This post is written by Anthony Cordo, Visitor Services Manager for Experience Columbus.

The New Year is approaching, but before we can welcome it in we’ve got to get in to a bar! Check out some of the ideas below and their highlights to decide where you and your friends will enjoy the party.

Gresso’s: New Year’s Eve Party
Cover: $59
Includes: open bar (well and domestic drinks), champagne toast, D.J., buffet, shuttle service.
Why: this is a fantastic neighborhood hotspot and on NYE it’s a favorite choice to enjoy life with your friends without emptying your wallet. You’re not likely to find a place as popular as this with an all-inclusive cover this low.
Know before you go: pre-purchase your admission over the phone – it’s always sold out at the door.

Barrio Tapas Lounge: New Years Eve
Cover: $5
Includes: Old-School hip-hop party, D.J. Patrick, drink specials.
Why: Barrio has great food.

Newport Music Hall: Ekoostik Hookah
http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/event-detail.cfm?id=30969
Admission: $30
Includes: admission to the concert.
Why: Ekoostik Hookah is a fun live music experience!

House Wine: New Year’s Eve at House Wine
Cover: none.
Why: This can be an affordable plan – you pay for what you drink. If you’re a wine-o this is a good option!

Shadowbox Live: New Year’s Eve at Shadowbox Live
Cover: $100 ($180 for two)
Includes: Two bands, dancing, dinner and dessert banquet, champagne toast at midnight.
Why: the folks over at Shadowbox Live know how to throw a fine party, and this NYE bash should appeal to people who like live music.
Know before you go: reservations required.

Park Street Complex: New Year’s Eve Extravaganza
Cover: $10
Includes: multiple D.J.s, party favors, circus performers, a ball drop at midnight.
Why: if you’re looking for a club scene to ring in 2012 this is one of the best options. The complex is three attached bars, and each one has a great dancing scene.
Know before you go: dress hot – everyone else will.

Camelot Cellars Winery: Venetian Masquerade Ball
Cover: $25 ($40 for two)
Includes: special wine prices, champagne at midnight, appetizers.
Why: this is a fancy way to celebrate in masquerade style.

Hyatt Regency Columbus: NYE on High
Cover: $129-499
Includes: open bar, eleven bands (Lt Dan’s New Legs, Reagonomics, and others), D.J.s.
Why: this is one of the best known NYE celebrations; it’s been going on for thirty years!
Know before you go: book a room at the hotel in advance as part of the package.

If you’ve ever been to Columbus for an event at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and found yourself looking for a drink, you’ve probably serendipitously found Char-Bar ,  right across High Street. Char-Bar is a Columbus institution, with a great selection of beer on tap, dart boards, a pool table and a spacious patio in the shadow of the new Hilton Columbus Downtown. The history of the place is palpable - to get to the restrooms in the stone-walled basement (the original street level), you pass by a lonely piano. This place definitely has character!

This past weekend a few of the Experience Columbus crew hit the new piano bar, The Big Bang . We had one rockin’ time!

Located under Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in the Arena District , dueling piano players sit opposite each other and play old school favorites that you can’t help but sing out loud.

If you are looking for a high-energy hang out, this is the place to go. Tip: You should get there early - the night we went it was packed by 11 p.m. and we spotted a line at the door.

Here are the impressions our group had about the night:

Meg Gordon : When I heard that Big Bang was opening in Columbus, I was super pumped and my expectations were high. I was not disappointed! I think it’s nearly impossible to go to The Big Bang and not have a good time. I mean, what could be better than belting out some of your favorite tunes with your friends?

Melissa DeGraw : I liked that we got there before a cover started and the drinks were not that expensive. It’s a fun place to hang with your friends and relax with some great entertainment to boot!

Kate Kastenholz : I think The Big Bang is a home run. There was so much energy and I was amazed that the performers were able to rotate and play each instrument!

Brenda Carter: I loved the music and group participation, and that the price of drinks was reasonable.

Kelly Brooks : My favorite thing about The Big Bang is that it has a little something for everyone. Whether you want grab a few drinks, enjoy some live entertainment or spend a night people watching, you can do it here. But make sure you arrive early if you want to grab a table - it fills up quickly!

Since it’s new, we know only some of Columbus has had the chance to experience The Big Bang. Have you? How was it?

Photo by Thomas Alexander
(see more on Flickr )

If you’re looking for an alternative to happy hour at a local bar, consider Cocktails @ the Conservatory .

It’s held at the Franklin Park Conservatory every Thursday evening from 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). There’s no cover and parking is free.

The holiday season is a great time to go since the Conservatory is decked out with beautiful holiday lights and decorations, including a 15-foot tall poinsettia tree. I attended with a friend and we enjoyed music by Encore Entertainment and delicious hors d’oeuvres (let’s just say I can never turn down food from Cameron Mitchell ).

The best part was seeing Light Ramient II , the Palm House light installation by award-winning artist James Turrell . It was chilly outside, but well worth stepping outdoors for a few minutes to take a look at the color-changing lights. Seeing the Palm House illuminated against the night sky was breathtaking.

I’ll definitely be back the next time I’m looking to kick off the weekend early.

My husband and I recently entertained our friends, Jimmy and Stacy, who visited here from Richmond, VA. As a Columbus native, I wanted to be sure they left town knowing Columbus is a cool place. Since they were staying at the DoubleTree downtown, I chose the Short North and went about figuring what might fit their style.

Short North Arts District
Photo by Randall Lee Schieber

I landed on The Burgundy Room - good wine selection , interesting tapas and plenty of nearby watering holes to pop into when we wanted a change of scenery. My husband and I got there early and scored a parking spot in the lot right across the street (tip: meters are free after 6 p.m.). We chose an intimate table in the back, near the gas fireplace, and ordered a bottle of Oregon pinot noir.

When Jimmy and Stacy arrived hungry, we ordered the beef carpaccio (high-grade raw beef - sorry, vegetarian friends), calamari, and pancetta (think crumbled bacon) on crostini with a white bean spread. The carpaccio, sprinkled with romano cheese and sea salt and drizzled with horseradish aioli, melted in my mouth.

We finished and decided to head down High Street to Eleven , next to Hyde Park on The Cap at Union Station . At 10 p.m. on a Friday night, Eleven was packed full of trendy 30- and 40-somethings. We found a spot to stand between the bar and the expansive wine safe, a great location to people watch and check out current fashions. Plus my husband could keep an eye on the TVs showing the Blue Jackets game.

I was pleased with myself, having found the perfect chance to show off The Cap and explain how it actually sits on top of the freeway. Jimmy and Stacy were duly impressed with the architecture and (to my glee) exclaimed, "I’d kill to have this in Richmond." Mission accomplished!

Wildlights

I’m typically a person who staunchly waits until after Thanksgiving to do any type of holiday of activity. I avoid gift buying, just say no to caroling and partake in no general merrymaking. All of this grinchiness changed last Thursday as I sat in the beautiful and ornate Ohio Theatre and watched Harry Connick Jr. perform his Christmas concert . The show was fantastic and a lot of fun. The regal setting in the Ohio Theatre couldn’t be beat for a night of jazz and the snow falling outside was an added bonus.

Smiling as Harry made his way through familiar tunes, I couldn’t help but to think of the other not-to-be missed activities around Columbus this season.

• I’ll definitely be making it to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for Wildlights (photo shown is by Rod Berry Photography ). Bundling up and sipping hot chocolate as you stroll through the light display is half the fun, so no fair picking a warm day to visit (besides it’s more crowded on the warmer days and way more crowded as you get closer to December 25).

• Although I usually avoid the malls this time of the year, I am really excited to visit Easton Town Center . They’ve gone out of their way to make shopping an experience. Beautiful decorations, carriage rides, pedicabs and photos with Santa are all featured. Also take note of 24 Days of Giving - if you’re caught feeding a meter, you might be rewarded with a gift card.

• The Holiday Hop in the Short North Arts District is always on my holiday must-do list. Not only is the Short North a great destination for one-of-a-kind gifts, it’s also a wonderful urban holiday experience complete with fantastic window displays and unbeatable people watching.

• For me the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without letting some of that inner snarkiness escape. For this purpose there is nothing better than a trip to CATCO’s Santaland Diaries . You can’t beat the works of David Sedaris for bringing out the levity in any situation and this one-man show leaves me in tears of laughter.

So I’ll be joining in the holiday spirit a little earlier than normal this year and I can’t wait to get started! What are your not-to-be-missed holiday outings or traditions?

Last week I joined some Experience Columbus pals to check out the new Garage Bar in the Arena District . On their Web site , the Garage Bar bills itself as having a neighborly feel that appeals to blue collar, white collar and no collar patrons. After experiencing it, I see their point. It doesn’t matter who you are here, as long as you like booze and rock ‘n roll.

You’ll feel the unique vibe just by looking around. You can’t miss the retrofitted, reproduction gas pumps that supply draft beer. The names of the 25 shots on the $4 "Shot Club" list might just make you blush. The bar features a scarlet and grey top that mimics an OSU Buckeye helmet, complete with coasters that look like buckeye leaf stickers. Red and metal-covered walls surround you, featuring tin signs, chrome and “automobilia” of all kinds.

Fuel on tap

While the atmosphere, my super-frosty glass of beer and the promise of good munchies left me happy enough to come back, the jukebox landed this bar on my list of favorites. I heard the likes of Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Sublime, Primus, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Weezer…I could go on, but any rock lovers out there are surely getting the idea.

This isn’t a swanky club. And I suspect they’re just fine with that.