The sands of time are pouring through the hourglass…that sounds like a soap opera but totally true. The end of 2010 is coming and 2011 will begin-all this week! Hard to believe. Do you have your evening set up? How will you bring in the new year? Here are a few suggestions.

ITALY
Well, almost home. Take your enthusiasm and your hometown spirit with the Gladiator Varsity basketball team to the American Airlines Center on Thursday, December 30. This should prove to be very exciting as they take on Mineral Wells at 2:15pm. What a way to end one year and begin another. All Gladiator fans will sit in sections 106 and 107. Go Italy!

On New Year’s Eve, send the teenagers over to the Cornerstone. Youth Minister, Jeremy Beggs says, “We will be hanging out at the Cornerstone just playing video games and whatever. All youth are welcome. We will open at 7:30pm.”

CARL’S CORNER
Heart of Texas New Year’s Dance at Willie’s Place Theater, featuring Curtis Potter, Tony Booth, Amber Digby and Justin Trevino. Starts at 7 p.m. Get tickets online. Located at I-35 at Carl’s Corner. Call 254-759-7600 or check out their website.

WAXAHACHIE
Go dancing at the Texas Theater, located at 110 W Main. No cover charge on New Year’s Eve. Call 972-937-1993 for more information. Bonnie & Clyde’s Speakeasy at the Rogers Hotel, 100 N College. Open 8:00 pm to 12:00 am. Call 469-383-2732 for reservations.

ENNIS
GALAXY DRIVE-IN Theatre Go back in time to yesteryear when you drove to the drive-in movies and had popcorn and a soda with your best gal. The latest movies are featured only $6 per person, per screen. Kids age 5-11 are only $3 and under 5 are always free. Movies now start at 8:00 pm Friday and Saturday and will be open on New Years Eve. Located at 5301 North Interstate Highway 45. Call (972) 875-5505 or visit their website
for more details.

WACO
New Years Eve Party 2010 at Hog Creek Icehouse Grill & Saloon featuring Deryl Dodd beginning at 6pm. Located at 170 Branson Trail (off Highway 6). Call 254-848-5335 or visit their website for ticket prices.

RICHARDSON
Come ride the Holiday Train. Located at 156 Hidden Circle, the display runs thru New Years night from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The train rides are free. The train can hold about 22 children and parents as well. Rides are available for groups of children’s; special needs children, orphans, children’s hospitals and schools. Please call 972-690-8158 to arrange special appointments. See their website for more details.

DALLAS
4th Annual Big D NYE Festive Dallasites will throng at the 75-acre Victory Park, 2500 Victory Ave (adjacent to American Airlines Center) for the fourth annual family-friendly Big D NYE, starting at 7:45 p.m. The free event will include continuous live music on two stages by headliners Sleeperstar at 9:15 and 11 p.m., various DJs at 7:30 and 9 p.m., Cure Gravity at 8:15 p.m., the Bright at 10 p.m. and Downtown Fever at 11:15 p.m. There’ll also be prize giveaways, food and drink and more. It will all conclude with the Stream Energy Fireworks Spectacular at midnight. Organizers strongly recommend using public transportation (DART Rail’s Victory Station is a quick half-block-walk away); neighborhood parking will be extremely limited due to the Dallas Stars game that evening at American Airlines Center. For more details, visit their website.

FORT WORTH
Red Carpet New Year’s Eve: A Night at the Oscars Walk the red carpet into an evening of glamour and music from the movies, from vintage favorites to contemporary Oscar contenders, played by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Bass Performance Hall, 8 p.m. $29 to $80. Contact: 817-665-6000 or see their website.

FREDERICKSBURG
Midnight Volkssport Walk Begin the new year with fun and fitness at a reception starting at 11 p.m. and a 6.2-mile walk starting at midnight. Contact: St. Joseph’s Halle, 212 W. San Antonio St. 979-478-6203.

LUCKENBACH
New Year’s Eve Dance at Luckenbach Dance Hall, made famous by Willie and Waylon, experience a dance party with balloon drop, champagne toast and breakfast tacos. Music by Mike Blakely y los Whiskey Traders starts at 9 p.m. Advance tickets: general admission, $27; reserved seating, $32. Call 888-311-8990 or visit their website.

AUSTIN
New Years Eve Improvaganza @ The Hideout The Hideout Theatre rings in the New Year with an enchanted evening of improv comedy games, scenes and a champagne toast at midnight. Start your New Year’s Eve off with our delightful early show featuring five of Austin’s finest professional improvisers. Or join us at 10:30 and careen full speed into the new year with a special champagne toast as the ball drops at midnight. Located at 617 Congress Ave. Call 512-H-I-D-E-O-U-T or go to their website. Say goodbye to 2010 with improv!

GRUENE
New Year’s Eve 2010: Charlie Robison Ring in the New Year at Texas’ oldest dance hall. Advance tickets recommended. 1281 Gruene Road. Call 830-629-5077 or visit their website.

GRANBURY
New Year’s Eve on the Boardwalk Includes music, dinner, dancing and other festivities. Granbury Conference Center. For more information, visit their website or call 682-936-1200.

BRYAN
New Year’s Eve Celebration The Messina Hof Winery transports visitors back to a secret speakeasy with fabulous food, mouth-watering wine, casino games and dancing to live music before ringing in the new year. For costs, visit their website or call 979-778-9463.

CANTON
December 30-Jan. 2 First Monday Trade Days There is always time for shopping. First Monday Grounds, Mountain, Dog Town, Marketplace & Old Mill Market. Visit their website or call 903-567-6556 for more information.

AMARILLO
Amarillo Symphony Uncorked Enjoy a concert, dance until midnight with local bands and make a champagne toast to the New Year. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. You can see more information on their website or call 806-376-8782.

SAN ANTONIO
Celebrate San Antonio Ring in the new year with fireworks, live music more. Located on South Alamo Street between Durango and Market streets; La Villita and HemisFair Park. Check out more details on their website or call 210-212-8423.

Around the metroplex, you will find concerts to your liking. Here are a few:

• Chris Young-Cowboys Arlington
• Easton Corbin-Cowboys Red River
• Eli Young Band-Billy Bob’s Texas
• Josh Abbott Band-Gilley’s Dallas
• Aaron Watson-Silver Saloon, Terrell
• Bart Crow Band-Fat Daddy’s, Waxahachie

Time may be ticking away and the ball maybe slowly descending but there is always time for a trip around Texas. Take care as you scurry about the state. The Italy Neotribune wishes you a very safe, healthy and happy New Year.