Where To Celebrate New Year's Eve In Decatur and Avondale Estates

You don't have to go to downtown Atlanta to celebrate the coming of 2012.

Several restaurants and bars in Decatur and Avondale Estates are offering special packages and shows for night.

Here's a few that I found out about. If I left you off the list, please let me know. And if you have any family friendly events, I'd like to hear about that, too.

The restaurant at 129 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. has a special New Year's Eve dinner. The first of four courses is crispy arancini with taleggio and hazelnuts “frothy” celery root soup with black truffles and pickled celery heart, and it improves from there. Dinner is $55 per person. For reservations, call 678-399-8246.

A special menu will be offered starting at 5 p.m. The BackYardBirds will perform British Invasion tunes starting about 10 p.m. (To hear the band, check out the restaurant website.) Party favors and complimentary champagne at midnight. 314 E. Howard Ave. 404-377-2000. Reservations recommended.

This restaurant/bar on the Decatur Square will hold a "vertical pub crawl" that moves from floor to floor in the three-story building. The action starts at 6 p.m., giving you time to make it to other parties if you want to. Tickets are $20. 115 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-844-4010.

Michelle Malone and Hannah Thomas will perform. Doors open  6:30 p.m., first show at 7:30 p.m., late show at 10:30 p.m. General admission tickets $35, table of four reserved seats $175.

The Decatur Minute also suggests , ! and .