"Happy holidays, Jeff!"

"And happy holidays to you, Mike. You seem to be in a good mood."

"That I am! I just finished my last writing assignment of the year, and am about to take off to do the last of my Christmas shopping!"

"So the What's Happenin' pages are done, then?"

"That they are! As usual for this time of year, we're treating readers to our special centerspread What's Happenin' on New Year's Eve, which gives the lowdown on the area venues that are hosting live music, karaoke, or DJs prior to midnight on January 1. We include information on what time the music starts, whether there's a cover charge, and what New Year's treats - party favors, appetizers, champagne - folks can look forward to, along with venue phone numbers and street and Web addresses for added convenience. Plus, it goes without saying that all of the bands and venues are also listed on the Live Music pages in the back of the Reader."