Partyers’ options plentiful

Not even a three-year battle with lung cancer or the recent removal of a brain tumor can stop Doug Fieger, lead singer of the Knack, from rocking out in Costa Mesa this New Year’s Eve.

The band, which has been around for 28 years, will be joining several bands of national fame — such as Blondie, Violent Femmes and Everclear — and a number of local acts to ring in the new year at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center.

The Knack has been taking it easy over the past few months because of Fieger’s condition, though they played a show in New York just last month. Fieger is also busy working on a solo album of Hank Williams songs and recording with Elliot Easton of the Cars and Clem Burke of Blondie as Zen Cruisers.

After the Knack exploded onto the music scene in 1979 with the release of its debut album, “Get the Knack,” the band enjoyed instant fame with a No. 1 single, “My Sharona.”

Since then, the Knack has released six studio albums — the most recent in 2003 — and a live concert DVD is expected from the band early next year.

Though the band occasionally takes time away from each other and the music, three of the band’s four original members and drummer Pat Torpey continue to record and play shows together. Fieger says these breaks help keep the band “fresh and motivated,” with their overall sound remaining the same as it has been in the past.

“I think the longer you do something, the better you hopefully get at it,” he said. “We are a better band now than we ever were.”

Audiences should expect to hear all the hits at this year’s event. Fieger promises “fun, great music and high energy.”

Organizers of Orange County New Year’s Eve 2007, also known as the Orange Drop, are planning upgrades to last year’s premiere event, bringing more well-known musical acts, more fireworks and more alcohol. With a newly-obtained hard liquor license at the site, mixed drinks will be available, in addition to beer and wine.

At midnight, partygoers will gather for the Orange Drop, similar to the ball drop in New York City’s Times Square, which aims to symbolize the gathering of local communities.

“The experience of coming together as a community makes it a wonderful event,” said Diana Baylor, spokeswoman for the event.

GOING LUXURIOUS AT THE ISLAND HOTEL

Meanwhile in Newport Beach, guests of Appassionato — meaning journey of the heart — at the Island Hotel will celebrate the new year in the lap of luxury.

Award-winning vocalist and entertainer Jimmy Hopper, a regular performer at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, will be presenting an eclectic show in which “rock meets opera, and Broadway meets classical.”

“We will be bringing a little bit of Vegas to the show, but we’ll keep with the elegance of Orange County,” said Hopper, who will be accompanied by his band and 11 musicians from the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

The hotel’s ballroom will be transformed into a 1930s cabaret-style nightclub, where a gourmet dinner will be served following a champagne and hors d’oeuvre reception. Further offerings include a dessert buffet, a midnight toast and a balloon drop.

“It will be spectacular,” Ray Jacobi, the hotel’s managing director, said. “That’s the way it has to be, and that’s what people deserve.”

Though few spaces remain for this event, tickets are $1,000 a couple and are available by calling (888) 321-4752 or going to www.theislandhotel.com. The event begins at 7 p.m.

HISTORY AND GLAMOUR AT THE BALBOA PAVILION

The 2006 Crystal Ball at the Balboa Pavilion’s Harborside Grand Ballroom will be offering both opulence and history this New Year’s Eve.

Guests should expect a loud and lively environment at the ballroom’s casino night, which also features music, dancing and a panoramic view of the Newport Bay.

Ball guests will not only be celebrating the arrival of 2007 with appetizers and champagne, but also looking back at Newport Beach’s 100-year history from within one of its oldest buildings.

“It is fitting to end the year at Newport’s most historic building,” said Kristy Fischer, senior event manager at Harborside. “It’s truly a beacon for the city.”

Admission to the formal event, running 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., is $100 per person in advance and $125 at the door. VIP tickets are also available.

Call (949) 673-4633 for more information or to purchase tickets.

DETROIT BAR DANCE PARTY

Those looking for something less lavish can head to the 6th annual New Year’s Eve event at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, titled A Space Odyssey.

Amid the backdrop of a 1970s vision of the future, the dance event aims to celebrate the new year in a non-traditional way.

The main dance floor will feature funk, soul and electronic music, while the back lounge focuses on hip-hop with live musicians, disc jockeys and turntables.

The $25 admission includes light appetizers and a champagne toast.

Tickets for the event, which runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., will be available at the door or in advance by calling (800) 594-8499. Detroit Bar is located at 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa.

IF YOU GO

· WHAT: Orange County New Year’s Eve 2007

· WHERE: Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

· WHEN: Dec. 31, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

· COST:

· INFO: www.ocnye.com

$100 ($200 VIP) through Saturday, $125 ($250 VIP) Sunday through Dec. 31