier with a good company and great food. Parking is included in both. Whichever way you dress—casual or in glitter—you’ll be decorated in 2015 paraphernalia by the end of the night.
New Year’s Eve at Pere Marquette
Location: Grafton, Illinois
Pere Marquette Lodge is hosting their overnight party once again. The Lodge party includes appetizers, drink tickets, a buffet dinner, and cocktail attire. Party guests can dance to live music and when they grow tired, retire to their room.
All guest rooms have been newly renovated and hold a cozy, modern feel.
While you drink your champagne or sparkling cider, it’s important to remember the consequences of the night and take caution around St. Louis; remember, personal injuries can happen when you least expect them.
Whether you’re venturing out of town or staying in St. Louis, here are some key things to stay away from:
Drunk Drivers: After a night of drinking, many enthusiasts may believe that they are okay to drive. Check points should be out in St. Louis County, but you should take caution if you have to drive late at night. Look for drivers that are speeding, swerving, or are braking quickly or uncontrollably.
New Year’s Eve has the second highest rate for drunk driving (after Thanksgiving). If you are going to Downtown St. Louis, stay in a hotel or designate a driver before you and your friends start drinking.
Hazardous Weather: As the New Year rings in, the weather may be unpredictable. St. Louis could be facing snow, sleet, black ice, or all of the above. When you are driving home from dinner, be sure that you are staying farther away from cars, are taking turns slowly, and that your car has a been winterized.
Even while practicing defense driving (against other drivers and the weather), negligent drivers can always vanish your safety plan.
Dog Bites: If you are visiting with family, friends, or neighbors, be careful around their dogs. For some, it is instinctive to crouch down and try to pet a dog, but they could feel threatened and bite. When large crowds gather in a home, many dogs become scared, agitated, and over-stimulated.
Take care to educate yourself on dog nonverbal communication and only pet a dog if the owner approves.
Slip and Falls: While you are at your neighbors’ home, a St. Louis restaurant, or bar, be aware of possible areas where you can fall and injure yourself. If a bathroom attendant does not clean up a spill within a reasonable time, it may be considered a slip and fall. If a neighbor knowingly leaves a loose porch board untouched and you fall, it could be a considered slip and fall accident.
It can only be considered a slip and fall is the property owner knew (or should have known) about the messy area and did not do anything to fix it during a reasonable time. If you are unsure if you have been involved in a slip and fall, contact a personal injury attorney to clear things up with you.
We hope that you all have a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve and day. Stay warm, look out for potential dangers, and contact us at Finney Law Office, LLC if you’ve been injured when the NYE ball falls.
Photo Credit: ginnerobot via Compfight cc