STORY:
Atlanta Making New Year's Eve Preps

Venue tickets, hotels, restaurants are anything but sold out

Atlantans are reportedly taking a mild approach to their preparations for New Year's Eve. The Atlanta Constitution reports venue tickets, hotels, and restaurant reservations are plentiful and some events have been scaled back.

Atlanta's Carnivale of Lights has been reduced to a New Year's Eve fireworks and laser display and a week long outdoor display of lights on downtown buildings. The event was originally planned to last five weeks and included an illuminated parade. Organizers had hoped to raise $10-million but so far have reportedly collected only $1-million in sponsorships.

Atlanta 2000 faces a similar situation. Without funding or sponsorship for a New Year's Eve celebration, it's reportedly focusing on a year-long approach, with events such as an interfaith march, a mass workout, a playground-building project and perhaps some concerts. Organizers says the Super Bowl, which is set for late January, is also taking sponsorship money away from New Year's Eve celebrations.

The annual Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta and First Night Atlanta will still take place. There will also be a gathering of 25,000 Baptist teenagers at convention on New Year's Eve. But for the most part, many metro Atlanta hotels and restaurants reportedly haven't announced party plans.

For those Atlantans wishing to venture out and can afford inflated New Year's Eve prices there are several party packages being offered. The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead is planning a $4,000 per couple, 10-course dinner that includes a two-night stay and a party featuring Jazz legendary Diane Schuur.

The National Millennium Party will take place at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. It's a six-party extravaganza with prices ranging from $199 to $499 and includes dinner, eight drinks and dancing but no room stay.

The High Ball is set for the Biltmore Ballrooms this year; tickets are $125. The Prizm Ball, in its first year, is a black-tie party at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History; tickets are $175 and include an open bar and midnight breakfast buffet.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is finalizing plans for a New Year's Eve concert at Symphony Hall. The director and program have not been announced; tickets will range from $40 to $90 and include a post-concert reception with champagne and a dance band.

The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta plans a black-tie gala and a dinner at the Atlanta Grille, a restaurant that will open in November. Tickets are $1,000 and include a two-night stay in a standard room, champagne and Baccarat flutes.

Lake Lanier Islands Resort is selling a two-night package that includes a champagne reception, dinner, dancing, a casino, a Las Vegas revue and fireworks. The per-person price ranges from $ 499 to $ 575.

Source: The Atlanta Constitution

DATE: 8/10/99

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