Just as "It must be 5 o'clock somewhere" enables us to make a cocktail at any time of the day, "It must be New Year's Eve somewhere" gives parents of young children a chance to set the schedule for ringing in 2011.  Why wait for the ball to drop at midnight in Times Square when it most likely means everything else will drop? Years ago, we wondered, why not celebrate with any other city east of us at a more reasonable hour? Then we can send the kids to bed and have our own celebration.  We choose France because their midnight is our 6 p.m. How civil! We do all the same countdowns, horn blowing…

Fanwood Flannery's Pub will stay open until 2 a.m. And in true neighborhood-pub fashion, its party will feature plenty of freebies: a complimentary midnight champagne toast and some free food. It will also include hats and noisemakers. Scotch Plains The Stage House offers a $20 New Year's Eve party party in their Tavern bar. Ticketholders receive one free cocktail, a midnight champagne toast and food from the "grazing station" and can enjoy the music of cover band Amp'd.  Clark Molly Mcquire's has DJs and an open bar from 9 pm to 2 am. Noisemakers and appetizers included for a $60 cover (or…

Finding the perfect champagne to ring in the New Year can be an unnecessary source of stress. Would you rather have dry or fruity? What are your guests' preferences? Is there a champagne that will leave you feeling significantly lifted, rather than lifting a significant wad from your wallet? Fear not, oenophiles! Patch has you covered on all things sparkling and toasted. Before you buy, a little history: champagne is created exclusively in the Champagne region in France. The beverage first earned acclaim and renown due to its association with the anointment of French kings. While true …

Are you still looking for something to do on New Year's Eve? Well, if you like Broadway music, you're in luck. The Westfield Symphony Orchestra will be performing The Great American Songbook – a review of American musical theater classics featuring four nationally-renowned soloists. "The concert has become a musical event eagerly anticipated by much of central New Jersey and has gained incredible momentum over recent years," said David Wroe, the Symphony's artistic director. Soprano Michele Ragusa, who recently starred as Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein, Penny and Hope in Urinetown and Evelyn…

Here we are, in the celebratory final week of December, and for most of us that means looking forward to some of life's greatest pleasures: spending time with family, giving and receiving presents, and perhaps enjoying the first picturesque snowfall of the year. But we all know the reality of the holiday season. Time with family means a 45-minute conversation with crazy Aunt Shelley; giving and receiving presents means dealing with stampeding crowds at the mall; and the first snowfall of the year means shoveling six inches off your driveway so you can make it to work by 7:30. The holiday …

Santa Claus may be coming to town, but he's not coming to everyone's house. For those who don't celebrate Christmas, or even for those who may just be looking to get out of the house once the day's festivities are over, there is a long-standing tradition that can be enjoyed by all on Dec. 25: Chinese food and a movie. Since the Chinese-food-(or Thai, or Japanese)-and-a-movie combination is the preferred choice of those who won't be opening presents on Christmas Day (mostly because it's the only choice, but nonetheless), Patch has compiled a handy list of the top local options for this annual …

He's a long way from the North Pole and the U.S. government will help you track him tonight. Taking a break from their normal duties to keep the United States and Canada safe, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking Santa's travels all day on Friday into Saturday. You can follow his progress here. 

In honor of Christmas, Patch asked readers in Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Westfield, Cranford and Garwood to tell us the best holiday gifts they have ever received. The answers were surprising, funny and touching. And if you're still scrambling for gifts, maybe you'll find an idea or two. Scroll down to watch the video below.

The lights, the tree, the gifts, the cooking, the baking, the visiting or visitors – sometimes the holidays don't seem very merry at all. With the increased activity comes increased stress that can wreak havoc if you let it. This year, we're preparing in advance to fend off the holiday blues.  We turned to an expert: Dr. Dennis Sandrock, a Clark psychologist, has seen how quickly the holidays can frazzle even the most even-keel folks. First and foremost, says Sandrock, is to set realistic expectations. Here, he shared with us his best tips for reducing holiday stress: Create your own personal…

Each season provides opportunities for anyone with a camera to take fantastic photos that become family heirlooms, hilarious reminders of wonderful gatherings and touching mementos of milestone moments. But celebrating the winter holidays provides a number of challenges — whether you're shooting inside in candlelight, by the fire, around the Christmas tree, or outside in bitter cold, wind, or snow. For years, I have taught the principles of winter photography at my International Photographic Workshops of Grand Fenway. Dozens of students paid thousands of Zeligs to learn these techniques (How …

In "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," Aunt Bethany looked at the thousands of lights on the Griswald house and asked if it was on fire. TheWestfield Fire Department is offering some tips for residents so they only get asked if their house is on fire and not seeing it go up in flames. First, if you're still using those big colored bulbs to light your Christmas tree, take them down right away. "A lot of people like those. But if the tree is dry and the lights are hot, they can catch fire," said Deputy Fire Chief Ken Dannevig. Dannevig said people should use the small white or colored …

Scrambling to find a Christmas tree this season? Waiting until this weekend to spruce up your living room? Before you start cruising the streets of Scotch Plains and Fanwood, trailing the scent of pine needles, check out our guide to where you can find that perfect fir or cypress, plus a number of holiday decorations and decorating services. Fanwood Lions Club and Fanwood Fire DepartmentLaGrande Park in FanwoodFlier on Patch The Fanwood Lions Club, with assistance from the Fanwood Fire Department, is holding its annual Christmas tree sale and fundraiser at LaGrande Park. Between 6:30 p.m. …

It's the season of lights, and to celebrate, we're inviting all Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents to enter our Holiday Decorations photo contest. Submit your best photo of holiday decorations – whether they be Menorahs, Christmas lights, inflatables or entire houses – and you will be entered to win a Patch gift bag. Entries will be judged based on the quality of the photos, not the holiday decorations. Submit your entries by 5 p.m. Friday by emailing them to AlanN@patch.com. The photos will also be posted on the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch.  With every photo, please include your first and …