With New Year’s Eve on Thursday this year, many of us have made an advance resolution for an extra-l

With New Year's Eve on Thursday this year, many of us have made an advance resolution for an extra-long weekend.  Here's food for thought in many directions – the D.C. area, Charlottesville, Staunton, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach/Norfolk  – or a special dinner right here in Richmond.
New Year's Eve diners at Westend Bistro in the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Washington can take the elevator home with a special $199 room-rate including overnight info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants valet parking info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants (normally $39 per night). Celebratory cocktails, champagne flights and a hot toddy bar are offered in the lobby café and bar. 202-263-6338; request special room rate with dinner reservation. Kick off the New Year in the lobby café and bar with a seasonal buffet and Bloody Mary bar, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ($50 per person).
Embassy Suites, Alexandria, Va.: First Night/New Year's Eve package includes a two-room suite, two tickets to First Night Alexandria, complimentary eggs-to-order breakfast, evening manager's reception with $1 to $2 beverage-and-snack charge, indoor pool, workout room and children's playroom, starts at $169.95, subject to availability.  800-EMBASSY; ask for Code FNP, or go online and enter code.
The Westin Alexandria , Va.: $214 room rate Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, including sparkling info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants wine and strawberries upon arrival, breakfast for two at its Jamieson Grille restaurant or through room service and late checkout, if available. 866-837-4210.
The Boar's Head Inn , Charlottesville, Va.: Among its all-inclusive offerings (i.e., gratuity, taxes included) are dinner info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants for two ($114); gala with Kings of Swing, $97 per person (434-972-2230 to book either of these two offerings); package for dinner and gala, plus overnight accommodations and breakfast for two in Old Mill Room on New Year's Day ($629), 800-476-1988.
The Omni Charlottesville, Va.: headquarters for First Night Virginia ,  offers a $199 family package for New Year's Eve with early check-in at noon, use of indoor pool and whirlpool, champagne or sparkling cider at turndown, milk and cookies for children at turndown, late checkout 3 p.m.; two nights, $259; three nights, info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants $319. 800–THE-OMNI or www.omnihotels.com.
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel , Staunton, Va.: Gala evening ($250 per couple, all inclusive) includes 8-9:30 p.m. buffet of wild mushroom risotto, sautéed filet of sole, slow-roasted prime rib, cherries jubilee and more, dancing to Kendra and the Kingpins; cash bar, complimentary midnight toast. Overnight package ($350 per couple, all-inclusive) is gala evening plus deluxe room, breakfast buffet for two, complimentary parking.
The Jefferson Hotel , Richmond: Experience the new Lemaire's, which has rated a spot on Esquire magazine's "Best New Restaurants of 2009" list.  Lemaire's New Year's Eve dinner/overnight info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants package includes deluxe room, dinner for two, dinner gratuities and valet parking, $405 (taxes info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants additional). "TJ's" New Year's Eve dinner package with three-course dinner for two, deluxe room, dinner gratuities and valet parking, $345 (taxes additional). New Year's Eve Bed and Breakfast package with bottle of sparkling wine, breakfast for two (and gratuity), valet parking and complimentary hotel transportation, $250 (taxes additional). Advance reservations required, subject to availability.  800-424-8014 or online at.
The Berkeley Hote l , Richmond, Va.: Three packages priced at $145 (room valet parking), $199 (champagne, truffles breakfast plus room, parking), $274 (dinner champagne, room, parking) and $299 (all of the aforementioned).  Dinner is a pre-selected, three-course meal; breakfast, a $10 voucher each for up to two people. Taxes and gratuities are extra. 804-225-5141.
Colonial Williamsburg, Va.: Special add-ons ($60 wine tasting and dinners, $29-$95 per person plus tax, gratuity) for New Year's Eve at Colonial Williamsburg's Lodge available to those booking info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants the Holiday info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants Decorations Getaway packages beginning at $199 per room, per night (double occupancy) found here .  A two-night minimum stay also includes length-of-stay Colonial Williamsburg info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants admission passes, lunch in a historic info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants dining tavern, info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants Christmas Decoration Walking Tour tickets (advance reservations required to guarantee space) and a copy of the book "Christmas info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants Decorations from Williamsburg." 800-HISTORY.
Tides Inn , Irvington, Va.: $299 package info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants of waterfront accommodations, four-course dinner for two and New Year's Eve Gala (band in Chesapeake Club and DJ in King Carter Room). This is the last night of operations prior to the Tides Inn's traditional winter furlough in January and February.  800-843-3746.
The Cavalier, Virginia Beach: New Year's Eve $429 package includes ocean-view accommodations for two, elaborate buffet, unlimited beverages in Beach Club Conference info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants Center, dancing to Flashback, Vegas-style casino and $1,000 in gaming chips per couple (summer accommodations prizes), balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight, brunch on New Year's Day (morning beverages included), info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants complimentary 5 p.m. checkout, gratuities included (room-tax info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants additional). Also introducing first-ever New Year's Day Cornhole tournament $79 package for two includes overnight accommodations, hors d'oeuvres, drink specials, College Bowl and other games.  Play against Cavalier staff for a chance to win a gift certificate to the next New Year's Eve Gala.  888-746-2327, www.cavalierhotel.com.
A getaway for the whole family?  Several Norfolk hotels have packaged accommodations with Real Pirates, a touring exhibition organized by National Geographic and partners, which just opened in Norfolk telling the story of the Whydah, a pirate ship that sank off the coast of Cape Cod nearly 300 years ago.  The exhibition features more than 200 artifacts, ranging from treasure chests of gold coins and jewelry to personal items and technically advanced weaponry of the time – 18th-century cannons, pistols and swords.  Everything was painstakingly recovered on the ocean floor, over a 25-year-period, from the first fully authenticated pirate ship discovered in U. S. waters.  Book packages directly here .
These all sound great for the upscale crowd or those with families looking for Firstnight info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants , but what about the rest of us looking for a real party. Anyone know of a good band playing a hotel party or concert venue nearby???
With your admission, you get lots of laughs and free popcorn. You can t beat that. And, if you just don t want to drive home, we ll give you a voucher after you attend the show that will get you a room in the Comfort in for only $55 + tax.
The live music will begin with Fuzzy Baby, Richmond's "2 member, 1 man band." Comprised of Giustino Riccio (of Bio Ritmo) and Molly Berg, they mix their voices with a truckload of instruments to create vaguely gypsy inflected folk/pop songs that are by turns lovely, whimsical, info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants poignant, funny and utterly captivating.
Next up, Rattlemouth info on the sisterhood of the traveling pants will present their scintillating world grooves with a power set of classic tunes from Ethiopia, Mali, Zimbabwe, Cuba and more. This event also serves as the release party for their newest cd, Home Fed And Full Grown, with free copies for each paying attendee.
End Of The Decade New Years' Eve Dance Party Featuring Rattan DJ, Fuzzy Baby, Rattlemouth and No BS Brass Band Artspace Gallery (at Plant Zero) Zero East Fourth Street Richmond Va 23224 804-232-6464 8pm Doors 9pm Show $20 artspacegallery.org