Celebrate the new year East Coast style

By Sandi Hoover

shoover@nevadaappeal.com

If you like the idea of ringing in the new year before the clock strikes 12 on the West Coast, then the Carson City Library Foundation's East Coast Time party is your best bet tonight.

For $50, celebrants will be treated to a buffet dinner, music and dancing, champagne toast and a balloon drop at 9 p.m. which coincides with the Times Square ball drop in New York City at midnight.

"It's very nice, and there are a lot of great auction items this year," said Phyllis Patton, chairwoman of the Library Board of Trustees.

A small live auction will be held for several specialty items including:

• Dinner for eight at the Nugget Steakhouse prepared by Executive Chef Nick DeMagistris.

• The opportunity to be an engineer at the Nevada State Railroad Museum for one trip, and to celebrate afterward with a bottle of Virginia City gin.

• An etched glass keepsake bottle of wine featuring the New Year's Eve date and event.

• A framed glass etching of a mother in a rocker reading to her child and a special poem about reading.

In addition, Patton said, there are 17 items which have been donated for the silent auction, including a beauty package, sports package, shopping sprees, a basket of books written and signed by local authors, and more.

"There are nearly a dozen books, and people could keep them all, share them or give them as gifts," she said.

Patton said there is also a home spruce-up package which includes consultations with interior designer Doreen Mack and Greenhouse Garden Center owner David Ruf.

Raffle tickets can be purchased for $10 for a grand prize drawing to be held during the celebration. The prize, a trip for two to New York City, includes airfare, three nights' hotel accommodations, one dinner for two, two tickets to a Broadway show and two tickets to "Live With Regis and Kelly."

"It's a short party with lots going on in a short amount of time. There will be a no-host bar, plus appetizers, buffet dinner, music for dancing, plus the auctions," Patton said.

"We'll be streaming live the ball drop in Times Square, and doing our balloon drop at the same time," she said.

The party will be held again this year in the Nevada State Library and Archives building on Stewart Street.

Tickets still are available. Call Patton at 885-9807.