Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

The 31st of December, otherwise known as New Year’s Eve, is when the streets of every city, town or village are filled with people intent on celebrating the year ahead, and, boy, do we celebrate. Swide has some alternative ideas to help see in the New Year in style.

One of the only events that is celebrated globally, it is a time to make amends with the year behind you and look firmly forward to the future. There is the pressure that you put upon yourself to create resolutions for varying reasons; be it health, finance, love, family or one of the other million things we want to change about ourselves.

What we, at Swide, have done is delve into the many festivities around the world for inspiration for what to do on the biggest night of the year and, because we are so considerate, we’re going to share them with you.

 

Pitching tent and downing pitchers in Gisborne, New Zealand.

  

Fancy mixing your New Year’s celebrations with a festival on Middle Earth? Then get yourself tickets to the Ryhthm and Vines festival in Gisborne, New Zealand. An open-air affair that attracts festival lovers and performers from all over the world it is surely one of the best ways to see the clock strike midnight on New Year’. Focusing mainly on electronic music, it has been entertaining us for 9 years now and plans are in place to make this year’s offering kick off in style. One of Swide’s favourite bands The Naked & Famous have played there in the past amongst others and this year sees the likes of Pendulum, Grandmaster Flash, Calvin Harris, Tiga, Example, Kids of 88 and many more lining up to make you shimmy shake. Tickets for all three days cost a reasonable $229 New Zealand Dollars but other prices are available. For more information about the Rhythm and Vines festival, click here. http://rhythmandvines.co.nz/# 

 

A shindig with a twist of Wartime nostalgia in London, England. 

  

If you are in the ‘big smoke’ to say ciao to 2011 then, girls, why not try out landgirl glamour or make-do-and-mend attitude then head to The Blitz Party http://www.theblitzparty.com/) being held at The Arches (29 New Inn Yard, London). Guys, are not forgotten for they can tweak out the tweed from their wardrobes (grandfathers’ wardrobes that is), slick their hair back and take their doll to the dance in style. To entertain the revelers there are swing bands, DJs with toe-tapping big band classics and, of course, a tipple or two of alcohol.

If you find yourself at a loss for inspiration, well Dolce&Gabbana’s archives can help you out. Just click here for a touch of 40’s glamour.

 

Taking it to the next level in Cape Town, South Africa.

  

If the thought of being on a high for New Year’s Eve then do it the natural way and catch a flight to Cape Town. Why? Well, for the opportunity to watch the last sunset of 2011 atop of Table Mountain only to then turn your attention to the cityscape of Cape Town to see the city light up with sparkles and streams of light. The night begins with a gentle Cable Car ride to the top of Table Mountain (the last cable car up leaves at 11pm and the last cable car down at 1am), then while away the evening with a loved one and watch the fireworks light the skies. I recommend taking a picnic up and there is no better place to grab some provisions then The Foodbarn (Noordhoek Farm Village Corner Village Lane and Noordhoek Main Road Noordhoek), which is a bit of a jaunt but for 100% locally produced foods it is a must. Here you can pick up a a feast fit for a New Year’s Eve on the rocks all served up by locals. For more about the cable car, click here 

 

Living it up with the locals in Reykjavik, Iceland.

 

Get into the party spirit in Iceland’s capital this year, where you will have no problems stumbling across a bonfire or two scattered throughout the many neighbourhoods of Reykjavik.  If you want to see the lights go boom boom boom then head to the highest point of Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja, and from here you can truly appreciate the beauty of night time at New Year’s. But everyone says that it is the city centre where the action really goes down. From fireworks to fire&ice, this city does not want to sleep on New Year’s Eve. For those who want to visit with the intention to soak up some culture as well as alcohol then I think you’ll be more than satisfied with a trip to Reykjavik. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to hunt down the night sky beauty of the Northern Lights, discover the power of nature through hot springs, Strokkur and Geysirs and then get yourself ready for the night ahead. Depending on how you want to do it, there is the option of taking part in a dinner prepared by award-winning chefs and hosted by the Four Seasons followed by a guided tour to the perfect spot to watch the sky erupt with colour and cheers. This is mandatory as the Icelandic take the celebration very seriously and bump into any group of locals and they will point you in the right direction. If you are interested in more ideas then check out Nordic Visitor for more suggestions.

 

Sipping Champagne in Stylish San Diego, America.

If you fancy an evening where the Champagne is flowing freely then San Diego might be your calling. For an 5-star night of style and sipping head over to Grape Street Pier- 1800 North Harbor Drive, where you will board a Hornblower yacht  on which you will experience an evening like no other. You will wind your way down San Diego Bay, accompanied by a 5-course Dinner that includes Lobster and Filet, free-flowing Champagne and a live band to put a hop in your step. Then as the clock strikes midnight you are in the perfect spot to watch the skyline of San Diego come alive with burstsThis 4-hour yacht cruise costs $209 per person. For more details go to the Hornblower website. 

Written by Ben Taylor

 

TAGS: dolce&gabbana d&g travel new year's eve alternative ideas Gisborne New Zealand Ryhthm and Vines festival London England Blitz Party Cape Town South Africa Foodbarn Table Mountain Reykjavik Iceland San Diego America Hornblower Yacht San Diego Bay