Goodbye, 2020!
Your friends at Anderson Shumaker wish you all the best. This year has been different in many ways. Everybody and every company across the globe will never forget this past year. Our number one goal was to keep our staff safe and doors open. What we would like to do is focus on the positive and start the new year right. We have compiled a list from goodhousekeeping.com to end the year with some options. We also found a list of virtual concerts to break into the new year.
New Year’s Ideas
Make a New Year’s brunch – Brunch is the best meal — and so you’ll want to include it in your plans for the last day of the year. A festive dish, like these strawberry cheesecake flapjacks, will do the trick in a pinch. Oh, and you’ll definitely want to pour a mimosa (it’s never too early for champagne on New Year’s Eve!).
Decorate for 2021 – It would not be New Year’s Eve without a glittery decoration or two. Add a festive touch to your home with these over-the-top 2021 balloons. Bonus: They’re the perfect photo backdrop if you decide to take pics (and you absolutely should!).
Get dressed up – Just because you’re staying home doesn’t mean you have to wear your PJs (although if you want to, you should!). Throw on your favorite holiday dress and some bold New Year’s Eve makeup. Who cares if the only one who sees it is the cat?
Take some pics – Everyone loves a good photo booth. Buy some Insta-worthy props and set them up in front of a DIY backdrop. To make one quickly, tape silver or gold wrapping paper to the wall — preferably one in front of a window for some pretty natural light.
Write down your resolutions – Since you’re staying home this year, you’ll have extra time to work on your New Year’s resolutions. Try to cover a range of baskets — things like career, health, finances, and self care — and get ready to have your best year yet.
Play a game – The best thing about parties are the games — so make sure you’ve got a few on deck for New Year’s Eve. You can find a ton of games like Scattegories, Bingo, and Family Feud on Etsy. If you’re calling into a party on video chat, there are also plenty of games to play on Zoom.
Mix a cocktail – New Year’s Eve is all about the bubbly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t kick your glass up a notch by mixing a fabulous champagne cocktail. This cherry bomb fizz requires just a dash of maraschino liqueur and a cherry garnish.
Make a festive dinner – The best way to ring in a new year is with a delicious dinner. Instead of going out to a local spot, whip up something at home. You can never go wrong with a roast chicken and some tasty side dishes.
Watch a movie – Sure, the New Year’s Eve movie genre isn’t as established as the Christmas one, but there are a few classics you can always turn to. Light a few candles and settle in with some snacks and champagne for a cozy holiday you’ll always remember.
Bake a delicious dessert – After a year like 2020, we all deserve a treat. Pick out a few dessert recipes you want to try and start baking on the morning of the 31st. That way, you’ll have delicious snacks to enjoy all day and night —because the best thing to do after the ball drops is eat a cookie.
Make a toast – Pop a bottle of champagne and raise a glass to all the incredible experiences you’ll have in the New Year. Bonus points if you serve it up in a statement glass.
Dance it out – It doesn’t matter if you’re home alone or not — the best way to get ready for the new year is by busting a move. Find a virtual dance party if you need to — we promise there are tons — or simply turn up the music and get grooving.
Watch the ball drop – To encourage social distancing, the Times Square ball drop will go virtual this year. Fortunately, the event will still feature performers and speakers, just like it has in years past. “The world desperately needs to come together symbolically and virtually to celebrate the people and things we love and to look forward with a sense of renewal and new beginnings,” Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, said in a press release about the event.
Streaming Concerts
KISS: Not even a worldwide pandemic can stop KISS from making money. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and the other two guys not named Peter Criss and Ace Frehley will KISS 2020 goodbye with a livestream event that promises to include “the largest pyrotechnics show ever.” Stream starts at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 and packages range from $34.99 to (gulp!) $249.99; kissonline.com.
Big Hit Labels’ 2021 New Year’s Eve Live: BTS — aka, the most popular band on the planet — is ready to ring in 2021 with a major concert that will also reportedly feature Halsey, Steve Aoki, Lauv, TXT, Lee Hyun and other acts. But you’ll have to get up mighty early to catch this show, presented by the Korean web platform Weverse, since the stream starts at 9:30 p.m. Korean Standard Time, which translates to 4:30 a.m. PST. Still, this is BTS we are talking about. Tickets start in the $45 range; venewlive.com.
Justin Bieber: The Biebs is back and ready to perform his first live show since 2017, which will likely feature music from his most recent chart-topper, “Changes,” as well as from past offerings. Streams at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 31 (and will be available again Jan. 1), and costs $25 — although T-Mobile customers can view for free; justinbiebermusic.com.
Bob Weir and Wolf Bros: Seeing the Grateful Dead on New Year’s Eve was a cherished tradition for thousands of fans (who were lucky enough to score those incredibly tough tickets), so it’s only fitting that Original Deadhead Weir is continuing the tradition with his Wolf Bros troupe. Stream is at 7 p.m. Dec. 31 and costs $19.99-$35; fans.live.
Avett Brothers: Enjoy the last night of 2020 with the two Avetts — Scott and Seth — and their band of indie-folk champs. Streams at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 costs $39.99-$49.99; nugs.net.
Classical blast: Berkeley arts presenter Cal Performances is serving up a streaming New Year’s Eve show featuring some of the artists who were part of its fall At Home series. This is a seriously talented lineup: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma; soprano Julia Bullock, trumpeter Bria Skonberg, pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, jazz phenom Matthew Whitaker, the Tetzlaff Quarte and more, performing season programs. The show streams at 8p.m. Dec. 31 and is available on demand through 4 a.m. (PST) Jan. 2; tickets are $15-$98; calperformances.org.
Drunken opera singers: Well, we’re pretty sure they won’t actually be inebriated, but Opera San Jose has come up with a smashing idea for bidding “good riddance” to 2020 — a night of drinking songs set in an actual tavern. Performers in the virtual “Parting Glass” include baritone Eugene Brancoveanu, mezzo-soprano Ashley Dixon, soprano Maya Kherani, tenor Carlos Enrique Santelli, baritone Efraín Solís and more. Of course, you are encouraged to sing along. The event is available to stream beginning 6:30 p.m. (PST) Dec. 31; access is free but a variety of available extras (from party favors to food and drink) will raise funds for the opera company; operasj.org/the-parting-glass.
Lucinda Williams: The singer-songwriter is wrapping up her “Lu’s Jukebox” streaming concert series with a New Year’s Eve show performing Rolling Stones songs, backed by a full band. Music starts at 5 p.m. (PST), tickets range from $20-$40 and can be accessed via the music clubs that are benefitting from the show, including the Troubadour in West Hollywood (www.troubadour.com) and Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage (thefreight.org).
