Haven’t figured out exactly where you’ll be when that big glittery ball drops and we bid farewell to 2011 and ring in 2012, crossing our fingers that the Mayan Calendar is just a sham and drowning our residual anxiety in cheap champagne? No problem — check out our roundup of all the best New Year’s Eve happenings all across the great County of Kings.
Paris is bumpin’
Celebrate the new year in style — Parisian style, that is — at the legendary Floating Kabarette New Year’s Eve blowout featuring sexy burlesque acts, marching ballads, and a dashing decor tailored to transport you back in time to history’s sauciest party scene — 1920s France. The best part? There’s no cliche, midnight ball drop at this classy cabaret — expect a troupe of scantily clad dancers to descend on velvet ropes instead.
Galapagos Art Space [16 Main St. between Water and Plymouth streets in DUMBO, (718) 222-8500] Dec. 31 at 9:30 pm. Tickets $150. For info, visit www.galapagosartspace.com
Tick-tock countdown
Consider spending the most exciting night of the year with Deer Tick. No, not the gross blood-sucking kind that attaches itself to your leg while you hike through tall grasses — ew. No, we live in a city, remember? We’re talking about Deer Tick the rock band, which will charm your pants off with its folk-rock wiles, along with Dead Confederate, Virgin, and J. Rody Walston and the Business.
Brooklyn Bowl [61 Wythe Ave. between N.11th and N.12th streets in Williamsburg, (718) 963-3369] Dec. 31, $60. Doors at 6 pm, show at 8 pm.
Park sparks
This wouldn’t be a New Year’s roundup without an obligatory — and well-deserved — plug for the spectacular fireworks display at Grand Army Plaza. Snag a seat along Prospect Park West and watch the sparks fly — literally — over the
majestic Soliders and Sailors’ Arch.
Grand Army Plaza [Union St. between Flatbush Avenue and Prospect Park West] Dec. 31, 11 pm. For info, visit www.nycgovparks.org.
PopGun Party
Get funky with electronic conductor Nosaj Thing, who’s headlining the curators of cool PopGun’s New Year’s Eve party. Not only will you get an earful of the hottest beats, but admission also buys you an hour of all-you-can-drink vodka, plus a champagne toast at midnight. Stick around to catch EL TOPO, Archie Pelago, and DJ Ilirjana.
Glasslands Gallery [289 Kent Ave. between S. First and S. Second streets in Williamsburg, (718) 599-1450] Dec. 31, 9 pm. Tickets $30. For info, visit www.popgunbooking.com.
New Beers Eve
Dec. 31 is New Beers Eve — or, more like Old Beers Eve — at the Brooklyn Brewery, which will be ringing in the new year by tapping two venerable vintages: a keg of 2004 Black Chocolate Stout and a keg of 2007 Monster Ale. Besides the scrumptious brews, meat maniacs Brooklyn Cured will provide a top-notch buffet-style dinner for the boozy party, while DJ Popular Science spins the best of ’80s dance-pop music all night long.
Brooklyn Brewery [79 N. 11th St. between Wythe Avenue and Berry Street in Williamsburg, (718) 486-7422] Dec. 31, 8 pm. Tickets $110 ($100 in advance). For info, visit www.brooklynbrewery.com.
Bueno Budos!
Looking forward to an extra funky New Year’s Eve? Check out the ten-piece Budos Band, which will be pulling out all the “afro-soul” stops to bring you a creative spin on a genre that blends world music with the funky-fresh sounds of the ’60s. Come for the Budos Band, and stick around for Charles Bradley and the Extraordinairies.
Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N. Sixth St. between Wythe and Kent avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 486-5400] Dec. 31, doors at 9 pm, show at 10 pm. Tickets $40. For info, visit www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com.
Faros fiesta
Forget weddings — have yourself a big, fat Greek New Year’s Eve! Enjoy an authentic, top-notch, four-course Greek dinner along with a choice wine selection, all topped off with an obligatory — and delicious — champagne toast at midnight.
Faros [84 Seventh Ave. between Berkely Place and Union Street in Park Slope, (718) 623-2767] Dec. 31, seating starts at 9:30 pm. $65. For info, visit www.farosny.com.
Eat, drink, eat, drink and be merry
It’s all-you-can-everything at this New Year’s Eve bash! There’s an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet, an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet, and, best of all, six hours of call liquor open bar (try not to drink yourself silly before the clock strikes 12). DJs Nate and GS will be manning the turntables all night long, so bring your dancing shoes. Naturally, a midnight champagne toast will ensue.
reBar [147 Front St. between Jay Street and Pearl Place in Downtown, (718) 766-9110] Dec. 31, starting at 9 pm. Tickets $99. For info, visit www rebarnyc.com
On the water
Want to grab a bite to eat, slug down a few drinks, and cozy up close enough to the Brooklyn Bridge to catch the fireworks? Check out the Water Street Restaurant, nestled in the belly of DUMBO and just a few blocks from the bridge. The best part? Start your night off with Water Street’s midnight champagne toast — and keep the party going until bar closes at 4 am.
Waterstreet Restaurant [66 Water St. near Furman Street in DUMBO, (718) 625-9352] Dec. 31, opens at 11 am. For info, visit www.waterstreetrestaurant.com
Reach reporter Colin MIxson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.
