COUNTDOWN TO 2013: EAST COUNTY GUIDE TO NEW YEAR’S EVE
By Ariele Johannsen December 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for the best parties and most fabulous feasts in East County and San Diego’s inland areas this New Year’s Eve? East County Magazine has prepared our guide to the top local activities where you can ring in the New Year. Local casinos are hosting parties with drawings for prizes ranging from cars to cash, and some offer free shuttle rides from convenient East County locations. Local chefs are pulling out all the stops with special menus. There’s even an alcohol-free celebration for those who prefer not to imbibe, plus special transportation to help you reach destinations in more distant locales. Check the websites below for the latest details. Have a safe and happy New Year! CASINO PARTIES AND EVENTS Viejas Casino Ever wish you could visit Times Square on New Year’s Eve? Viejas Casino will be re-creating New York City’s Times Square for a free, four-day New Year’s celebration right here in East County. The big event takes place each night from December 28-December 31 on the east side of the casino, adjacent to the Viejas Hotel (which is set to open Spring 2013). The celebration starts nightly at 7 p.m. and features “Big Apple” food and drink specials including Grey Goose specialty drinks, New York-style sandwiches, hot dogs and sliders, plus music by Rising Star band along with guest DJs. To cap it all off each night, guests are provided with free hats and horns in anticipation of a midnight ball drop featuring a massive 700-pound, lighted, flashing New Year’s Eve ball that descends five stories complete with a group countdown as fireworks explode to officially ring in 2013. During the four-day celebration, food, drink and promotional events will also take place inside Viejas Casino. Feeling lucky? Every night from December 28-December 31, Viejas Casino will be giving away a brand new 2013 Porsche Boxster. Located at 5000 Willows Road, Alpine, CA 91901 www.viejas.com Phone: 1-800-847-6537 Valley View Casino & Hotel It’s Vintage Vegas New Year’s Eve, Valley View style. Dance your way into 2013 with live music, party favors and entertainment all night long starting at 3 p.m. Restaurant BLDs and the snack stations are open for food choices, but the Lobster Buffet and the Steakhouse will be closed for private parties. Suggested Attire: Red and black are always a sure bet. Located at 16300 Nyemii Pass Road, Valley Center, CA 92082 www.valleyviewcasino.com Phone:(760) 291-5500 Sycuan Casino Rock out with live music by Freeze Frame in the lobby from 9 p.m to 1 a.m., playing favorite hits from the 80s and 90s. Hats, horns and goodies will be provided free to players all night. Plus the final night of Road to Riches drawings will be held, including a chance to win a Golden Passport for entry into a grand final drawing for $100,000 in cash. Located at 5485 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92018 www.sycuan.com Phone: (800)2-SYCUAN Pala Casino Pala gives you more ways than ever to ring in the New Year! Celebrate with award-winning, Top 40 Band POP VINYL at Pala starting at 9:00 p.m. Your admission of $25 (general admission seating) includes party favors and a midnight balloon drop. Tickets on sale with no service charge at the Pala Box Office in the casino, or call 1-877-WIN PALA (1-877-946-7252). Tickets also are available at Star Tickets, 1-800-585-3737. There are two dinner specials on New Year’s Eve: Choices Buffet offers a Steak and Seafood special for $36 per person from 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. and Mama’s Cucina Italiana is serving a special menu for $69 per person. That’s not all; the Oak Room Package for $109 per person includes dinner in the Oak Room with a special New Year’s Eve menu and a private party in the Events Center after 10:00 p.m. Located at 11154 Hwy 76 Pala, CA 92059 http://www.palacasino.com Phone: 877-946-7252-Oak Room and Mama’s Reservations Harrah’s Rincon Enter 2013 with your share of $100,000 at The Casino at Harrah’s Rincon in San Diego. Receive a free entry and one additional entry for every 10 Tier Credits earned between 6 a.m. December 25th and 11:59 p.m. December 31st. TR Insiders receive 2X entries! From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on December 31st, 4 people will be selected every hour to win $500 Free Play. At 1am, 2 lucky winners are GUARANTEED to start 2013 with their share of $75,000 CASH! $50,000 CASH / $25,000 CASH. Located at 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center, CA 92082 San Diego website: http://www.harrahsrincon.com/casinos/harrahs-rincon-san-diego/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml Phone: 760-751-3100 Golden Acorn Casino Ring in the New Year at the Golden Acorn Casino with the style and flair of the 70s! Live entertainment is provided by Masterpiece playing hits from the 1970s to now, starting at 9:00 p.m. Vote for your favorite 1970s party-goer in our 70s Costume Contest at 11:05 p.m. CASH prizes: 1st place $500, 2nd place $200 and 3rd place $100. A one-night drawing at 11:00 p.m. will give away $2013 in free play. Plus, $70 in Free Play every 30 minutes from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The first 400 Guests will receive a free Golden Acorn Casino wine flute (first come-first served, as supplies last). Remember the 70s and New Year’s Eve 2013 with a complimentary 1970s photo shoot in the casino from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Enjoy a DJ and go-go dancers from 9:00 pm.-1:00 a.m. and a Grand Finale balloon drop across the casino at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the New Year in style. http://goldenacorn.com Located at 1800 Campo Way Campo, CA 91906 Phone: 619-938-6070 Casino Pauma Celebrate New Year’s Eve with all your friends at Casino Pauma.The party starts at 6 p.m. with New Year’s Eve Special Drawings. Five winners at 1 a.m. & 2 a.m. each receive $1,000 Cash. Earn entry tickets for drawings by visiting the Palm Club, hitting Jackpots over $1,200, suited Hands of Blackjack, and with any dining purchases