By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net
^[1]
The new year is upon us – made your plans yet? Our calendar has plenty of area events to ring out 2011 and ring in 2012. They range from the large – First Night Charlotte in downtown Charlotte Saturday – to the small – a free timed 5K run in downtown Davidson New Year’s day – to the wild – the 4th annual Polar Bear Plunge swim at The Point on Lake Norman.

At First Night Charlotte, activities begin at noon Saturday with First Night Kids, then the adults take over downtown beginning at 8 p.m.  Meanwhile, several area restaurants — Davidson’s Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse and Jeffrey’s Restaurant in Mooresville, among others — have special New Year’s Eve dinners planned; and nightclubs — among them Skybar and Unleashed in Mooresville, Davidson’s Brickhouse Tavern, and Cornelius’ Dirty Martini, Rusty Rudder, Galway Hooker Irish Pub and Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub — will celebrate the coming New Year.

And for a change of pace, Gethsemane Baptist Church in Davidson will hold its annual New Year’s Eve service on Saturday night.

If you’re looking for something to do on New Year’s Day — beyond sitting in front of the TV watching the final week of the NFL season, that is — the DART Tightwad 5K will be held that morning beginning at the Davidson Village Green; and First Footin’ at Rural Hill, then annual celebration of First Footin’ and Hogmanay, a Scottish tradition, will be held at Huntersville’s Rural Hill Farm.

These events — and more below — are in our day-by-day calendar at right. Also, at right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas.

And remember — don’t drink and drive on New Year’s Eve.

ONGOING EVENTS

Local Art for Christmas, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St., Davidson. Exhibition of works by area artists Sandie Bell, Kathie Kemp, Lori Neill and Mary Luke and photographers Rachel Goldstein and David Boraks. Works will be on display through Dec. 31.

Trains for a Cure, Thursday-Saturday, 7-10 p.m., 20133 Beard St., Cornelius. The Montalbano family invites you to view their annual “Trains for a Cure” holiday train display, with an optional donation collected for the Charlotte chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Read more in our Nov. 30 feature, “Cornelius family runs ‘Trains for a Cure'” ^[2].

Teaching Talents exhibit, Thursday-Saturday, Cornelius Arts Center, ^[3] behind the police station in the Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius. Cornelius PARC Department and The Community Arts Project host a display and holiday sale of multimedia works from the center’s instructors, on display through Jan. 13. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Information: Call 704-896-8823.

THURSDAY, DEC. 29

Green Drinks Lake Norman, 5:30 p.m., Campania Café, 416 S. Main St., Davidson. Green Drinks Lake Norman monthly gathering. No speaker this month, just a gathering to celebrate 2011 and the coming of the New Year. Green Drinks is an organization of people interested in the environment and sustainability.

Cafe Elie artist reception, 6-8 p.m., Cafe Elie, 20700 N. Main St., Suite 110, Cornelius. See works by Anna Olivier and meet the artist at the opening reception for the exhibit “Fleurs Sauvages.”

Davidson men’s basketball vs. Penn, 7 p.m., Belk Arena, Davidson College. The Wildcats’ men’s basketball team hosts Penn in a nonconference game at Belk Arena.

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson. Live music: Matter of Fact. Info: 704-895-9090.

FRIDAY, DEC. 30

Blood Drive, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Community Rooms A-B, Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, Mooresville. The American Red Cross and LNRMC will host a blood drive that is open to the public. Appointments are not required, but are recommended. Photo identification is required. Information-appointments: Call 704-660-4859 or visit www.redcrossblood.org ^[4].

Live music at Summit Coffee, 8-11 p.m., Summit Coffee, 128 S. Main St., Davidson. Live music: Fountain Penn. Info: 704-895-9090.

Live music at the Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m, Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Live music with Spin. Info: 704-987-2022 or brickhousetavern.com ^[5].

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

First Night Charlotte, 12 p.m.-12:30 a.m., downtown Charlotte. Artists, dancers, comedians, musicians and magicians will take to the streets and venues at First Night Charlotte on New Year’s Eve! First Night Kids runs from 12-5 p.m.,evening activities from 8-11 p.m. and a fantastic midnight finale show featuring headline band The Atlanta Party Band performing from 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at the main stage. Purchase wristbands in advance at the Visitor Info Center starting Dec. 15. Wristbands will go on sale at the event by 10 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Sales locations will be the Visitor Info Center, The Green, NASCAR Hall of Fame, the outdoor terrace at the Charlotte Convention Center as well as at the main stage. You can purchase your wristband at First Night from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Adult wristbands are $10, children 4 and under are FREE (with a banded adult), and kids 5-12 are $5 (with a banded adult). Information: Visit www.firstnightcharlotte.com ^[6].

New Year’s Eve at the Flatiron, 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse, 215 S. Main St., Davidson. New Year’s Eve dinner and party, with 3-course meal and champagne toast. For reservations or more information, call 704-237-3246.

Jeffrey’s Restaurant New Year’s Party, 4:30 p.m.-1 a.m., Jeffrey’s Restaurant, 117 Trade Court, off I-77 Exit 33 in Mooresville. New Year’s Eve dinner from 4:30-9:30 p.m., and a party from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. With DJ, appetizers, champagne toast at midnight, and party favors. Party tickets $10.

Gethsemane New Year’s Service, 7 p.m., Gethsemane Baptist Church, 565 Jetton St., Davidson. The church’s annual New Year’s Eve service. Information: 704-892-1635.

Prosciutto’s New Year’s Party, 8-11 p.m., Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub, 20920 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius. Annual New Year’s Eve Party, with drink specials, a champagne toast and music by Tumblin’ Dice. Information: 704-439-4444.

New Year’s Eve at Skybar, 8 p.m.-until, Skybar, 115 Mooresville Commons Dr. Suite I-J, Mooresville. $2,000 cash balloon drop and complimentary party favors. For more info visit facebook.com ^[7].

New Years Eve Bash at the Brickhouse, 8:30 p.m., Brickhouse Tavern, 209 Delburg St., Davidson. Free admission, party favors and champagne toast at midnight. Live music with Spin. Info: 704-987-2022 or brickhousetavern.com ^[5].

Party at Dirty Martini, 8:30 p.m.-until, Dirty Martini, 17036 Kenton Dr., Suite 104, Cornelius. $10 cover before 10 p.m., $15 after 10 p.m. Free party favors, champagne toast, complimentary h’orderves 8:30-10:30 p.m. For more info visit lkndirtymartini.com ^[8].

New Year’s Eve Party at The Saloon, 9 p.m., The Saloon at the N.C. Music Factory, 900 Seaboard St., Charlotte. Live music and balloon drop with cash and prizes. Tickets are $50 and include open bar and buffet. For tickets visit thesalooncharlotte.com ^[9].

Galway Hooker New Year’s Eve Party, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Galway Hooker Restaurant and Irish Pub, 17044 Kenton Drive, Cornelius. The Galway Hooker’s annual New Year’s Eve Party will feature live music by Early Ray and DJ Echo, a countdown to the new year and a champagne toast. Tickets: $60 per person, VIP tables available for purchase. Tickets can be bought online at www.galwayhookerpub.com ^[10].

New Year’s Eve at Unleashed Nightclub, 9 p.m.-until, Unleashed, 20924 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius. Featuring music by Blue Monday. Party favors and champagne toast. $10 cover. For more info visit clubunleashed.net ^[11].

Rusty Rudder’s 10th-Annual New Year’s Eve Party, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Rusty Rudder, 20210 Henderson Rd. Cornelius. No cover. Live entertainment, drink specials, champagne toast at midnight. For more info: therustyrudder.net ^[12].

SUNDAY, JAN. 1

DCPC New Year’s Day Services, 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, corner of Main Street and Concord Road, Davidson. DCPC will hold two services on New Year’s Day. A traditional lunch will be served in the Congregation House following the 11 a.m. worship service. Information: Call 704-892-5641.

DART Tightwad 5K, 9 a.m., Davidson Village Green. Davidson Area Running Team Tightwad 5K. A free, chip-timed 5K race, without amenities. Limited to the first 40 people to sign up. Event information from DART. ^[13]

First Footin’ at Rural Hill, 11 a.m., Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. Historic Rural Hill presents its annual celebration of First Footin’ and Hogmanay, a Scottish tradition. This year, they’ll hike the property and have a 5K foot race, followed by Stone Soup and celebration. Details: http://www.ruralhill.net/ ^[14]

Polar Bear Plunge, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Point Lake & Golf Club, Brawley School Road, Mooresville – 4th annual Polar Bear Plunge lake swim and party, to benefit SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Iredell County. Party from 4-11 p.m. at Lake Norman Tavern. $50 per swimmer for adults (with T-shirt), $10 for youth ($20 with T-shirt). Teachers and veterans free. Music, spirits, prizes for best costumes and hats. Info: http://www.hope-point.org/2011/12/fourth-annual-polar-plunge/ ^[15]

HAVE NEWS?

To have your event listed in our calendars, please send to listings@davidsonnews.net ^[16]. Our events calendars appear on both DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net.