highLIGHTS NYE by The Social Lights

-twin cities-

LIGHTS 2 0 1 2

N E W y e a r’ s e v e

-twin cities-

LIGHTS

We’re proud to share with you our inaugural HighLIGHTS issue. This first issue is your one-stop shop for all things New Year’s Eve in the Twin Cities. Made from the minds of The Social Lights team, we provide our advice and experiences related to all things New Year’s Eve.

From fashion tips to party planning advice, we’ve got you covered to ensure your end-of-the-year celebration will be one you remember!

INDEX 01. The Gal’s Guide to Getting Ready

02. Style Guide: Ladies Edition

03. Nightlife Guide: Twin Cities

04. Hosting a Party Guide

05. Words of Wisdom for 2012: A Year & A Movie Review

Content powered by The Social Lights, a Minneapolis Social Media & Digital Marketing Agency. Layout & Graphic Design: Grant Bielefeld Editor-in-Chief: Darren Eck Contributors: The Social Lights’ Field Specialists: Jordan Isaacson, Tucker Johnson, Joe Jetland and Founding Partners: Emily Pritchard and Martha McCarthy

The Gal’s Guide to Getting Ready for NYE A Social Light’s Perspective. Warning: It’s not that helpful. I’ll just be a few minutes… All I need to do is shower, dry my hair, decide if I want to go curly, straight or updo, chill the champagne, frost the cupcakes, pick out a pair of shoes, find a clutch that coordinates, paint my nails, paint my toenails and….what am I forgetting? YES makeup! I need to go to Sephora…brb I need some MAC liner, smashing Smashbox eyeshadow, Benefit brow brightener and maybe a splash of Kate Spade Twirl, wait no Taylor Swift Wonderstruck, no, definitely Kate Spade Twirl, I plan on twirling a lot this evening. Evening! Wow it’s already 7:30 and…the cupcakes! I seemed to have killed the cupcakes. Epic frosting fail. Hurry! Off to Cupcake to fetch some fresh ones. Mexican Hot Chocolate, Mocha or Chai Tea cupcakes? I clearly need the variety box. Wow, I really like hot drinks…apparently. Also, I’d like a mocha with that. Extra shot of espresso…gotta stay up til the clock strikes… woah it’s 8:15!

Hair then makeup. Makeup then hair? I wonder what Emily is going to wear…? I better call her! And we are chatting away and all is great and wonderful but oh - I gotta go! Dinner reservations at 9:30. And still no outfit! Emily says sparkly dress so….oh yes! I have that gorgeous Calvin Klein “Hershey’s Kiss” dress from b. that I’ve been dying to wear. But it’s a little bit lowcut. What’s a girl to do? I fear a fashon emergency occurring at some point tonight…better grab the Hollywood Fashion Tape and keep it classy! Now we are all safe & secure. Shoes and bag…bag and shoes. Which comes first? Gotta show off my new Post- Brava Baguette Clutch – I’ll pair it with black patent pumps. Out the door! Uh-oh it’s icy out. Are these shoes a good idea? Should I bring a spare pair? Gotta love Minnesota winters (for the record, snow mounds and stilettos don’t mix well, neither does ice, ice is especially evil). Speaking of ice…I forgot jewelry! Unlock the door, back inside, up the stairs, dig thru the jewelry pile to find anything and everything glitzy and glamorous. Aha! Vintage costume jewelry from Hunt & Gather will do the trick! Do I need a scarf? Yes, it’s chilly, very chilly. Too bad I don’t have anything fancy and furry…

HOOONKKKKKKK! Ok on my way… And the moral of the story is: there is only so much time you can spend prior to counting down the minutes til midnight. Use it wisely. From inside the head of Martha M. The Social Lights’ founding partner and chief humor writer.

*All hyperlinked brands are independent Minnesota small businesses. The Social Lights love shopping local!

2012 NYE Style Guide: Ladies Edition Ahhhh so many choices! What’s a girl to do? Don’t worry because we have fellow field specialist Jordan on the case solving your New Year’s Eve fashion woes with the following style boards and sage advice:

Boyish NYE

Rocker NYE

White Blazer -Top Shop Glitter “Killion” Loafers – Aldo Shoes “Girlie Chiffon Bow” - Ban.do Fringed Wallet -Zara Leggings –Express

Red Dress – ASOS Enamel Tooth Design Necklace – ASOS Black Lorissa Studded Peeptoe Court Shoe – Sam Edelman If you have more of a tough personality I recommend this NYE “rocker” look. Accessories help put together this look with rocks necklaces and studded black pumps. Choose only a few pieces to avoid overdoing it and being categorized as a dangerous sharp object on the dance floor. To smooth out your look go for a sleek dress in a bold, eye-catching color such as red.

With the boyish and tailored look becoming ever-popular these days, why not start off the New Year with a new look you may have yet to try. Base your outfit off of a structured tuxedo jacket or blazer along with a shiny pleather legging. I like the contrasting colors of white and black to make the outfit more interesting. Loafers can be a comfy switch up from your usual heel but still dressy by choosing to go glitter. Finish the outfit with a playful bow-tie and hand held purse that contains a touch of femininity to balance the more masculine look.

White Blazer -Top Shop

Leggings - Express

Red Dress – ASOS

“Girlie Chiffon Bow” - Ban.do

Fringed Wallet -Zara

Glitter “Killion” Loafers – Aldo Shoes

Black Lorissa Studded Peeptoe Court Shoe – Sam Edelman

Enamel Tooth Design Necklace – ASOS

Sparkle for NYE

Vintage NYE

Sequined Dress – French Connection Platform Pump “Bouche” – Aldo Shoes Crystal Embellished Black Seam Tights – ASOS

Spangled Moderne Shift Dress – Anthropologie Mona Mary Janes – J.Crew Metallic Lace Headwrap – Ban.do

One of my favorite looks for New Years Eve is the all over sequin ensemble. This style fits right in with all the glitter and confetti that New Year’s celebrations bring in as the ball drops at midnight. If you can find the perfect sequined dress, don’t stop there with the shine. Find a solid color heel that is slightly embellished with jewels along with tights to continue the sparkled effect in a subtle manner. While accessorizing this ensemble, look for simple pieces such as jeweled studs or single drop earrings. Many cute accessories that match this look can be found at local Karma Boutique on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul.

A modernized vintage look can bring on the nostalgia while celebrating the upcoming year. This ethereal vintage looking shift dress is perfect for any party occasion. Find any vintage-inspired dress and pair it with a similar style shoe. This 1920’s look is reminiscent of a more sophisticated flapper. Accessorize this outfit with light jewelry, including a delicate looking headwrap that finishes off this vintageinspired look. Many of these vintage looks can be obtained at Lula Vintage Wear, which is located on Selby Avenue in Saint Paul. Their collection is deep and they currently have many party dresses fit for any of your holiday plans.

Platform Pump “Bouche” – Aldo Shoes

Spangled Moderne Shift Dress – Anthropologie Crystal Embellished Black Seam Tights – ASOS

Sequined Dress – French Connection

Mona Mary Janes – J.Crew

Metallic Lace Headwrap – Ban.do

Scarf

Baby Its Cold Outside

A scarf can change any look instantly and can also keep you warm while doing so. Paired with your stylish leather jacket as previously described, you can opt for a cashmere or lightweight, knitted scarf that matches your color scheme.

With the holidays come many parties and celebrations. As girls, we get dolled up in our favorite holiday ensembles, which usually include skirts, blouses, and dresses; sometimes of lighter fabrics and shorter lengths. On top of that, we live in the blistering cold of Minnesota, and time and time again we forget just how cold it really is to walk from your car to the front door of your friend’s house without the help of your heavy-duty winter coat and snow pants. Despite any Midwestern myths, there is a way to be fashionable yet warm while arriving to this year’s New Year’s Eve party. Just make sure you follow these toasty tips:

Tights This accessory may be thin, but it adds an additional layer to your otherwise bare legs. Black tights are a staple for the winter months, especially during the holiday party season. Pair any dress or skirt with plain black tights or even a more fun patterned look.

J.Crew - Cashmere Scarf

Boots | booties | wedge boot No one said you had to wear heels to this party, and boots can be much sturdier, allowing for better dance moves without face planting. Enlist a pair that are simple and have a dressy material such as suede. While you are walking down those icey sidewalks with patches of snow, your toes are ensured to stay dry and warm.

J.Crew - Ribbed Wool Tights

Aldo Shoes – Straube Ankle Boot

Leather Jacket: This is perfect for the party that is located at a bar or club that doesn’t have coat check. While it may be better to wear a thicker pea coat, if you do not have a place to stash your coat once you arrive to your destination, a leather jacket can help you to remain stylish while inside of the party and warm before you get there.

Gloves A pair of gloves with a bold color or print can add a pop of interest to any NYE ensemble without trying to be too eyecatching. They can easily slip into your basic sized purse or coat pockets and will be sure to retain the warmth for your freshly manicured fingers.

ASOS - Leather Biker Jacket J.Crew – Leather Gloves

NYE 2012 Nightlife Guide to the Twin Cities Everyone knows New Year’s Eve is all about hitting the town in style. Luckily for you, we have a guide to the best events and happenings around the Twin Cities. With help from field specialists Joe and Tucker, you’ll be able to choose your own New Year’s Eve adventure. We’ve split the Twin Cities up into four social neighborhoods: Downtown, Uptown, Northeast Minneapolis, and St. Paul. Each area is different and unique in its own way, and each has some fun offerings for New Year’s Eve.

NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS

Uptown

Northeast Minneapolis is a lively and eclectic neighborhood full of surprises. The same can be said for their New Year’s Eve parties.

Uptown’s NYE party scene is just as numerous and glamorous as what you would find in downtown. Plus a lot of these locations have killer views of the skyline from their patios. These three locations are all within blocks of each other. Great news for ladies in stilettos!

Nye’s Polonaise Room One bar that every Minnesotan must check out at some point in their life is Nye’s bar. Nye’s is the gateway to Northeast and a great stop along a New Year’s pub-crawl. However you might never want to leave after you discover this nationally known gem of a bar. Esquire voted Nye’s the best bar in America, and it frequently makes the top ten bars to see before you die. The bar opened up in 1950 and has basically stayed the same ever since. Red carpet on the floor, dark wood paneling adorns the walls, a curved Piano bar, and the famous goldflecked booths with plush red leather seats. Come sing along at the piano bar or dance the night away to The World’s Most Dangerous Polka Band, The band is a distinct group of rowdy polka musicians all in their 80’s. The crowd, young and old, enjoys a night they will never forget.

Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit & Mario’s Keller Bar If you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve from a German point of view, this is the place for you. This German Bar is complete with 32oz beer mugs, 2 liter das boot’s, waitresses in full lederhosen, and a beer selection to make any German wannabe happy. New Year’s Eve starts off with the Scott Bixby Band, a polka band that helps even the darkest German beers go down easily. The band will play from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. Afterwards; DJ Pinoy Boy takes the stage to play modern dance music for everyone to dance into the New Year.

331 Club If you’re feeling a bit nostalgic, head on over to 331 Club for New Year’s Eve. Don’t forget to tie a flannel around your waist because you’re going back to the 1990s. The 331 Club is hosting Whoomp (There It Is) VII: Early ‘90s Dance Party! Everyone can relive the glory days of 90’s music, style and culture. Bust out your acid wash jeans and Airwalk tennis shoes because prizes will be awarded to the best ‘90’s outfits. Dr. Dallas Dog-Palace, MC Hang Time and DJ Tanner will keep the tunes pumping from 10:00 p.m. ‘til the early morning hours.

Stella’s Fish Café There is nothing fishy about ringing in the new year with Stella’s. Book now and for $75 you get open bar on all calls, drafts and house wine. If you wait until New Year’s Eve, you’ll be shelling out $100, so book now! This 21+ party has a black and white them so come decked out in your best and be ready to dance the night away with DJs playing your favorite tracks. Other amenities include a traditional midnight balloon drop, a heated rooftop patio with views of the gorgeous Minneapolis skyline, and a food buffet. What more could you want?!

Uptown Cafeteria Restaurant and Support Group This Calhoun Square hot spot will be hosting a Make-Out Masquerade Ball. From 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. they will be offering 2 for 1’s shots courtesy of the shot girls. DJ Josh McLovn will be playing the hottest tracks so get your dancing shoes ready. There will be photo booths and contests for best mask, best kiss, best resolution and best Polaroid so come prepared. Oh and did we mention FREE cover charge!

Cowboy Slims This western-themed bar has great drink specials starting at 8 p.m. Known for its rowdy atmosphere where everyone is welcome from suits to cowboys. Cowboy Slims will be providing you with a jampacked party all night long FREE cover charge offering special shot specials throughout the night as well as free champagne for everyone at midnight! So grab a beer, mingle with some friends and have a great time while listening to the top Country tracks.

Downtown Downtown has a lot to offer this New Year’s Eve. With so many options, there is bound to be a party that fits your personality.

First Ave First Ave has two options on New Year’s. If live music is your thing then check out Mark Mallman at 7th street entry. This Minneapolis rock icon will be performing with Koo Koo Kanga Roo in what is sure to be a wild and crazy way to ring in the New Year. Ticket price $10-$12. If you would prefer to bust out all the new dance moves you learned in 2011 First Ave has an offering to fit you. The annual New Year’s Eve Danceteria will be held in the First Ave Main Room complete with some awesome DJ’s to keep your toes tapping early into the morning hours of 2012. The DJ’s Get Cryphy, Sovietpanda, DJ Smitty, and Roy Freedom will help drop the beat while the ball drops this NYE. The whole evening will be hosted by TV’s Drinking with Ian (Ian Rans). Cover is $5 in advance and $20 dollars at the door so get your plans together early to save some money.

Epic Night Club If this New Year’s Eve you are looking to stretch the limits of reality and fantasy then Epic is the perfect place for you. The spectacular avant-garde performance of Mystique 2012: Le Cirque includes two rooms of music, an avant garde fashion show, and Cirque Du Volo perfomrances. An event of this nature is sure to bring in the New Year in an awe inspiring and unforgettable way. General admission opens at 9 p.m. and tickets are $35 dollars. If you upgrade to the VIP pass you will be looking at $60 tickets which earns you access into the club at 8 p.m. and a complimentary array of tempting hors d’ oeuvres provided by local restaurants. It is sure to be a night of intrigue and wonderment.

Whisky Park This New Year’s, Whisky Park is rolling out the red carpet. Come dressed like your favorite celebrity because will be greeted by paparazzi ready to catch all your red carpet moments. The cover charge is $65 if you sign up before December 20th. That cover charge gets you access to an open bar (premiums included), a full 5 star buffet, and a champagne fountain, yes that’s right a fountain of champagne. DJ Str8 Reppin will be laying down tracks and keep you on the dance floor all night long. This is a ticket only event so make sure you plan ahead and get tickets because they sell out fast.

Hell’s Kitchen Maybe you’re over the typical scene for New Year’s Eve and you’re looking to up the ante. Look no further than the Grown & Sexy party at Hell’s Kitchen. With a night of the nonstop burlesque and drag performers, you’re bound to run into some interesting characters. DJ Shannon Blowtorch, Nadine DuBuois & Sweetpea are ready to throw you a night to remember. Cover is $10 and age is 21+.

St. Paul You might not think St. Paul when you’re thinking of New Year’s Eve festivities, but believe us when we say St. Paul can party with the best of them.

Tiffany’s Sports Lounge This Highland Park favorite is pulling out all the stops this year for New Year’s Eve. For $75 you get all you can drink top shelf liquors from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. plus appetizers. For entertainment, Tiff’s has Trippin’ Billies (the nation’s largest Dave Matthews tribute band). The doors open at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve so make sure to get there early! Tickets are available ONLINE and they are only selling 250! Tickets will only be available at the door if there are extras so make sure you get yours early while tickets are still available!

The Happy Gnome If you’re looking to ring in the New Year in a chill atmosphere, The Happy Gnome is the place to be! They are nationally known for their beer and whiskey menu. Their menu has over 300 different scotch and whiskey choices and includes over 70 craft draft beers as well as over 400 bottled beers! They will be offering their regular drink specials including champagne at midnight! What? You didn’t heed our advice and book your New Year’s Eve venue early enough? Everything is sold out or crazy expensive? Well, you should have listened to us. Don’t worry. We still like you. That’s why we have a guide on hosting your own New Year’s Eve party from your home. However, you still need a few days to get your act together for your party. Don’t end up like our field specialist, Darren.

O’Gara’s Bar & Grill This long time Irish establishment will be ringing in the New Year with a live performance by Pat McCurdy in the recently remodeled Garage, now The Shanty. This guaranteed good time includes drink specials flowing all night including free champagne toast at midnight for everyone in the bar! Tickets for the concert will be $12 and are available at the door. There will be no cover charge for regular bar goers.

Insanely Simple (but helpful)

New Year’s Eve Hosting Advice By Field Specialist Darren So you’ve decided to host your own New Year’s Eve party. Congratulations! Hosting a New Year’s Eve party can be extremely rewarding! However, without planning, your party can easily become a drunken disaster. The latter happened to my roommates and I last year when we decided to host a last minute New Year’s Eve party. These following tips should help steer your party in the right direction and hopefully avoid some of the mistakes we made as amateur party throwers.

Make a Guest List. Check it Twice Lots of people are desperate to go somewhere for New Year’s last minute so when making an event on Facebook, make sure you make it a private event so people that you invite can’t automatically invite their friends to your party. This happened to our party last year. Friends invited friends of friends and soon I was walking around my own house not knowing over half of the people who were playing beer pong, touching my stereo, and making out on my futon. It was like a scene out of a horrible American Pie sequel. It was awesome and alarming all at once. And just like a cliché college movie, two inebriated gentleman started fighting over the rules of beer pong. The fighting resulted in bloody faces, broken beer bottles, and a hole in our wall. Major buzzkill.

Be Your Own Bartender Music Makes the People Come Together Unless you have lots of cool DJ friends willing to spin at your party, you’re going to have to come up with some sweet tunes to set the party atmosphere right. It’s fun creating play lists for parties but if you find yourself unable to fulfill your DJ duties the entire night, Pandora can help out with their own New Year’s Eve 2012 playlist. To get you started, I’ve created a preview playlist to get your party off on the right foot.

New Years Eve P laylist Preview Foster the People - Houdini Ellie Goulding - Lights

In order to be a good host you have to come prepared in the drinks department. Not only do you have to be stocked up on alcohol, but you also need enough ice, mixers, garnishes, and cups. Make sure you have twice as many mixers as you have alcohol so you won’t ever run out for your drinks. It’s also considerate to have enough pop and sparkling cider for those who don’t drink or who are DD’ing, in order to make everyone feel welcome. Our party had none of these things last year and the night ended in people drinking from communal bottles of sparkling wine and taking far too many shots before midnight. Put your alcohol to good use and make creative cocktails to impress your guests. Break out the martini glasses and try some of these New Year’s Eve inspired concoctions.

Leap Year Cocktail

Group Love - Tongue Tied

With 2012 being a leap year (and potentially the end of the world) this drink is extremely relevant this time of year.

M83 - Midnight City

Ingredients:

Rihanna - We Found Love

2 oz gin (I’d go with Beefeaters on this one) ½ oz sweet vermouth ½ oz Grand Marnier ¼ oz fresh lemon juice Preparation: Shake above ingredients with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass, then garnish with a lemon twist, just so.

Midnight Martini

Be Prepared for an After Party

This coffee liqueur-based drink will for sure keep you awake past midnight.

Since this is New Year’s Eve, a few of your party guests may find themselves too impaired to drive once the party is over. It’s shocking, but it happens. Just assume beforehand that you will also be hosting an after party sleepover. Have all your spare blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags ready to go so you’re not stumbling around your house at 2:30 a.m. looking for them. It’s also smart to pull out any extra buckets, trash cans, paper towels, and bottles of water for people that might have partied a little too much like Ke$ha. It will save time and embarrassment later.

Ingredients: 3 1/2 oz vodka or coffee vodka 1/4 oz coffee liqueur such as Kahlua lemon twist for garnish Preparation: Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir with a bar spoon and strain it into a chilled cocktail and top it off with a lemon twist garnish.

The Big Ginger This delightful drink courtesy of 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey will make sure to keep you warm and your spirits bright all throughout the night. Ingredients: 2 oz of 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey Lemon and lime wedges

And Now you Know These tips may seem simple enough but they could have really helped us out last year for our own party. Learn from our mistakes! A little preparation and a little creativity will go a long way in mastering the delicate art of hosting a good New Year’s Eve party. For our final NYE post, we turn it over to Emily. After seeing the movie New Year’s Eve, Emily was inspired to reflect back on 2011. Here she shares with us 10 useful tips on living our lives to the fullest in 2012.

Ginger Ale Preparation: Pour the 2 Gingers into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top off the glass with ginger ale and add both lemon and lime wedges to complete the drink.

New Year’s Eve 2012 Did maturity just walk through the door? This year, the countdown to midnight was almost hijacked by another holiday. Big box retailers like Target and Best Buy tried to steal the magic of midnight with Black Friday, offering midnight store openings to entice shoppers. But as we all know, no sale comes close to when twelve strikes the clock, the champagne bottles pop, confetti drops, and lips lock.

Midnight is for New Year’s Eve. It’s all about the anticipation. The love. The hope. It’s the time the entire world gathers to welcome in a new year. This year, ring in the New Year in a more mature manner. That’s right. Whether you’re watching the ball drop in the Big Apple (like the stars from the hit movie New Year’s Eve) or perhaps starring in your own version of NYE in the Minne-apple, here’s a countdown-inspired by themes from the movie--that will help you make your way into 2012.

10. Be your own GPS.

It’s easy to get stuck following someone else’s NYE plans. We’ve all done it. Our friends dragged us to the party that was under attended. Not to mention the impossibility of finding someone halfway attractive to smooch at midnight. Rough. This year, control your destiny. Figure out what you want to do on NYE and plan ahead. Search around for a great party to attend (we’ve outlined several in this guide). Or plan a party of your own (we’ve also given you a DIY handbook). You’ll never have another chance to ring in 2012 again. So have it your way.

9. Be spontaneous.

It’s the start of a new year. Do something that may scare you...even just a little. Put yourself out there and try something new. Why not bust out that dress you’ve been saving for a rainy day? Whatever you decide to do, do it with renewed confidence.

8. Be open.

Okay, so maybe all of this independence and spontaneity doesn’t fare well and you wind up in an unintended err “situation” for lack of better terms. That’s alright! Have an open mind and heart to the journey. You are going down the path less traveled where you will most likely run into new people. Sometimes the best experiences are when we venture outside of our comfort zone and are willing to accept what comes and goes.

6. Be reflective.

In the midst of the hype around the holidays, don’t forget to take a minute to reflect on the triumphs and sorrows of 2011. After all, it’s a year that will go down in the books and it got you to where you are today. Remember the people that came and went in your life, the days that flew and those that seemed to take forever; the adventures that you will never forget and possibly those worth forgetting. It is not only a time to look forward, but also a time to look behind and, as Marcel the Shell puts it, smile because it’s worth it.

5. Be forgiving.

That is, to yourself and others. A new year is a clean slate. Give yourself and others a break. Start fresh and renew your spirits. 2012 is a new beginning.

4. Be better.

At some point in the next 365 days, we are going to be reminded that we are also a year older. This year, expect more from yourself. Most of us have a lot to learn from 2011. Promise to be better. Change a bad habit. Ask more of yourself. The only way we better ourselves is to be challenged. Stay true to yourself and others by expecting more.

7. Be a pal.

The start of the new year is a fresh start for everyone. For those less enthused, be a friend and give them a reason to celebrate. Invite them to come out. Even if it means ending up in Times Square in pajama pants... 27

-twin cities3. Be amazed.

This may not exactly happen by flying across the stage of a NYC theater... Sometimes the small things amaze us the most. Be alert to what’s happening all around you. You never know what amazing things the world offers if you don’t.

2. Be creative.

Make resolutions. There, I said it. Even though you may not accomplish everything on your list, be creative in finding ways to check off the leftovers for 2011. Then start crafting new resolutions for 2012. Take a twist on the traditional way of setting goals to make them happen. In 365 days, you will be able to look back and realize how much you have accomplished or laugh at how ambitious you once were

1. Be intentional.

Don’t just let the world pass you by in 2012. Discover what you’re passionate about and propel your actions toward those passions. Have a reason to wake up every day and follow your dreams. It’s not going to happen without perseverance and discipline, but you can make it happen.

LIGHTS 2 0 1 2

Don’t drop the ball this year. Enjoy watching the ball drop the way you want it and kick off the New Year your way. As the song plays, “Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?” No way. But, don’t let the old scare you from exploring the new. This is, after all, the New Year. P.S. If you haven’t seen the movie New Year’s Eve in theaters, you must! And with those words of wisdom, we wrap our first HighLIGHTS issue. It was a lot of fun to create and we hope you come back for more Twin Cities HighLIGHTS in 2012!

By Emily Pritchard The Social Lights’ founding partner and creative director