There's no shortage of party options on New Year's Eve

It looks like 2006 will walk in on some nice hot legs this year.

Restaurants and bars from Carbondale to Parachute are serving up sexy crab leg dinners. The surf and turf combination is a popular one at nearly every destination this Dec. 31.

The last day of the old year, like Mardi Gras before Lent, is a time for overindulgence before vowing to stick to new years resolutions. That's why restaurants like River's, The Bayou, New Castle Café, Miner's Claim and Columbine Restaurant, among others, are bringing out their most decadent menus.

"It's pretty fancy," said Reto Luci, of his planned New Years Eve buffet at Columbine Restaurant.

But the last day of the year, which bleeds into the first day of the next is about celebrating. And area bars have insured that people will have several options to ring in the new year at a party.

Most places offer free midnight champagne toasts and drink specials.

"We're just going to have a big ol' party here," said Debbie Greene, the bartender at The White Buffalo in Battlement Mesa. "We're going to have a DJ and a disco ball. We're going to be dancing on the bar."

Many bars will bring in live music for the special occasion. Louie and The Lizards will give their final performance at The Brickyard Square in Rifle.

"It should be a great party," said Brickyard manager and co-owner Timothy Fifer. "The last time (Louie & The Lizards) were here they rocked the house."

SoulFeel, this year's Local's Choice winner for best band, will perform at the Sunlight Mountain Inn Bed & Breakfast.

There are a few places that are straying from the glam and glitz of the typical grand finale for the year. The Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs is hosting a murder mystery dinner theater, and Burning Mountain Bowl in New Castle will have a special cosmic bowling party for people of all ages.

Diners should plan on making reservations. The over-the-top menus at most restaurants are likely to draw crowds.

What's going on this New Year's Eve

• Pale Face, an alternative rock band, will play at The Black Nugget on Main Street in Carbondale starting at 9:30 p.m. Cost: $5 cover.

• The Hurricane Grille on Main Street in Carbondale will have a pajama party and karaoke starting at 9 p.m. Cost: No cover if you wear your PJs, $10 if you don't.

• The Pour House on Main Street in Carbondale will have crab legs and filet mignon for dinner on New Years Eve.

• New Year's Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, audience participation crime-solving performance, 7 p.m. Saturday, Hotel Colorado. Cost: $85/person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations required: 945-6511

• New Year's Eve Bash at Butch's Smokehouse, Glenwood Springs. $20 per person or $30 per couple. 945-0605

• The Hot Springs Pool and the Athletic Club continue their traditional New Year's Eve Celebration with extended hours until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1. Noisemakers will be provided for everyone for the big countdown to midnight. Participants are eligible for a drawing for an Annual Pool Pass. This is a non-alcoholic event for the whole family. 945-6571 or 800-537-SWIM (7946)

• Toast at the Top Third Annual New Year's Eve Extravaganza, Saturday, Exclamation Point Restaurant & Bar, buffet 8-10 p.m., dancing with music by The Dags, midnight champagne toast, first Iron Mountain tram ride to the top at 7:45 p.m. Cost: $55/annual pass members, $65/person, non-annual pass members. Reservations required: 945-4228 ext. 11

• River's Restaurant in Glenwood Springs will serve a special five-course dinner with champagne toasts and party favors. Rick Aluise, a solo guitarist, will perform from 6:30-11:30 p.m. Cost: $45 per person. Call for reservations: 928-8813.

• The Bayou on Grand Avenue is open Friday and Saturday nights until midnight - serving their full menu. Take advantage of their late weekend hours. The Bayou will be open Sunday morning with breakfast specials.

• SoulFeel, original blues rock, will perform at a New Year's Eve party at the Sunlight Mountain Inn Bed & Breakfast. There will be a buffet dinner, champagne and dancing. Cost: $50 for adults and $25 for children. Call for reservations: 945-5225.

• The New Castle Café will have a special New Year's Eve dinner with a preset menu. Choices of beef Wellington, crab-stuffed flounder or DeFlorencia chicken. Cost: $30 per person. Reservations recommended: 984-2301.

•New Year's Extravaganza at the Burning Mountain Bowl on Highway 6&24 in New Castle. Unlimited cosmic bowling, shoe rentals, champagne or sparkling cider, party favors and music. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cost: $150 per lane with no limits on the number of people per lane. $75 deposit required with reservations: 984-2739

• The Miner's Claim on Main Street in Silt will have special dinner and drink specials on New Year's Eve.

• WingNutz in Rifle will serve steak and crab legs New Years Eve. Open at 9 a.m. Sunday with breakfast and bloody Mary specials.

• Louie & The Lizards, an eclectic rock band, will give their final performance at The Brickyard Square on Third Street in Rifle on New Years Eve. There will be champagne toasts at midnight, party favors and a special New Year's dinner menu. Cost: $5 cover, waived if you eat dinner.

• Columbine Restaurant at the Rifle Creek Golf Course will have a fancy buffet dinner with lobster and steak, champagne, music and dancing. Cost: $30 per person. Call for reservations: 625-9201.

• The Bad Krossroadz will play live at O'Leary's Saloon on Third Street in Rifle starting at 9 p.m. tonight and New Years Eve.

• The White Buffalo in the City Market shopping center in Battlement Mesa will have drink specials, party favors, appetizers, a DJ, dancing on the bar and a disco ball. No cover.

• Red XXX, a rock and roll and country band, will play at The Hideout on E. First Street in Parachute on New Years Eve. There is no cover charge.