Plunge for a cause

What better way to cure the New Year’s Day hangover than a nice, refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean — especially when taking the dive will benefit a local charity.

That’s the Lions Club philosophy behind sponsoring Tuesday’s eighth annual Huntington Beach Pier Plaza Plunge. This is the second year the Lions Club is sponsoring the event, which is benefiting the Canine Companions for Independence program.

Brave swimmers will receive certificates for participating in the New Year’s Day Pier Plaza Plunge, not to be confused with the Polar Plunge program which benefits the Special Olympics. Besides, says event founder Lee Love, the water is actually less than polar. “It’s just not that cold.”

The event starts at 9:30 a.m. with one of the Lions Club’s famous pancake breakfasts at Zack’s in the plaza. Registration for the plunge is at 11 a.m., and is $10, which includes the certificate for taking the plunge. Onlookers can receive a certificate stating they were too sane to take the plunge off the pier.

“At high noon we’ll blast out into the water,” Love says.

For more information on the plunge, visit www.hbplunge.com. For more information on Canine Companions for Independence, visit www.cci.org.

  See the Rose Parade

The Huntington Beach Community Services Dept. has chartered two busses to ferry residents to the 119th Rose Parade in Pasadena Tuesday.

The riders will get grandstand seating on Colorado Boulevard as well as a headache-free ride to see the historic parade.

The busses will leave from the Civic Center, 2000 Main St., at 6:45 a.m. and will return about 3 p.m.

There are only 100 tickets available, so register early at the Community Services Dept., on the fifth floor of the Civic Center.

For more information, call (714) 536-5468 or visit www.surfcity-hb.org.

Have a Jazzy new year

BB Jazz invites Surf City to swing in the new year with some jazz and dancing at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy.

The evening starts at 7 p.m. and will run through 1 a.m. with singer/songwriter Jeffrey Osbourne. Funk/soul group DW3 will open the evening.

Tickets are $175 and include the music, a gourmet dinner and drinks at the bar, which will have an ice sculpture. There will also be the traditional countdown to midnight.

For tickets or more information, call (714) 377-7574 or visit www.bbjazz.com.

Seniors ballroom dance

The Huntington Beach Council on Aging hosts its annual New Year’s Eve ballroom dance at the Rodgers Senior Center, 1706 Orange Ave.

The Bob Warren Trio will provide the evening’s music while dinner by The Stonefire Grill is served.

There will also be beverages, dessert and a champagne toast at midnight. The fun runs from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Tickets ($35) go quick, so participants are advised to get tickets early.

For information or tickets, call (714) 536-9387.

Other New Year’s Eve parties

 Martini Blues, 5874 Edinger Ave.,will have live entertainment in all three rooms. $25 a person includes the first drink. Booths can be reserved as well for $300. For more information, call (714) 968-4523.

 Fitzgerald’s, 19171 Magnolia St., will have the Irish/rock band the Fenians on hand to celebrate. Tickets are $25 and will likely sell out. Tickets are available at the bar and www.thefenians.com pre-sale. For more information, call (714) 968-4523.

 Beachfront 301, 301 Main St., will host a New Year’s Eve party with a champagne toast, party favors and a balloon drop at midnight. There will also be a buffet. Tickets are $30. For more information or reservations, e-mail [email protected] or call (714) 878-4188.

 Gallaghers Pub, 300 Pacific Coast Hwy., will host the Mandrakes at 10 p.m. For more information and pricing details, call (714) 536-2422.

 The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., will have celebrations in various areas. The Red Chair Lounge and Pete’s Sunset Grille will have live music, champagne toasts, balloon drops and various bars open.

For more information, call the hotel at (714) 845-4885.