New Year's Eve Events
Nobody wants to watch the ball drop, and nobody wants to drop the ball; if youre looking for New Years Eve plans that wont leave you with a resolution to find new friends, check these options out.
Dining
Yerba Buena 23 Ave. A (at E. 2nd St.), 212-529-2919; 10, $150 Dropping this much money isnt an easy decision, but when you take into consideration that New Years Eve at Yerba Buenachef Julian Medinas Alphabet City Latin bistroincludes an open bar, champagne toast and dinner, it all begins to make sense. Besides, with a menu that includes a lobster and avocado salad, filet mignon and cheesecake made with goat, blue and cream cheeses, its a decadent way to say, Get lost, 2008!
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Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden 29-19 24th Ave. (at 29th St.), Queens, 718-274-4925; 9, $75-$95 New Years in New Yorks last traditional biergarten calls forduhbeer lovers, and there will be plenty of them here.The wad of cash is worth it for the enormous space and the numerous Czech, German and American brews that never disappoint (can you say BrouCzech?). Menu choices like the equally enormous Klobása Chléb Hranolky (kielbasa served with rye bread and fries) are fantastic $9 reasonsfood is not included in the coverto spend Dec. 31 in Queens.
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Northeast Kingdom 18 Wyckoff Ave. (at Troutman St.), Brooklyn, 718-386-3864; 5, $35-$60 In true Bushwick hipster style, Northeast Kingdoms plan for New Years is Uh, whatever, were pretty chilled out here, there might be a prix-fixe, according to the boho who answered the phone when we called. Luckily the prices at this delicious bistro will be reasonable, as always.
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In its lower-level den DJ Elijah will spin chill beats and everyone gets to participate in the champagne toast at midnight. So dust off your keffiyah and Elvis Costello glasses, youre spending New Years in Brooklyn!
Live Music
The Blue Note 131 W. 3rd St. (betw. 6th Ave. & MacDougal St.), 212-475-8592; 7 and 10, $75-$175 Sexy trumpeter Chris Botti is headlining two sets of jazz-fusion at the Blue Note. No, its not cheap, and it is first-come, first-served, but if you want a jazzy, Greenwich Village New Years then this is the place to go.The ticket price includes a champagne toast, hats and noisemakers (whoopee!), with a la carte noshables available.
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Barbes 376 9th St. (at 6th Ave.) Brooklyn, 347-422-0248; 10, $10 The world music patrons at our favorite grown-up Brooklyn venue (named for an eclectic Parisian neighborhood) are hosting a very Brazilian New Years with performances by Willie Nelson–approved Nation Beat.This Brazilian-American ensemble, which features percussionist Scott Kettner and the stage-stealing Liliana Araújo, fuses American pop, funk and bluegrass with Brazilian maracatu, forro and ciranda beats. Feliz Ano-Novo!
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Love 179 MacDougal St. (at W. 8th St.), 212-477-5683; 10; $75 Unlike many of the exorbitant prices one pays on Dec. 31, Loves entry fee includes an open bar. Do you need to hear more? This wonderfully trippy dance space has lots of great lighting and an indoor waterfalljust like a dance club should.The DJ lineup includes Team Facelift, Max Barbaria, Danie. Merriweather and Press fave Aaron LaCrate.
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Santos Party House 96 Lafayette St. (betw. Walker & White Sts.), 212-584-5492; 10; $50/$60, $20 after 4 a.m. Our Best New Venue choice is throwing a NYE bash hosted by hipster icon the Misshapes with Sophia Lamar, with live performances that include Gang Gang Dance, Hearts of Darkness and Andrew W.K.The downstairs, hosted by Prime Time, will include Invisible Conga People and Mike Simonetti. The two-level dance den will be open until 8 a.m. on Jan. 1. Bad for your resolution to be less of a degenerate, good for dim sum brunch in Chinatown the next morning.
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Parties
Union Pool 484 Union Ave. (at Meeker Ave.), Brooklyn, 718-609-0484; 8, $10 With a $10 entry (which includes a free champagne toast) do you really care what Bubbles, Brass Bursts & Bullshit means? Union Pools cryptic lineupThe Veveritse brass band will play, along with DJs AlFreako and Mr.Vacationleaves a little to be desired, but this Williamsburg mainstay is a no-brainer. And theyll be serving tacos at the firepit.
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Radegast Beer Hall 113 N. 3rd St. (at Berry St.), Brooklyn, 718-963-3973; 9, FREE This free (yes free) party at Williamsburgs newish beer hall will be having a Gipsy Music Groove to juxtapose all of the flannel jackets likely to be displayed. Still, we cant argue with the free midnight drink and, even better, complimentary anti-hangover garlic soup to be served at 3 a.m. Surprise your lover with a good night New Years tongue lock, youll be a big smash or smashed in the face. Still, a great time for all.
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Glasslands Gallery 289 Kent Ave. (betw. S. 1st and S. 2nd Sts.), Brooklyn, no phone; 9, $25 This Williamsburg art space promises plenty of dancing, local fashion, snark and irony as it celebrates Rude Years Eve. A visual and sound experience hosted by people with colorful names like Rude Bear (the DJ) and Bubblyfish (live/visuals), we can ignore any pretension because theyll offer free Colt .45 while it lasts and free party Polaroids.
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Chelsea Brewing Company Pier 58 at Chelsea Piers, 212-336-6440; 9, $110-$150 If youre planning on getting tanked anyway, why not cut out the middleman and head straight for the Chelsea Brewing Companys soiree? Featuring passed appetizers, a dinner buffet, open bar, giveaways and the midnight release of a special celebration beer (the $150 option adds a bottle of champers, a better view and classier grub), the DJed event is a great way to kick back while leaving your drunkenness in the hands of the professionals.
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Mr. Black 251 W. 30th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), no phone; 2 am, $30 New Yorks best-known underground dance den is celebrating a post-ball dropping party with a (likely) pants-dropping party at its newest location. Running from 2 to 9 a.m. on New Years Day, this party will allow you to host your classy house party, or go to Times Square (ugh), and then turn it with the homos and freaks until well past sunrise. Host DJs include Sammy Jo of the Scissor Sisters and Nita Aviance. Expect lots of drinks, ridiculous outfits and black lights. Lots of black lights.