Your guide to New Year’s Eve celebrations

by Elysia Conner
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 9:58 AM MST

The beginning of a new year is a time for celebration, and Casper offers something for everyone to greet 2009 in style.

However you decide to let loose and celebrate this once-a-year evening of parties at every turn, make sure you make it home safely. New services are in place this year to make this easier and more convenient.

The “You Drink & Drive, You Lose” campaign encourages using designated drivers and offers free cab rides home from participating bars and restaurants.

The organization also is selling $10 prepaid cab vouchers to individuals and businesses. The credit-card-like vouchers will guarantee a ride home in an RC or Casper Cab from any bar in the Casper, Mills, Evansville, and Bar Nunn areas.

The cab companies are reimbursed for the cost of a ride that exceeds $10, but all rides are discounted as a contribution to the campaign.

The $10 vouchers are valid until the end of March and are sold at Metro Coffee Company, Wyoming Medical Center or by calling 577-2535.

Tipsy Taxi will be available for rides home from local bars every night until approximately Jan. 19. A $5 donation is requested for a ride, but no one will be turned away for lack of money.

Tipsy Taxi pickups also can be arranged for private parties at homes or hotels by calling Casper Cabs at 234-8294.

Entertainment

The following are some of the local venues offering an entertaining start to 2009.

Elixir’s, located above 303 Restaurant, is throwing a “High Class, White Trash, New Year's Bash.” With two floors of live music and a $200 cash prize for the best high class, white trash costume, no shortage of entertainment is possible.

The theme is to find out how badly attendees can mix up the high class and white trash costume theme, according to organizers. Other prizes also will be given.

Local hip-hop acts include Alphamatic, who has just released an album, and MC Viruz. Jam/reggae band Seeds-n-Stems returns and Wheatland's Dan Sherrill will perform reggae.

Trance specialist DJ Sol.Ful will travel from Rapid City, S.D. Casper DJs will deliver a variety of music with Masheen playing techno, Manatea's raga jungle and DJ Management mixing drum and bass.

The party goes from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a $10 cover. Ages 16 and older are welcome, and guests must be 21 and up to drink.

Rotaract, the Casper Young Professionals Group, invites the public to a rock ’n‘ roll themed New Year's Eve party, Rotaract Against Drunk Driving (RADD).

The CYPN has partnered with the Ramada Plaza Riverside and Safe Kids of Central Wyoming to plan their second annual New Year's Eve event.

The party will take place at Drake's Pub and Spruce Room at the Ramada Plaza Riverside. For a $10 cover charge or $15 per couple, attendees will enjoy live music, hors d'oeuvres, a champagne toast at midnight, a chance to win door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

“We really just want to make sure Casper can have a great time and not have to worry about how they are getting home after celebrating the new year," Treasurer Michelle Alexander said.

The CYPN and the Ramada are offering room package deals or free shuttle rides home to make sure everyone has a safe holiday.

The package deals include the party cover charge and a selection of reduced room rates, dinner and breakfast specials, and day care with Red Cross-certified babysitters during the party and late check out.

Call 235-2531 to reserve your package. Reservations are not needed for the party.

Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their best rock ’n' roll getup, "or just come rockin.’"

All money raised during the event will go toward community projects.

For more information, visit www.RotaractCypn.org.

The Jazz Spot will offer open mic, beginning at 6 p.m. A karaoke contest with $350 in cash prizes begins at 9 p.m.

A three night, two day stay in Las Vegas, Nev., for two will be given away to a lucky winner. Specials include all you can eat prime rib.

For more information, call 235-5299.

The Parkway Cafe and All That Jazz lounge in the Parkway Plaza Hotel & Convention Centre will celebrate with hats, specials, live music and more.

The restaurant will feature a prime rib and seafood buffet. Hear the Tremors play in All That Jazz lounge from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

For more information, call 235-1777.

M.C. Viruz with Big Murda say they have some surprises for their performance at Elixir’s on New Year's Eve.

"We do a show!" Big Murda said in a recent interview with the Casper Journal, explaining that they do more than just get up there are rap.

"We have zombies, girls; it's pure mayhem," M.C. Viruz said, and hinted at a "big surprise" for audiences.

They said their shows always incite a strong reaction. They remember one show in which their song "Mosh Pit" inspired the crowd to start moshing (a concert tradition of full contact "dancing") with such intensity that it was difficult for them to keep from laughing during the performance.

Both said they enjoy having fun with their audience.

"Being on stage rapping and hearing them sing back to you - there's no other feeling like it," Big Murda said.

"That makes it worth it to get up in the morning," M.C. Viruz added.

According to Big Murda, their "parking lot hit" is "Play Dead." Their plan for 2009 is to record a full album to promote across the Rocky Mountain region.

M.C. Viruz and Big Murda said they learned to put on a show while running a backyard wrestling organization.

The same energy and ability to keep crowds returning has served them well on the stage, as well as the wrestling ring.

Their wrestling project is on hold while they focus on music for now, but the pair may revive that endeavor at a later time.

The two have noticed that their music appeals to various crowds, including those who prefer the metal scene or other musical styles.

They attribute this to their original and versatile sound.

"We're comedic, horrifying and straight real," M.C. Viruz said. "We just want to be able to capture people's emotions."

Their songs can range from "what people are afraid to touch," Big Murda said, to political topics. They describe their style as horror core, a metal-inspired sub-genre of rap.

"We were so moved by the music," M.C. Viruz said about why they began to perform. They were passionate about listening to music and going to shows to see people react to the power of music.

They quickly listed off some of their favorites, including Motown, Jedi Mind Tricks, Atmosphere, Insane Clown Posse, Bob Marley, Slayer and many more.

"We listen to a huge mixture of things," M.C. Viruz said.

The rappers said they constantly collaborate with other musicians in the area. They are part of an upcoming group of four artists called Death Lab Productions.

"Ghetto Gifted" is a major project that they are working on, with plans for it to be completed by October.

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