Le't be honest: New Year's Eve is really a night to reflect on the fact that you're A.) young, full of 23-year-old energy and don't give an F; B.) not-so-young but still full of energy and still not giving an F; C.) past caring about New Year's Eve and just want to do something fun and low-pressure or D.) just want to eat some good food and go to sleep because all of NYC will become a nightmarish Meatpacking District-hellscape of the worst people in the world. Below, we've included some options for everyone.
FANCY TIMES:
Dinner and Tennis Concert at Isola
Head to the Mondrian Soho to enjoy an open bar, dinner and music by indie popsters Tennis while you count down the New Year. With views of their glass greenhouse while you sip champagne, you can't get more better ambiance than this.
Mondrian Soho, 9 Crosby St.; $125 (General Admission), $175 (Dinner at Enoteca), $225 (Dinner at Isola) -- all guests will be able to see the music performance; Call 212-389-0000 for reservations
Party With GrandLife
The GrandLife gang has two big parties in store for New Year's Eve revelers who prefer something on the fancier side: Soho Grand will be hosting its annual Black & White Masquerade Ball (where masks are strictly required) featuring a four-hour premium open bar and special music acts (as yet unannounced). Meanwhile, over at Tribeca Grand, the party skews toward la vie boheme with go-go and burlesque dancers, contortion and aerial acrobats and their very own ball dropping from the hotel's atrium. Tennessee Thomas, Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe will provide the tunes.
Soho Grand, 310 W. Broadway; $175-$350/ticket, 10 pm - late; Purchase tickets HERE
Tribeca Grand, 2 Sixth Ave.; $150-$300/ticket, 9 pm - late, Purchase tickets HERE
PARTIES AND CONCERTS:
Amanda Palmer at Terminal 5
If you're reading this now, the human race has averted yet another feared apocalypse. Celebrate the earth's continued existence with the prophet Prince Rogers Nelson's classic millenarian tract Purple Rain, as performed by Amanda Palmer and her Grand Theft Orchestra. The former Dresden Doll received plenty of flak this year for trying to recruit unpaid volunteer musicians (talk about grand theft!) for her tour after having raised over a million Kickstarter dollars for her new album, Theatre is Evil. In the end, she agreed to pay everyone onstage and released a collection of solid new wave tunes that demonstrates -- contra the album title -- all the theatricality needed to put this show over the top.
Terminal 5, 610 West 56th Street.; $50 advance/$60 day of, 9 pm. Purchase tickets HERE.
House of Bushwig Present N.Y.E. at Secret Project Robot
The team behind the self-proclaimed "Bushwick's First Annual Drag Festival" returns to Secret Project Robot for an all-ages multimedia bash emceed by local performers Horrorchata and Babes Trust (both veterans of this summer's Tranny Olympics in London). Eight drag queens, five (mostly electro) musical acts, four deejays, live visuals by Ariele Hertzoff and more. Get there early to take advantage of the free champagne fountain.
389 Melrose St., Bushwick; 9:30 pm, $10
Ad Hoc NYE at 285 Kent
No fancy food or drink at this showdown, just bands. Endless boogie from guitar-drums Montréal duo Tonstartssbandht. Deadpan Twilight Zone pop from Vermont duo Blanche Blanche Blanche, with friends. Uplifting major-chord goth from Tampa's Merchandise. Plus a "speciial guest" -- the spelling hints at Diiv, but that could be a red herring.
285 Kent Ave., Williamsburg; 8 pm, $20. Purchase tickets HERE.
BRCDBR & THV Present: SHANGHAI 2013
After the party it's the after-party. After you make out with someone regrettable at midnight, head over to this Bushwick bash with DJ sets by Ghetto Gothik's Venus X, Gavin Russom, Jon Santos and Safety Scissors.
305 Ten Eyck, Bushwick. 1 a.m., $10
DINNER IN BROOKLYN (THERE WILL BE MORE CABS THANKS TO THE JAY-Z CONCERT AND FEWER DRUNK DUMMIES ON THE STREET):
Four-Course Prix Fixe Dinner at Reynard
If you're gonna go the prix fixe route, then at least make sure you're picking someplace good -- For $95/person, you'll be treated to sumptuous classics like diver scallops, caviar, beef carpaccio, Maine lobster and Meyer lemon pudding cake.
Reynards, 80 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; $95/person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included); Call 718-460-8004 for reservations
Five-Course Prix Fixe Dinner at Talde
Dale Talde will be whipping up dishes like foie gras banh mi, lamb shank pho, black bean lobster and something called the 5G Cookie that features a potato chip and pretzel tart with salted caramel ganache and milk ice (and, incidentally, has us wiping a spot of drool off our chins) at his five-course prix fixe NYE dinner. Early birds pay $65 to dine between 6 pm - 7:30 pm (with a two-hour dine limit) while the later crowd pays $85 to be seated between 8:30 - 10 pm (no dine time limit). Wine pairings run at $40 and $60 respectively and late diners will also be given champagne to toast at midnight.
Talde, 369 7th Ave., Park Slope; $65 - $85/person; Call 347-916-0031 for reservations
Six-Course Prix Fixe Dinner at Seersucker
Ring in 2013 at this cozy Carroll Gardens spot with a six-course, $95 menu that includes sea bass, cauliflower soup a meyer lemon tart (and, obviously, much more.)
329 Smith St., Carroll Gardens; $95 per person; Make reservations here. Parties of six or more should call (718) 422-0444.