By Melonie Magruder
Lookout Staff

December 23, 2010 -- If you live in Santa Monica, you have a lot more options to ring in the New Year than watching a giant ball drop tiredly over Times Square. And many combine the traditional champagne and noisemakers with unique performances to greet the midnight madness.

For a family affair, you can attend the Santa Monica Playhouse’s Annual All-New, One-Time-Only New Year’s Eve Musical Revue, with two shows December 31 to accommodate children or older folk who like to avoid late night revelry. Finger-snapping 40s jazz to foot-stompin’ country rock accompanies a buffet supper with champagne, favors and party hats at 6:00 ($39.50/person) and 9:30p.m. ($49.50/person) shows. Reservations: (310) 394-9779, ext 1.

Or for something really different, tap your inner Van Gogh at Paint:Lab’s special New Year’s Eve Paint, Wine and Cheese. Open from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., the Paint:Lab offers an open Lab with live music from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., paint, brushes, easels, champagne and nibbles. Open to anyone 21 and older, with limited spots available for $35. Reservations: (310) 450- 9200.

Magicopolis baffles and inspires with its critically acclaimed production of “Escape Reality” at 9:00 p.m. The celebration includes a midnight champagne toast, pizza, a souvenir bag of tricks, hats and noise makers, a personal magic class and other surprises, all for a mere $60 per person. Reservations: (310) 451-2241.

If you’d like to experience a New Year’s as both a loyal British subject and as a rebellious colonist, check out the British New Year at Ye Olde King’s Head. They are pulling out all the stops at 4:00 p.m. (midnight Greenwich Mean Time) with bagpipers, party favors, Anglo-inspired DJ’s and lots of pub fun. Then they’re doing it all again at midnight California time! Call (310) 451-1402 for more info.

Sheraton Delfina is staging a New Year’s Eve celebration in the Lobby Lounge with live local bands and spirited libations and a nod to welcoming an East Coast New Year at 9:00 p.m., as well as a West Coast New Year here at midnight. For reservations, call (310) 399-9344.

The restaurants on the third-level Dining Deck at Santa Monica Place all have great New Year’s Eve plans in place. La Sandia has a DJ spinning at 10:30 a.m. with a $25 tasting menu and a glass of midnight bubbly. Or taste a flight from their 250-strong tequila bar with specialty margaritas. Reservations: (310) 393-3300.

Zengo’s DJ shows up a 9:00 p.m. with a four-course tasting menu of chef Richard Sandoval’s Latin-Asian cuisine for $60. Glass of champagne included, of course!

The Sonoma Wine Garden has seatings at 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at $75 prix fixe menu (or $100 paired with wine). Reservations: (424) 214-4560. The Sonoma Lounge offers 10:30 p.m. cocktails and bites. Couch reservations: (310) 502-1395.

Xino is offering a DJ, a $19 tasting menu, dessert for two with champagne and New Year’s party favors (reservations: (310) 755-6220) and Ozumo has two seatings with midnight champagne toasts for $60/person (reservations: (424) 214-5130).

Other great New Year’s dining experiences can be found at:

i.Cafe & Surf Bar cooks up a gourmet dinner for those without reservations (walk-ins only – it’s an intimate place) for $55 from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. Call (310) 399-9344 for details.

Lago pulls out the stops with a five-course champagne dinner with party merriment and dancing to bring in the New Year. Reservations: (310) 451- 3525.

Melisse has two seatings at 5:30 p.m., with a four-course, prix fixe menu at $140, and 8:30 p.m., with a six-courser for $250. Corkage fees if you bring your own wine. Reservations: (310) 395-0881.

Ocean & Vine rings in the New Year at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Live entertainment, an exquisite four-course, prix-fixe menu are on tap at two seatings: 6:00 p.m. at $85 per person and 9:00 p.m. at $125 per person. Reservations: (310) 576-3180.

One Pico’s exquisite cuisine accompanies trays of hors d’oeuvres, a four-course dinner paired with wines and a private performance from the Supa Lowery Brothers. Hats, noise makers and champagne will flow. Reservations: (310) 587-1717.

Rustic Canyon Wine Bar serves family style feasts with seasonal small plates for $75 a person. Reservations: (310) 393-7050.

Salute Wine Bar has two seatings, at 5:30 -7:30 p.m. ($75/person) and 9:30-10 p.m. ($110/person with champagne toasts). No reservation needed at bar. Otherwise, reservations: (310) 450-3434.

Stefan’s at L.A. Farm will delight New Year’s revelers with two seatings, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. ($55/person) and 8:30 to midnight ($79/person) and a mouth-watering five-course tasting menu. Reservations: (310) 449-4000.

If the skies are clear, as expected, Rusty’s Surf Ranch will rock the Santa Monica Pier with the reggae band The Fudogs, starting at 9:00 p.m. Call for $5 presale tickets or $10 cover the day of the show (21 years and older).

Happy New Year!