In the last issue, F2 was mistakenly printed as P2 about six times in the first paragraph on the newsletter sent out. It was a goof & I most certainly DO KNOW it is F2, not P2. Sorry, guys at F2! Simple typo and Khail at www.hypermail.cc can vouch that I had it correct in the text I originally sent him. Also, the issue was originally going to go out on December 8th, but due to a teeny-weeny server problem, it went on the 10th instead, so that’s why it said 17 days until Christmas, but really should have been 15. I might be blonde, but even blondes know Christmas is always on December 25th. Allow me to demonstrate: today is the 15th and I am positive there are 10 days until Christmas and 16 days until New Year’s Eve, and for the record I have always known it was F2, not P2, and I do not ride the short bus. It was an honest mistake and I hope I’ve redeemed myself. The corrected version is on the website. Now, back to our regularly scheduled newsletter, already in progress…

New Year’s Eve Downtown is the place to be to ring in 2005, but I’ve listed a few other cool locations too. This list is exceptionally lengthy, so I’ve put the venue or host’s name in bold print to help you skim through and pick what interests you to save reading time. Celebrate 2005 with the Sam Houston Hotel, 1117 Prairie Street. 002 Magazine is hosting three great parties in one hot location. Chill out at the Sam Bar, mix in the Lobby and party the night away on the sexy rooftop Veranda. The event is $120 per couple or $65 for singles including the New Year’s Eve countdown and champagne toast at midnight. Eat, drink and sleep at the Sam. Two-night New Year’s Eve Packages start at $600 per couple for deluxe accommodations and go up to $1000 for the VIP suite accommodations, which includes New Year’s Eve dining at the critically acclaimed restaurant named 17 (there is an interesting, historical railroad story behind the name) and full access to the party. For information or reservations, call 832-200-8800 or learn more at www.samhoustonhotel.com.

The Ruby Room at 509 Main, above Slainte Irish Pub, will open at 8:00PM. Presale tickets are only $5.00 if purchased before December 29th. Admission will be $10 at the door with VIP invitation. To request an invitation, email events@slainteirishpub.com. There will be plenty of party favors, beads and a champagne toast. I just have to tell you, the Ruby Room is sensational. It is a fantastic spot to host corporate, social or wedding events, not to mention anything from a bar mitzvah to a high school reunion. I’ll be there for NYE.

I’ve been frequenting a nifty new spot call Six Degrees Lounge at 911 Franklin. I’ve been there quite often. If this place was a man, I’d MARRY it! I love it that much. Join the gang at Six Degrees for their premiere NYE party. Leap from 04 to 05 at Six Degrees Lounge. Admission is $35 with RSVP or $50 at the door and includes Champagne with strawberries and party favors. Table reservations and bottle service are available. For more information, or to RSVP, visit www.sixdl.com. This will be an unforgettable event, and Six Degrees is the Queen’s pick for "best lounge to spend NYE."

There is still time to book your holiday event, private party or table reservations this season at M Bar by contacting jenny@monmain.com. Mark your calendars for one of the biggest New Year's Eve parties downtown at 402 Main at Preston, 713-222-1022. Call for advance ticket sales. There will be table reservations, bottle service and valet available. Hotel and Limo packages are available, as well, M bar has all their bases covered for the big night. M Bar is my pick for the "prettiest bar in the entire city." It’s posh and swanky. Don’t you just love the word "swanky?" www.monmain.com

Envy Magazine will be in full-force at Club Opus at 412 Main for the Envy Annual. This will be the Queen’s pick for most beautiful crowd. I mean, have you SEEN the models in their magazine each month? Tickets will be available online soon at either www.envyhouston.com or www.opusclub.com. Deidra, VP of Envy Magazine, will most likely be the Queen’s pick for "best dressed on NYE."

The Magnolia Hotel at 1100 Texas Avenue has specials for NYE. This hotel is very upscale and the rooms are out of this world. There will be a Jazz Dinner featuring pianist Pamela York from 6-10PM along with a NYE Gala also available on the third level of the Magnolia. There are five packages to select from, and three of them include accommodations. Please call 713-221-0011 or go to www.magnoliahotels.com. This is the Queen’s pick for the hotel I will sleep in on NYE and it is one block away from Main Street, so it’s a safe walk.

Twisted Entertainment is hosting "The Naughty or Nice New Year’s Eve Soiree" at the Buddha Bar at 812 Capitol (on Capitol, between Travis & Milam). Pre-Sale tickets are only $10, send Jose an email at twistedentertainment@yahoo.com to inquire about tickets, and make it snappy because they are going fast. Ticket price includes champagne toast, noisemakers, party favors and free CD’s. That’s an incredibly inexpensive price for New Year’s Eve.

For one night only, paid admission into Jones Bar at 410 Main will get you into club 410 also. Two beautiful places to frolic in for the price of one. Cover includes champagne for those who reserve seating. DJ T.Grey will be spinning Hip Hop and House. Pre-sale tickets are available at a discounted rate. Call 832-878-5110 or email chris@nightfunctions.com or george@nightfunctions.com.

Ring in the New Year "Sambuca Style," with a special four-course dinner, live entertainment from the Tommy Dardar Band and a champagne toast and a grand balloon drop as the clock strikes midnight. Guests will receive party favors, drink specials and more. For more information and reservations, call 713-224-5299. Sambuca Jazz Café is at 909 Texas in the historical Rice Lofts. www.sambucarestaurant.com

The Flying Saucer on New Year’s Eve can be a relaxed night of fun, live music and beer specials for you and your friends. $10 at the door gets you live music, raffle drawings throughout the night, party favors and a free champagne toast. Table reservations are available, call 713-228-9472 for more information. The Saucer is at the corner of Main and Capitol, on the ground floor of the St. Germain Lofts. They have a great website too, www.beerknurd.com.

F2 (no, not P2, it’s F2!) at 306 Main Street gets ready for 2005 with dance performances by Diva By Nature beginning at 8PM and music from DJ Freddy B and Silver. Champagne specials will be available throughout the night. 713-229-9999.

Do it Sportsmonkey-style downtown at The Meridian, 1503 Chartres. This year’s theme is BLT (Black Tie, Lingerie, Toga). The theme dress of BLT (Black Tie, Lingerie, Toga) is encouraged, but not required. Wear whatever clothes your little heart desires to ring in 2005. As a Sportsmonkey Tradition, it is customary to celebrate six time zones from around the world starting at 8PM. Here’s what you get: open bar (two of my favorite words) from 8PM until 2AM. Live Music from SuperCell, and Silverleaf. DJ Jager, and DJ Clear (I know him and have seen him DJ in a Spiderman costume at an after-hours party in his house) spinning every kind of music, Midnight Toast, plenty of bars and bartenders, tons of FREE parking with valet also available, 1:00AM breakfast buffet, party favors, there is an option to include a room or suite for the night at a discount package price, shuttles to and from the party to sponsor hotels all of this in over 25,000 square feet of party space. That is by far the Queen’s pick for most "bang for your buck" party. To buy tickets, visit www.sportsmonkey.com.

Score a great new year with the Rockets. The Houston Rockets will play the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, December 26th at 7:30PM and they battle the Milwaukee Bucks on New Year’s Eve at 9PM. Tickets range from $10 - $105. The Toyota Center is downtown at Polk & LaBranch. www.rockets.com Oh, and Rockets fans don’t throw drinks on players and cause huge brawls at the game. Houston is friendly!

This is my pick for the most magnificent party…it’s called Forbidden City. Several of Houston’s top promoters have joined together to bring to you the biggest, baddest, most exciting New Year’s Eve party EVER. No expense has been spared. The interior of this extravagant built-for-one-night-only venue is 13,000 square feet and the outside patio lounge is around 20,000 square feet. The promoters have booked Aerial Silk Performers, an Exotic Choreographed Dance Troupe, Go-Go Dancers, Vegas Costumed Girls on Swings, Pyro Dancers, Stilt Twins, DJs and much more. All this entertainment will be divided into 5 general admission rooms and 2 VIP Rooms. There will also be a Confetti Drop, Strobe Countdown, and an Outdoor Firework show. With the prime location of downtown on the Bayou, located at Upper Sam Houston Park at Lamar and Bagby, fireworks will be visible from all around. There will be many more surprises beginning the time you valet the car until the time you leave. After Forbidden City, it will be difficult to find an event to top this NYE 2005! Tickets start at $35 and go up to $1600. Yes, I said $1600. For more info, please click www.forbiddencities.com to see what I mean by magnificent…it is to die for!

The Mercury Room and Boaka Bar at 1008 Prairie hosts Austin’s dance band sensation "Sensual Soul" along with DJ Lucky LaRue, DJ Cipher of the Almight Krackernuttz DJ Group spinning hip-hop and popular dance beats for party goers all night long. In addition, electric club violinist Catherine Burnside (www.catherineburnside.com) will perform. She is amazing. Doors open at 8PM. Advance tickets available for $25 per person and will be $30 at the door. For more information, call 713-225-6372 or visit www.mercuryroom.com.

This is one of my favorite places and I’ll talk about it whenever I can. Red Lion Pub at 2316 is hosting a grand New Year’s Eve celebration with no cover. Have a glass of champagne in the ladies room there. It’s my favorite bathroom in the city and it’s even cleaner than my bathroom at home. The food, service and atmosphere at Red Lion are unsurpassable. www.redlionhouston.com. This is my pick for "best place to eat on NYE."

The 2nd Annual Big Apple Ball will be a terrific way to celebrate, presented by the Race Car Club. The Rice Lofts will be transformed into Party Central. The evening will feature live entertainment from multiple bands, DJ Sun and DJ Melodic spinning tunes throughout the night, 6 bars and 15 bartenders, VIP access to the tented balcony, and performances from the Butterfly Diva Dancers. Guests can expect a midnight countdown with a champagne toast, chow-down on a Late Night Mexican Breakfast and a enjoy variety of unique party favors. For more information, table reservations and tickets, please call 832-615-3177 or visit www.racecarclub.net.

Throb parties, which are mainly "a girls’ night out theme," have moved to Club Eve, 2205 Richmond at Greenbriar, above Aztecas Restaurant. The parties are still hosted by DJ Rocky B. Their Throb party on NYE cover will be $8 for 21 and up $10 for 18-20 year olds and will feature a $500 balloon drop and champagne at midnight.

The 14th Annual Murder Mystery New Year's Eve Dinner and Dance will be at the Doubletree Allen Center Hotel. Try and solve the mysterious murder of the night as professionals pose as detectives with lots of surprises. The Doubletree is located at 400 Dallas Street. Ticket price includes 'Murder Mystery Menu' along with a sparkling wine toast at midnight. For more information please call 888-U-SOLVE-IT to reserve your spot for the mystery bash.

The Hyatt Regency is having their Annual Celebration. The party spans four floors and will include live entertainment by Accent, Doppelganger, and DJ 33 1/3. At midnight, over 30,000 balloons will drop down from the 30th floor. Guests will also enjoy a prime rib buffet. The cuisine will differ if you dine in Spindletop. The party will begin around 7PM. For more information and ticket pricing call 713-654-1234. The Hyatt Regency is located at 1200 Louisiana Street.

The Social has DJ Champa Moore and no cover. I love their NYE invite, it’s quite humorous. The Social is at 3730 Washington. For details or to see the invite, visit www.thesocialinfo.com They are also hosting a "Hair of the Dog" party on January 1st to help recover from and reduce the NYE hangovers out there.

DJ Blake Davidson will be at The Belvedere at 1131 Uptown Park which is hosting New Year’s Eve in Black and White. To reserve tables, call 713-426-5840. Doors will open at 8PM. www.belvedereinfo.com The dress for the evening, is (duh!) black and white.

The Courtyard Marriot, 916 Dallas and the Residence Inn, 904 Dallas are great hotels with kitchenettes in the rooms and are a short distance walk or a ride on metro-rail from Main Street. Call J. Foster for NYE rates at 713-576-2282 or email j.foster@marriot.com.

A little advice for all of you on New Year’s Eve, when choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before. A little more advice, do not drink and drive or get in the car with a driver who is drunk on New Year’s Eve or EVER. Call a cab, get a hotel room, have a designated driver, take Metro, sleep in your car, whatever it takes! I want all of you to celebrate SAFELY and see 2005 and many more wonderful years to come. There is nothing fun about a car accident or a DWI, and you can’t very well be the life of the party, if you lose your life because of drunk driving, can you?