As the year comes to a close it's time to relax and take stock. Time to reflect on past accomplishments, new acquaintances made, old friendships strengthened and the blessings of family. It's a season of good cheer and fellowship as we unwind from the cares of the world.

Who are we kidding? This time of year is all about the stress of family gatherings, corporate parties and entertainment disasters. Just trying to be a good host or hostess is enough to send most of us into therapy for another year.

There's a reason they say a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client - it's just as silly to try to handle your holiday entertainment needs on your own. Take a look at these businesses that will not only de-stress your preparations, but they'll ensure this year whatever you do will be done in style.

Your Go-To Team for Planning and Sanity Maintenance

Affairs 2 Remember
Like people, no two parties are the same. Affairs 2 Remember can tailor its services to your needs. Want just a little help with a few fine details? No problem. Need a take-charge coordinator with the heart of a fairy godmother and the dominance of a drill sergeant? They can do that, too. Call them for a free consultation to discuss your needs and you'll be glad you did. 269-1235
www.affairs2remember.com

Celebrate - Planning for an Event to Remember
Putting together a party looks easy, especially when a professional does it. But getting everything to go smoothly is tougher than teaching your cat to de-flea the dog. Call the folks at Celebrate for one-stop arranging of all your party needs. With their in-house florists, invitation printers, and all-around decoration masters, your event is sure to delight your guests. Just remember, if you hire them once, you'll need to hire them again next time, because your guests will demand it. 259-8611

John Pramik Entertainment
Whether you want a solo pianist playing soothing background or conversational music, or an all out party with a theme band, John Pramik Entertainment can provide you with worry-free entertainment, lighting and event planning services from concept to completion. Make the wonder of the holidays come alive with Santa & Mrs. Claus, Victorian Carolers, The Grinch, a holiday string quartet and more. 295-5578 www.johnpramik.com

Santa Clarita Concierge Services
Usually people associate a concierge with hotels and resorts, but now this type of personal service is available to assist with just about anything you can think of. Whether
it's personal shopping, grocery shopping, party assistance, or just someone to run a few errands, a personal concierge service could be your answer. 255-SCCS

Party at their Place

Roast House
The Roast House is the SCV's home-grown supper club. With regularly-scheduled live entertainment four nights a week, the Roast House knows how to have a good time. What better place for a party or company gathering than their 1,500 square foot private patio? One call takes care of all the details as formal or informal as you want - from a leisurely sit-down dinner to a casual buffet, with the music of your choice, and maybe even a cigar sampler to cap off the evening. 296-3866 www.roasthousescv.com

Robinson Ranch and Sycamore Bar & Grill
Come enjoy the idyllic scenery outside the 25,000 square foot clubhouse. Listen to the waterfall as it lulls you into a state of
relaxation that would make the Maharishi Yogi jealous. Robinson Ranch can serve up to 250 of your closest friends in a luxurious upstairs banquet room, or you might choose a less formal setting on the patio. Even an impromptu gathering in the Sycamore Bar & Grill is guaranteed to please. 252-8484
www.robinsonranchgolf.com

RSVP - The Catering Company and Egg Plantation
Amazing menus and a fun location will make your event the talk of the town. Executive Chef Cindy Smith of RSVP - The Catering Company will do the cooking and Egg Plantation will provide plenty of room for a band, dancing - plus a full bar. Available any evening in the month of December. 255-8222

Vino 100
Vino 100 offers boutique, handcrafted wines from small, artisan vineyards personally selected to give you the opportunity to taste and enjoy special wines from around the world at affordable prices. Weekly tastings, monthly events and wine classes are available. 294-6886 www.vino100valencia.com

Salt Creek Grille
For a classic dining experience look no further than Salt Creek Grille. With a dining area that feels like a private club and some of the SCV's most skilled mixologists, an evening at Salt Creek Grille is more relaxing than a full-body ether massage. Recently the Grille added a full bar to their patio dining area to ensure their innovative cocktails make it to you colder than your mother-in-law's icy stare. Salt Creek presents live entertainment four nights a week, plus Sunday brunch, so come out for some "smooth jazz under the stars." 222-9999 www.saltcreekgrille.com

TPC
The TPC at Valencia recently completed an expansion that took their already-impressive dining and banquet facilities to new levels. The view is still better than anything short of the International Space Station and the food blends the best of traditional favorites with a cutting-edge flair. Choose from a variety of private rooms or eat under the stars on the patio for a touch of class and a heart-warming fire pit. 288-1995

Valencia Country Club
Valencia Country Club has been an oasis of beauty, nature and grandeur in the SCV for over a generation. From the moment your guests arrive they'll be coddled in timeless luxury. VCC's recently re-designed facilities suit any gathering, whether a happy-go-lucky party or a serious formal affair, and your guests will delight in the panoramic views of a golf course known for hosting top-tier professional golf tournaments. With rooms that can handle gatherings of up to 160 guests, innovative cuisine and a food service team delivering unparalleled attention to detail, your gathering is sure to impress. 254-4401, extension 263
www.valenciagolfclub.com

Wolf Creek Brewing Company
Nothing satisfies like a true microbrew. Combine award-winning brews with Wolf Creek's menu dazzlers including feisty appetizers, salads, pizzas and traditional entrees and you've got a paaar-tay (draw out the first syllable for the full effect). They can cater your gathering or host it in their private banquet room or patio. Bring your friends and sample some real local brews in the SCV's most friendly brewery - make mine a hefeweizen. 263-9653
www.wolfcreekbrewingco.com

Eat Great for Less (Less Stress, Less Worry, Less Money)

Abbey Lane Cafe
Simplicity, thy name is Abbey Lane. These folks serve up some of the SCV's best breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and their cakes could wake the dead. Drop by for a gourmet coffee and a slice of cake or have them cater your next gathering. Better yet, give them a call for a picnic basket and take your honey for a romantic hike. 254-3090

Nick n Willy's
Pizza is the perfect food - not just for the way it artfully combines the basic food groups, but also because everyone loves it. Nick 'n Willy's now offers delivery, in-restaurant dining, and to-go baked to order pizzas for every taste. Their dedication to the perfect pie shows with their use of the freshest ingredients and their fanatical avoidance of anything frozen - they don't even own a freezer. Ask about their full-service catering, too! 291-1921 www.nicknwillys.com

SCV Good to Go Restaurant Delivery
SCV traffic isn't getting lighter and gas prices are rising like bottle rockets on Independence Day. Maybe you should let someone else pick up the grub. One call to the pros at SCV Good to Go will put their ready delivery staff on the road to your favorite local eatery and back with your order, in just about an hour. They'll pick up from 30 local restaurants and you can even place your order online. If everything were this convenient we wouldn't need aspirin. 259-8246 www.scvgoodtogo.com

The Garden Spot
With all the parties and eating at this time of year, no wonder most of us see our scales and cholesterol levels jump like kangaroos on speed. It doesn't have to be that way. The Garden Spot serves up the freshest, most healthful food possible. With a focus on salads, wraps and whole wheat goodness, a meal here makes up for that broken promise to hit the gym more. Two more locations are on the way to ensure the entire SCV can enjoy the fare, and they'll handle your catering needs as well. 295-7786

You have No Time to Bake, and Besides - Your Cakes are Flatter than a Nebraska Mountaintop

Babe's Dessert Bar
Why do people save room for dessert? Well, duh! It's the best part of a meal. Whether you seek a perfect finale to a gourmet dinner, or want to focus on the sweeter side of life, Babe's Dessert Bar can make it happen for you. As the SCV's largest purveyor of baked goods they can get you the creme de la creme of sweet treats. Just call one of their dessert specialists (dream job alert!) to help you decide and sit back and enjoy. And don't miss their retail location coming soon. 510-7954 www.babesdessertbar.com

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Everyone loves chocolate, but that doesn't mean you can get away with a bag of bargain-bin no-name sweets. Today's sophisticated palate demands the highest quality and most precise presentation. With a menu of delights that include such extravagances as dipped strawberries and luscious fudge, Rocky Mountain makes the perfect corporate gift (what, were you thinking of... pen sets?). Have them cater your Halloween party and you'll be immune from tricks for at least a decade. 291-1133 www.rmcf.com

Get your Drink On as Only a Californian Should

Big Chill
The key to a memorable event lies in delivering the unexpected. Most party bars consist of a haphazard arrangement of cheap booze and plastic cups that accomplish little more than encouraging your guests to drink themselves into incoherence. But a self-contained Party Theme Cart complete with a frozen beverage machine from Big Chill will have your guests salivating like Pavlov's dogs as they clamor for the tasty icy treats - fruit-flavored for the kids and kicked up a notch for the adults, if you know what we mean. 209-1810

When in Doubt, Outsource the Fun

MB2 Raceway
Setting up a party or corporate gathering generates the wrong kind of adrenaline. But if you want to feel the rush of speed and competition in an exciting environment, give the MB2 folks a call. Their indoor racetrack facility offers a state-of-the-art experience in high performance kart racing - it's your own personal NASCAR without begging for a multi-million dollar sponsorship. Create a fun diversion, a teambuilding exercise, or just a friendly smackdown. They've got banquet space for some apres-race noshing and signing the big deal with your newly-humbled clients. 866-986-RACE www.mb2raceway.com

Mountasia Family Fun Center & Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant
If something's good, more is usually better. Mountasia has more of everything you want - more rides, more games, more good food and fun times. There's something for everyone at Mountasia, from the miniature golf to lazer tag to the old time ice cream parlor. And don't be fooled - kids love Mountasia, but so do adults. Sometimes we all want to just be a kid. It isn't a party if it isn't fun and Mountasia will make sure everyone has lots of that. 253-4386
www.mountasiafuncenter.com

SC Ballet Company
The SCV has grown up. How many small towns have a top-tier ballet company? The Santa Clarita Ballet performs everyone's favorite holiday celebration: The Nutcracker. Danced at College of the Canyons' astounding Performing Arts Center, the performance and ambiance rival anything on New York's Broadway (and the weather's bound to be better). Come on, a little culture never hurt anyone - you'll enjoy it, you'll support the arts and you'll take a much needed break from the mundane. 251-0366