Mission 2000

Millennium madness may be saner than expected. Some predictions--such as the one warning that we’d be paying into the next millennium for the chance to party like it’s 1999--have not come to pass. Not only have prices stabilized, some have actually dropped. Some events have been canceled because of lack of ticket sales (most notably, the L.A. Coliseum extravaganza). What this means for Southlanders who’ve yet to make plans--with the year 2000 little more than a week away--(and apparently, there are many of us) is that there are still plenty of options. Following is just a sample of those happenings, with a little something for every age, temperament, sexual orientation and pocketbook in mind.

Fairs and Festivals

For that community feeling, five Super Street Fairs, featuring entertainment, children’s workshops, art displays and other family activities, are slated for five sites around Los Angeles: Van Nuys Airport, Union Station, the intersection of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King boulevards, California Plaza at Grand Avenue downtown and L.A. Harbor at the Vincent Thomas Bridge. A sky parade at noon kicks off the festivities, sponsored by L.A. Cultural Affairs Department. Fireworks and a light show cap off the event at midnight. Admission is free. (213) 485-2787.

Knott’s Berry Farm’s Praise 2000, the annual New Year’s Eve Christian music festival, presents a lineup of Jaci Velasquez, Rebecca St. James, the Kry, Jennifer Knapp, Raze, Nifty Tom Fifty, Bob Bennett and Sampo. Fireworks and party favors will top off the evening. Presale tickets $35; day-of, $40. Park hours: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. (714) 220-5200.

Say goodbye to 1999 in style at the Beverly Hills Millennium Block Party. New Year’s Eve day festivities will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Check out concept cars and motorbikes. Food stations and entertainment stages will line Canon Drive, along with futuristic rides and games for the kids. Jane Curtin and Merv Griffin will oversee the launch of 2,000 balloons, some containing gift certificates. Rodeo and Canon drives. Free. (310) 275-6974.

Purchase tickets at the gate for Pacific Park’s Millennium at Santa Monica Pier for $125, or in advance for $85; $45 for ages 12 and younger. Food, dancing and rides included. 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. (800) 361-3017.

First Night Fullerton is a community event with children’s activities and more than 100 musical and cultural attractions, capped off with fireworks at midnight. 7 p.m.-midnight. $12; ages 12 and under $8. (714) 738-6545.

Bop Till You Drop

Berlin, Chaka Khan and Missing Persons headline Universal Studios Hollywood’s Millennium Dance Party. The party continues until 2 a.m., with food, fireworks and dancing, along with access to the theme park’s rides and attractions. Admission is $99. VIP passes are $250 (includes priority seating, a five-course dinner and open bar). 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Call Ticketmaster or (800) 959-9688.

New Year’s Eve on Pine Avenue includes live music, street performers and a ball-drop at midnight. The Long Beach Promenade from 1st to 3rd streets will be lined with food and vendor booths and several stages of entertainment. On the main stage, Bobby Cochran and his Rock ‘n’ Roll Show, swing and salsa bands will perform. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Admission is $50 at the door or Ticketmaster. (562) 437-7700.

Times Square West will light up the sky at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. A pyrotechnic and laser light countdown at midnight follows an evening featuring Dave Koz, Joyce Cooling, Willie & Lobo, Slim Man, the Mardi Gras band Fat Tuesday, DJ Maximum Impact and others. Tickets are $119; hotel packages available. (858) 552-6099.

Big-band music, Top 40s, jazz, country, salsa, disco and everything in between will fill the decks of the Queen Mary for Queen Mary 2000. A three-day package covers all food, music and festivities, from check-in at noon Dec. 31 to checkout Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. $300 for New Year’s party only; $1,250 for hotel package. (562) 435-3511.

Disney will unveil “Fantasia/2000” at Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The 2,000-guest black-tie affair begins with dinner and a special screening of the update of the Disney animated music classic. Dancing and live performances by Chicago and swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy follow. $2,000. Reservations: (818) 238-1095.

Dine, dance and greet the New Year at Girl Bar’s multilevel millennium extravaganza at the Wyndham Bel Age on Sunset. Primarily geared to lesbians, the event offers dancing in the Grand Ballroom and on a second level, featuring a live jazz band. $100 tickets include drinks; dinner is an additional $50. Doors open at 8 p.m. Room packages start at $319. Reservations: (877) 447-5252.

Pat Hodges will perform club-style music in a 2 a.m. concert at the Rage in West Hollywood. The primarily gay club will open its doors from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. $75 includes party favors and champagne toast at midnight. (310) 652-5100.

Latin Gala 2000 at the Hollywood Palladium features live bands revisiting the sounds of the 1960s to the ‘90s. Dress for the era of your choice for the fashion parade of the decades. $100; $500 tickets include dinner and parking. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. (323) 634-7811.

Sinurgey Production’s Ultimate Millennium Party at Del Mar Racetrack could be the ultimate destination for singles. Deejays and live bands will play disco, funk, reggae, flamenco or retro dance music. Black tie is optional, coats required. 7 p.m.-4 a.m. Gourmet food stations, fireworks are included. $84 to $235. (858) 495-2440.

Dinner Shows

Cuba Gooding & the Main Ingredient headline at the Century Club’s New Year’s Eve party in Century City. First seating at 7 p.m. includes a gourmet buffet for $150 per person. The 9 p.m. seating offers a gourmet dinner and champagne for $200. Show seating $100 to $395. Reservations: (310) 553-6000.

Barbra Streisand in Vegas is sold out, but tickets are still available for sis’ show at the Hollywood Cinegrill. Roslyn Kind will perform two shows. Dinner seatings at 7 or 9:30 p.m. $175. Reservations: (323) 466-7000.

Harry Dean Stanton headlines the New Year’s party at the Mint on Pico Boulevard. 8 p.m. $125; $225 includes dinner. Reservations required: (323) 954-8241.

The Nelson Riddle Orchestra and Harry Connick Sr. will ring in the New Year at Sportsmen’s Lodge Restaurant & Special Event Center in Studio City. $199.99 to $249.99. Reservations required: (818) 755-5000.

Concerts

The Eagles will headline Staples Center’s 1999 New Year’s Eve celebration. Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt will kick off the Dec. 31 festivities at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 to $1,000 through Ticketmaster.

Head for Margaritaville with Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers. The Buffett at the Beach concert at Universal Amphitheatre includes the Fredy Omar Latin Dance Band. Dance to the Stingers till dawn. Open bar and Caribbean food included, $500 to $1,500. 7 p.m. Tickets: (877) 727-7689.

Doors open at 8 p.m. for the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the Great Western Forum. Tickets range from $25 to $55. (310) 419-3100.

Al Green will help bring in the New Year at the House of Blues. $150 tickets include a light buffet; $200 includes dinner. Reservations: (323) 848-5100.

Floor seating is sold out for the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts’ Party of the Century featuring Peabo Bryson, but $105 to $135 tickets are still available. 7:30 p.m. Reservations required: (562) 916-8500.

Kick up your heels with Diamond Rio at Crazy Horse Steak House, in its new home at the Irvine Spectrum. $105 to $275. Reservations required: (714) 549-1512.