Sleeping with the fishes for a family New Year’s
For new way to ring in the new year that will not only delight the children but keep parents entertained as well, families can stay overnight at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The New Year’s Eve Seashore Sleepover provides a sundae bar, family activities and sparkling cider for a New Year’s toast. Even if most of the finny residents sleep through the countdown (calibrated to East Coast time, presumably so little bipeds won’t miss their beauty sleep), they’ll be frolicking early in the morning when revelers wake up to a hearty breakfast and a day at the aquarium.
Black tie and (dog) tails: Truckee’s annual Black Tie and Tails Gala doesn’t happen until February, but as it sells out six weeks in advance, now is the time to buy tickets to the hottest party in town. The ties are worn by gentlemen attending with ladies in swanky gowns, but the tails are on the dogs accompanying many of the Champagne-sipping guests on the Hollywood-style red carpet at the RitzCarlton, Lake Tahoe. Proceeds benefit the local Humane Society. Feb. 13, 5:30 p.m. $175. (530) 582-2468. www.hstt.org.
The circus is in town: A far cry from Ringling Bros., Le Cirque de Bohème is the kind of old-style circus that could be seen caravanning from city to city in France in the 1920s. There’s still time to catch the final two weekends as a motley cast of contortionists, rope dancers and aerialists, among other singularly talented performers, presents the enchanting story “Stolen Moonlight” at Cornerstone in Sonoma. Saturday-next Sunday, Dec. 19-20 and Dec. 26-27, 1 p.m. $28 adults, $18 children under 15. (707) 363-3601. www.cornerstonesonoma.com.