New Year S Eve

Writing obituaries for The Baltimore Sun, you get to know a lot of nice people at the worst moment in their lives. In the majority of cases, this is the first time we have connected, even though, as we say, we occasionally have repeat customers. Inevitably, it can turn personal, when friends and colleagues pass away. (For the record, it is The Sun's policy that we do not write obits for our family members. Other reporters are given that task.) In the course of researching the life of the deceased, lots of good material surfaces that might not make the final cut because of space restrictions.

A private chef in Washington had ordered 200 for his "very exclusive" New Year's Eve party. A California transplant living in Baltimore wanted a variety pack of 30 for her own year-end shindig. And a Mexican immigrant, acting out a near-daily ritual, said she'd be buying three of the $1.75 treats, one for now and two for later. It's always tamale time at Michelle's Cafe in Fells Point, but on Wednesday, as throughout this holiday season, the cornmeal concoctions were practically flying out of the steamer.

Weather was blustery, fireworks were postponed, and wallets were thin, leaving businesses in hot-spot Baltimore neighborhoods with skimpier-than-usual New Year's Eve crowds. "The wind and the cold really kept a lot of people in, I think," said Patrick Russell, who owns two Fells Point restaurants. He said his Slainte Irish Pub had 47 percent fewer patrons than New Year's Eve 2007 and that Kooper's Tavern was down 29 percent, though both places did better business this December than last.

1 Crazy time: It's the big time for Loyola. The Greyhounds play at Duke and on ESPN2 (4 p.m.). 2 Sneak a peak: If the New Year's Eve party is kind of boring, find a TV and watch No. 7 Notre Dame at DePaul (8 p.m., ESPN2). 3 More, more, more: Remember when the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl was the only one played on New Year's Eve? Now, there are five, starting at noon (Armed Forces, ESPN), with the last at 7:30 p.m. (Chick-fil-A, ESPN). 4 Chow down: Make sure you eat a lot tonight ... 5 Weigh in: ... then weigh yourself, making it easier to meet your 2009 resolution to get in shape by losing 10 pounds.

Chalk up yet another holiday that has become defined and dominated by television. There is a New Year's Eve TV show for just about every demographic and taste, including one featuring Miley Cyrus on MTV and the eternal Dick Clark on ABC. Given the economy, I suspect more Americans than ever will be ringing in the new year in front of their television sets. In addition to Cyrus, A Miley-Sized Surprise includes performances by Kevin Rudolph, the Veronicas and the Academy Is. (8 p.m., MTV)

Annapolis is preparing for a grander New Year's Eve celebration this year under new leadership from an Annapolis entrepreneur. Brendan Curley, owner of a small event management company, made a successful bid to run the non-alcoholic street party this year. He has enlisted a cadre of businesses and organizations to volunteer and sponsor events, including two fireworks shows this year - one for children and senior citizens who turn in early, and one for midnight revelers. Curley, who has lived in Annapolis for four years, said he had not gone to previous New Year's celebrations in Annapolis, but he recognized that someone needed to step forward and fill the vacuum left when First Night Annapolis ran into financial troubles and folded last year.

Royal Keys will offer an innovative program to teach children of all ages important social skills at Slayton House in Columbia. The sessions will run Jan. 14 through March 4 at the following times: 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Mondays for 3- to 5-year-olds; and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays for 6- to 11-year-olds. Free classes will be offered Jan. 7. The course will define etiquette, teach the "five magic words" and the "golden rule," explain phone etiquette and table manners, and unlock the key to being a good party host.

There's a lesser-known holiday tradition that I'd like to share with everyone: The Mid-December New Year's Eve freakout. New Year's Eve has a way of sneaking up on people. Come December, I always get e-mails asking about the best New Year's Eve party in town. So instead of doing a giant roundup of every event I can find (which I've done in the past - it's a huge headache), I decided to boil it down to the Top 7. As you'll notice, I left out the Inner Harbor festivities, because just about everybody and their brother goes to that one, and I wanted to toss out some alternatives.

Seacrest's name, in lights, on New Year's Eve Dick Clark is still Mr. New Year's Eve - but he'll be sharing the title with Ryan Seacrest. Starting this December, Clark's longtime end-of-year special will be called Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest, ABC and dick clark productions has announced. Seacrest will serve as co-host with Clark and as an executive producer on the broadcast for another three years, through the 2010 show ringing in 2011. New Year's Rockin' Eve will mark its 37th year on Dec. 31 and include the customary countdown to midnight from New York City's Times Square.

Woman charged in officer's death Elkton woman identified by authorities as a person of interest in a hit-and-run accident that killed a veteran Maryland Transportation Authority police officer was indicted yesterday in connection with the New Year's Eve crash, according to Baltimore prosecutors. Kerri J. King, 35, faces charges of automobile manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident, the city state's attorney's office said. The indictment handed up by a Baltimore grand jury was unsealed yesterday.