Opening tonight in the Strip District is Sports Rock Cafe, a 16,000-square-foot sports bar featuring 90 TVs for viewing sporting events, a 250-seat dining room, and a nightclub (three full-service bars and a 40- by 40-foot dance floor).
The owner is Tom Jayson, who also owns Rock Jungle Night Club, Boardwalk and Chauncy's.
Sports Rock Cafe at 1400 Smallman St., directly across from the entrance to the Boardwalk Entertainment Complex, also contains a billiards parlor and a game arena of 70 video and virtual-reality games. There will be a variable cover charge after 10 p.m. The grand opening is from 6 p.m to 2 a.m. More info: (412) 552-1000.
New Year's Eve celebrations
Amel's Restaurant: Dinner served until 10:30 p.m. Monday; Time Warp (band), 11 p.m. Reservations for parties of six or more. No cover. McNeilly Road at Sussex Street, Brookline. (412) 563-3466.
The Blarney Stone Restaurant: Irish New Year Celebration with musician Cahal Dunne, 5 p.m. Monday (midnight in Ireland occurs at 7 p.m.). Pittsburgh celebration with Dunne, 9 p.m. Monday. Buffet dinner and champagne toast will be provided. $37.75, reservations required. 30 Grant Ave., Etna. (412) 781-1666.
Catholic Alumni Club of Pittsburgh: New Year's Eve Dance for Catholic Singles, 9 p.m. Monday. Music by disc jockey. Beer, soda and snacks will be served, but guests may bring their own drinks as well. $15. Dormont Park Activities Building, off Dwight Avenue, Dormont. (412) 341-4070 or cac@cacpittsburgh.org.
Dowe's on 9th: 7 p.m. Monday. Continuous dance music by Al Dowe, Etta Cox, Sandy Dowe, Kenny Blake and others. Also, buffet dinner, hors d'oeuvres, seating in New Cabaret Room (by reservation only), balloon drop and champagne toast. $95. 121 Ninth St., Downtown. (412) 281-9225.
Garden City Hall: 8 p.m. Monday. Buffet dinner, champagne toast, music by 8th Street Rox. $45, reservations required. 602 Garden City Drive, Monroeville. (412) 793-3466.
Jeffries Landing: 9:30 p.m. Monday. Music by Ivory Coast, champagne toast at midnight, midnight buffet and prize giveaways. $30. Riverside Drive, Bridgewater. (724) 728-7878.
Jimmy G's Restaurant: 8 p.m. Monday. William Dell and Wee Jams provide the '50s and '60s oldies music. Dinner buffet, dancing, champagne toast and midnight buffet. $90. 1822 Main St., Sharpsburg. (412) 781-4884.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Tropical luau theme, 6 to 9 p.m. Monday. $6; $5 for age 60 and older; $4 for students; $3 for ages 2 to 12. 1 Schenley Park, Oakland. (412) 622-6914.
Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project: 9 p.m. Monday. Music by New Invisible Joy, hors d'oeuvres, cash bar. $75 includes three drink tickets, reservations required. Carnegie Music Hall Foyer, Oakland. (412) 338-2133.
Westin Convention Center: 8:30 p.m. Monday. Cocktail reception, gourmet four-course dinner, music by Cityscape featuring Peter Hewlett, dancing, champagne toast, balloon drop. $319 includes deluxe guest room for two Monday night and parking; an additional $79 covers accommodations Sunday. Reservations required. 1000 Penn Ave., Downtown. (412) 560-6365.
