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Despite some venues scaling back, the pairing of food and music still goes on for NYE, if you know where to look

Even with a change in attitude, you can still find tunes.
Club owners may be taking a wait-and-see posture on their current offerings, based on political situations, and some are going for high-end clients and are top-heavy on dishes you can’t even pronounce. But there still is music to be found, as well as the other New Year’s Eve trappings, and here is a listing, (for one more idea I will also put forth, lighting up some snowy fireworks, see this web site’s Pick’s of the Week department, or below):
— Maybe the best of both sensory worlds is to be found at the Bungalow Inn in Lakeland, where there even is a sax playing on New Year’s Eve, something the people at the Bungalow say is big and different. You can have varied choices for dinner and then the rockin’ part of the party starts at 9 p.m. — a full three hours before the new year — featuring Ken Wanovich with his full band, who invite you to move-and-groove with all your favorites. Ken himself says he uses acoustic classic rock styles, accomplished acoustic fingerstyles, smooth and engaging vocals, plus a little magic harmony and some driving percussion to forge an experience where you can dance, sing along, or just enjoy the journey.
— Hunting for a new favorite on New Year’s, as many have already found? How about the Buck Tucker Band at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt? Among their fans are another group with local players, Boondoggle, who on the flip side of this year that’s soon to be in the record books, shared a summer festival stage with them and couldn’t stop raving about their ability. So take it from them, the Buck Tucker Band and their variety of styles that include country and classic rock, is not one you’ll want to miss as they are at the Willow for the second straight New Year’s Eve. And especially before formal ringing in, pizza at the adjoining Carbone’s isn’t to be missed either.

— Other options include a couple of venues who are relying on a couple of things that recur. Dick’s Bar and Grill has two different musical offerings, both of which are old standbys, starting at 6 p.m., and the Smilin’ Moose has not one but two ball drops, at midnight and at 3 a.m.

— Again, with the theme of twos, Season’s Tavern in North Hudson for the second straight year has dinner for two. This establishment, which has now been in existence for several years, has offerings that start with a choice of a filet with either lobster or their signature walleye (of course), with baked potato, and house vegetable and salad. For the appetizer, as the theme recurs, share two walleye cakes with bernaise or two teriyaki chicken skewers. And again, that’s only for starters, not mentioning the offering of other goodies such as decedent desserts. While the ever-present house band Thirsty Camel will be taking a break this Eve, like in many venues this year, there is the jukebox to fill the void.

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