NEW YEAR’S EVE

WHEELER DEAL

For a New Year’s Eve wingding, replete with gourmet fixings and a blues-jazz band onstage, head up to Wheeler Hot Springs, where this year the annual celebration features local hero Jimmy Calire and his quartet paving the way to 1996.

Now, $95 might seem a steep price to pay in the post-Christmas recovery period, but considering the five-course dinner (7-10 p.m.), a host of party favors, Mumm’s champagne toast at midnight, and van service to get you down the hill, it may be the right way to do up “Auld Lang Syne.” The classically trained Buffalo, N.Y., native Calire has a resume that includes a stint with the ‘60s group Raven and several years with America, before he settled down in the Ventura area. A keyboardist who also gets around on sax, he knows how to dance on that fine line between bluesy grit and smart musicianship. He should be a good tour guide from one year to the next. For reservations, call 646-8131.

COUNTRY-WESTERN STYLE

Folks can “Waltz Across Texas” and into 1996 at a country-western-style New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance at the American Legion Hall in Ventura. Entertainment for this smoke-free event will be provided by the popular local band Caught Red Handed and deejay Vince Fiske of C & C Productions / Classic Country.

The evening’s activities kick off at 6 p.m. with a social hour (no-host bar) followed at 7 p.m. by a barbecue chicken and tri-tip buffet dinner. Caught Red Handed will play from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. for dancing. Admission of $35 per person includes dinner and champagne with party favors. The American Legion Hall is located at 83 S. Palm St. For reservations, call 643-8833.

BLUES ON A BUDGET

Just imagine: no snooty bartenders who get mad when you won’t tip them for selling a $4 itty-bitty cup of lousy draft beer, no thug bouncers, no long lines at the head and, even better, no zillion-dollar cover charge so you can join the elbow-to-elbow herd. Nope, it’s not New Year’s Eve on TV from New York, but a real life cheapskate’s option. It’s an evening of blazing blues from Randy Rich & the Ravens at the Red Cove in Ventura. The cover is the ever-affordable nothing, and pool is a quarter--no misprint--a quarter.

Rich, a Camarillo local, is about the best blues guitarist you’ve never seen. He does mostly originals, inspired by the good guys--Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Drummer Donna Eveland and bass player Eric Monteith complete the rockin’ trio, which will begin around 9 p.m. The venue is located at 1809 E. Main St. in Ventura. Call them at 643-1101.

UP THE COAST

* The Santa Barbara Symphony will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a concert of such sprightly works as Strauss’ “Radetzky March,” Anderson’s “Belle of the Ball,” Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance,” plus selections from “Spartacus,” Haydn’s “Farewell” (Symphony No. 45) and Ibert’s “Divertissement.” Led by conductor Gisele Ben-Dor, the orchestra will be joined by soprano Juliana Gondek of the New York City Opera Company. Gondek will perform songs from “West Side Story,” “Die Fledermaus” and Strauss’ “Czardas.” The concert, 8:30-10:30 p.m., will be held at the Arlington Theater, 1317 State St. Tickets: $15-$35. Call 963-4408.