will everything be closed?or just the museums and the palace.
i'm hoping that the
water buses and restaurants will be running and open if nothing else we can just walk around and enjoy the sights.
secondly does anyone know how to get to the quart d'altino train station(crown plaza venice) from mestre.
Thirdly should we buy the vaporato pass (we will be there for 2.5 days.
will appreciate any venice advice.

Train from Mestre to Quarto d"Altino would probably be best unless you want to spend big for a taxi. It takes about 25 minutes to Mestre or to historic Venice. I'm not sure about bus service.

They are regional trains, no need to reserve, from Venezia S. Lucia to Mestre (about 14 minutes) and from Mestre to Quarto D'Altino (about 11 minutes).

On Jan. 1, be ready for very little service. Stock up on food the night before, even finding breakfast and lunch can be tough unless your hotel provides. Buy the red carton with the delicious Xmas "cake" or "bread" Panettone, some bananas...the day before!

Sure you can walk around, and with a bit of luck you'll find something open.

Go to www.actv.it for info on vaporetto single tickets and passes (note that they are not valid on the boats of the private line Alilaguna).

thanks,
good thing the hotel provides breakfast.we will try and find stuff for lunch and dinner the day before.are there no restaurants open on new years not even grocery stores?

Venice being such a tourist town you should find lunch and dinner - might take some research. Grocery stores probably not, but even there - Venice being Venice it might go against the custom - in other cities there would be nothing, but in Venice, never say never (but don't count on it)..