Best Bets CONEY ISLAND J. Geils Band takes the stage at the Palace on New Year's Eve. NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS The Detroit Symphony Orchestra hosts two performances of its New Year's Eve millennium gala, A Century of Song: From Vienna to Broadway to Hollywood, at Orchestra Hall, fea- turing vocalists Maureen McGovern and Davis Gaines, 6 p.m. (concert only) and 9 p.m. (with post-concert party including dessert buffet, cham- pagne toast and dancing). $14-$125. (313) 576-5111. Metallica, Ted Nugent, Kid Rock and Sevendust rock the Pontiac Silverdome beginning at 6 p.m. A full- out jam, featuring all four acts, is planned to cap the evening. $29.50- $99.50. (248) 645-6666. Classic blues rockers J. Geils Band, with the Romantics, perform 8:30 p.m. at the Palace of Auburn Hills. $19.99-$99.50. Young people 16 and under free with the purchase of an adult admission. (248) 645-6666. Christine Lavin, with Andrew Ratshin, Don White and more, plays Ann Arbor's The Ark 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. $15 first show/$25 second show. (734) 761-1451. The O'Jays and The Whispers take the stage at 9 p.m. for a soulful New Year's Eve concert at Detroit's Fox Theatre. $75/$62.50. (248) 433- 1515. Royal Oak Music Theatre hosts a DRQThousand Millennium Celebration, beginning at 8 p.m. $99. (248) 546-7610. St. Andrew's Hall presents Three Floors of Fun New Year's Eve!. Doors at 9 p.m.; 18 and older. $10. (313) 961-6358. Clutch Cargo's stages New Year's Eve 2000: The Celebration of a Century. Doors at 8 p.m.; 21 and older. $35-$85. (248) 645-6666. Pontiac's 7th House features Fashion Bash and the Crash-New Year's Eve Costume Gala, with Blackman/Arnold World Jazz Band. Doors at 9 p.m.; 21 and older. Champagne, dinner and breakfast buf- fets, dance music and more. $125 per couple, advance sales only; benefits Pontiac-area charities. (248) 932-2659. Detroit Actors Guild Productions presents two performances of the interactive comedy Tony n Tina's Wedding, at 6 and 10 p.m., including dinner, champagne, party favors and more, at Pontiac's Baci Theatre. $165 for 6 p.m. show/$195 for 10 p.m. show. (248) 745-8668. The Detroit Repertory Theatre ush- ers in the year 2000 at 8 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, a performance of the comedy Revival at Possum Kingdom Community Church, a buffet supper and champagne. ,$60 per person; tick- ets must be purchased in advance. (313) 868-1347. The Gem and Century Theatres presents Strolling through the Century, an evening which includes a 7:30 p.m. performance of Jeff Daniels' Escanaba in da Moonlight or Forbidden Christmas, unlimited access to food stations, live music, dancing, champagne toast and Y2K survival kit; $175. An "Early-to-Bed" New Year's Eve celebration, running from 2-6 p.m., includes play and a sit- down dinner at the Century Club Restaurant; $95. (313) 963-9800. Birmingham's First Night hosts local musicians, puppeteers, storytellers and more 4 p.m.-midnight in the downtown area. Celebration ends at midnight with a laser light show, video wall and ball drop at Shain Park. Admittance buttons are $8 per person/children 5 and under free. (248) 258-9075. Detroit Second City and Hockeytown Cafe offer dinner pack- ages, including a performance of Phantom Menace to Society 6 -9:45 p.m./$90; 8:15-midnight/$125. (313) 965-2222. For those who want to stay close to home, Detroit Public Television pre- sents a live 25-hour millennium day television event. Co-produced by WGBH Boston and the brainchild of WGBH's executive producer Zvi Dor- Ner, the show includes reflections on the meaning of the past thousand years, with contributions and artistic performances from 58 countries. Begins broadcasting at 4:45 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31, with a link-up to New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world. The program airs on WTVS- Channel 56. Check your local listings. 154 S. Woodward, Birmingham (248) 540-8780 Halsted Village (37580 W. 12 Mile Rd.) Farmington Hills (248) 553-2360 6527 Telegraph Rd. Corner of Maple (15 Mile) Bloomfield Township (248) 646-8568 4763 Haggerty Rd. at Pontiac Trail West Wind Village Shopping Center West Bloomfield (248) 669-2295 841 East Big Beaver, Troy (248) 680-0094 SOUTHFIELD SOUVLAKI CONEY ISLAND Nine Mile & Greenfield 15647 West Nine Mile, Southfield (248) 569-5229 Dennis Miller brings his shtick to the Fox Theatre on New Year's Day. FARMINGTON SOUVLAKI CONEY ISLAND Between 13 & 14 on Orchard Lake Road 30985 Orchard Lake Rd. Farmington Hills (248) 626-9732 Pop/RocK/JAzz At the Palace of Auburn Hills: John Mellencamp takes the stage with his "Rural Electrification Tour" and spe- cial guest Susan Tedeschi 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28; $45/$35. Rock vocalist and sax man Eddie Money performs 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29; $15/$9.47. Eclectic rockers Barenaked Ladies take the stage 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1. $50/$35. (248) 645-6666. Detroit's Magic Stick presents rock- ers Veruca Salt Thursday, Dec. 30. Doors at 9. $10. (313) 833-7665. Saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter performs jazz standards and premiers a new composition commis- sioned by and played with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, at Orchestra Hall. $15-$60. (313) 576-5111. ON THE STAGE Jeff Daniels' Escanaba in da Moonlight, the most popular show in Gem Theatre history, has been extend- ed at the Gem through March 26. $24.50-$34.50. (313) 963-9800. Barenaked Ladies ushers in a new century with a Jan. 1 performance at the Palace. Greek and American Cuisine OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK BEST BETS on page 66 UPTOWN PARTHENON 4301 Orchard Lake Rd. 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