Toast the 2013 New Year with a Bottle of Champagne

Choosing the appropriate sparkling wine for New Year's Eve can make you dizzy before the first sip. Here's a handy guide to the intoxicating world of bubbles on a budget.

Toast the 2013 New Year with a Bottle of Champagne

Choosing the appropriate sparkling wine for New Year's Eve can make you dizzy before the first sip. Here's a handy guide to the intoxicating world of bubbles on a budget.

The pop of the Champagne cork is as much a part of the New Year’s Eve soundtrack as "Auld Lang Syne" and fireworks. The tiny, tickling bubbles evoke celebratory moods. With so many sparkling wines to choose from, picking the best bottle can be daunting. Prices for sparkling wine range from less than $10 to more than $500 per bottle. Keep in mind that while you usually get what you pay for, there are some great options for those of us on a budget.  Large “negociant” champagne houses that purchase much of their fruit, such as Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger, Roederer, Taittinger, Perrier Jouet and Nicolas Feuillatte, dominate the market. However, in the last decade or so, Champagne from small growers has gained some traction with Champagne …

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How Many Drinks Will Get You A DUI? (Chart)

If you insist on driving after a few drinks, here's what you should know about how alcohol affects your system and your criminal record.

Do you know how many drinks you can have before you're in danger of going over the legal blood alcohol content limit? The Virginia Tech Alcohol Abuse Prevention program has a ballpark idea. When police pull drivers over for suspected drunken driving, officers ask them to perform field sobriety tests and to take a breath test to measure Blood Alcohol Content. A BAC test measures the percentage of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream. Illinois' legal limit is 0.08. However, a person can still be charged even if their BAC is under 0.08 if the state can prove driving impairment.  According to the Virginia Tech Alcohol Abuse Prevention website, every 40 minutes, 0.01 percent of alcohol leaves your system.  So, check out these attached …

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Will You Be in Chicago for New Year's Eve?

MillerCoors will cover the cost of your ride on the El and CTA buses on New Year's Eve to keep the inebriated from getting behind the wheel. Read more on a sister Patch in Chicago.

Fun Facts for New Year's: Wear Red Underwear, Lock Your Car and Eat Black-Eyed Peas

Check out these interesting fun facts and trivia about New Year's Eve.

If you're celebrating New Year's Eve this year and find a lull in the conversation, impress your family and friends with this New Year's trivia.

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Start 2012 Off Right With One of These Local New Year's Celebrations

Say goodbye to 2011 and ring in the New Year with your choice of these local bar and restaurants special deals and packages.

WHAT: Ring in the New Year and celebrate 2011 with a countdown to 2012 including free appetizers, a champagne toast, horns, whistles, a DJ and dancing. Advance reservations are recommended. WHERE: BlackFinn    WHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 31 COST: $25 MORE INFO: Email Casey at CDulny@BlackFinnChicago.com to reserve your booth, or visit the event page WHAT: Open bar, appetizers and live music will be on hand for this celebration. WHERE: City Gate Grill, 2020 Calamos Court WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1 COST: $65 MORE INFO: Call 630-718-1010 or visit City Gate Grille's website WHAT: The party at this dance club for people ages 16 to 25 will include party favors, hats, horns, leis and food buffet, as well as live video taping, a balloon drop, …

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