The New Year’s offerings around the immediate area, but still closeby, are as many and varied as the communities from which they hail — from Burkhardt to Bayport, and Lake Mallalieu to Lakeland — with these being a few of the most prized:
— If you choose to stay up late enough on the night before New Year’s Eve, and get over to Kozy Korner in North Hudson, you might get to see the Badger football team close out an up-and-down season on a high note.
On Jan. 30 at 9:30 p.m., Wisconsin takes on Southern Cal in the Holiday Bowl, in the balmy climate of San Diego, not unlike the pizza-oven warmth supplied at the aptly named Kozy, one of the best places in the area to view such a game. The Badgers might be considered favorites because of their 9-3 record. Their opponents come in at 8-5, although they are ranked No. 25 for this, the arguably biggest bowl name on this date.
While you’re at it, being up very late at Kozy potentially two nights in a row, you just might want to stay for breakfast. As one deserves another, it starts at 1 a.m. on Jan. 1. There are also prizes and happy hour specials before and after. (And that late night theme continues with the most meaningful Packer-Viking contest in years, at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday).
— Another Border Battle, in this case involving Not Justa Bar in downtown Bayport on Dec. 31, might be considered a tie, although we’ll give the nod to the Minnesota establishment for its originality in going non-stop.
While a handful of Wisconsin-side bars stay open all night on New Year’s Eve and into the following a.m., it is very unusual for their counterparts in the Twin Cities to offer no-closing-time, but that’s just what Justa is doing.
They will be serving breakfast all night to folks from both sides of the St. Croix River, and a shuttle van is available, so there is no need to drive, especially if it is late.
— Located just north of Interstate 94 along Minnesota Hwy. 95, the Bungalow Restaurant and Bar in Lakeland is in an ideal location for celebrating New Year’s Eve — no matter where you’re coming from, on either side of the St. Croix River.
In case you want to do some dancing, the old-school band is Vinny and the Spoilers, a group of friends who play for their church’s worship teams and love to do cover songs of mostly ’60s and ’70s hits. There will be steak and seafood specials, a free champagne toast at midnight, and starting eight hours later, at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day, there is breakfast offered. The Bungalow is also an ideal place to watch football, with their offerings of bowl game parties.
Reservations are required for New Year’s Eve, so be sure to drop them a line soon at (651) 436-5005. More information is available at www.bungalowinn.net.
— The Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt has a number of activities to entertain you, both before and during the holiday.
There is the annual Tom and Jerry party, with complimentary drinks of those type and appetizers, on Dec. 30. From 8-11 p.m. is the band Load Center, which plays, with a bit of humor, “classic rock, blues, originals and five country songs” and is kind of a kickoff party for the New Year’s holiday. On that eve, there are party favors and champagne at midnight. There also is the band Buck Tucker on New Year’s Eve, a group of Hudson area men who play the St. Croix Valley and might be recognized from the day-job business community. They are followed by another, female-led country band that has shared the stage with some stars, Drop Tailgate, on the night of Jan. 1, and a group doing what’s billed as being the truest tribute to the Man in Black,  Johnny Cash, and other related songs, Church of Cash, on the night on Jan. 2.
To kick it all off, on Saturday, Dec. 26, there is yet another band whose name says it all, Country Outlaws.
— At Shiner’s Bar in Lakeland, the  music starts fairly early on New Year’s Eve at 8:30 p.m. with Beebe and Keeley, a male and female duo of singer-acoustic guitarists. Their online bio is more descriptive then most acts, saying they play current and classic country, upbeat blues, soulful R&B, ’60s and ’70s folk, Americana, jazz, novelty songs and an occasional original. I should note that the male musician has long blonde locks that resemble that of another crooner, Robert Plant. They are on until 12:30.