NYC: What to do on New Years Eve

Whoat?: The Inverted Cosmos party pits the night's best live sets (Ariel Pink solo and first show from Outer Limits Recording) with the outer burrough's finest spinners of new shit. Yes, you won't be able to wave a smart phone in the place without smacking into an Altered Zones blogger, but that's ok when it's all packed into one Bushwick warehouse on a night when you're really supposed to do "it" up.

Where: 234 Starr Street, Brooklyn
Runtime: 9pm-7am
How Much: $20-25
Drug of Choice: Sweet, sweet ecstasy.
We Rate: 9.5

Whoat?: A good ol' garage show with Reading Rainbow, Woven Bones (solo set), FOOD Stamps, La Big Vic, and a live collaboration between Xray Eyeballs, Girls at Dawn, and a drum machine. Plus DJ sets from Cassie Ramone and Andy Bones. 

Where: Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow Street, Manhattan
Runtime: 10pm-4am
How Much: $12-60 sliding scale
Drug of Choice: Whiskey, lots of.
We Rate: 8.0

Whoat?: Mean Red hires The Rub, Rich Medina, Evil Dee, Nextah (Michna and Nick Hook) and Romanthony to DJ the three rooms of the Williamsburg night spot. 21+.

  Where: Public Assembly, 70 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
Runtime: 9pm-4am
How Much: $25
Drug of Choice: Bathroom coke.
We Rate: 6.8

Whoat?: DFA's party features Holy Ghost, House of House, Nancy Whang, more TBA. Put any LCD reservations you have aside; this is the night you should embrace the DFA types in your life. Just wish it wasn't at Le Bain, right?

Where: Le Bain, 444 W 13th Street
Runtime: 10pm-6am
How Much: $30-50
Drug of Choice: Only the finest aged Merck.
We Rate: 8.8

Whoat?: The Bootlegger’s Ball Party. Cabaret always struck us as a medley of exhibitionist women (obviously) and the lonely, single men who stalk them. But what do we know. Here's your chance to don a (Depression era-themed) vintage costume and hang wit your kind. 

Where: "Historical Former Church" (details)
Runtime: 9pm–6am;
How Much: $35-70 sliding scale
Drug of Choice: Bathtub gin.
We Rate: 7.5

Whoat?: Titus Andronicus, Real Estate, Andrew Cedermark, and Julian Lynch are your Underwatery task force sent from New Jersey to save those who hate dancing from a night of shame.

Where: Ridgewood Masonic Temple.
Runtime: Doors at 8pm
How Much: $16
Drug of Choice: Geez just having great friends.
We Rate: 8.0

Whoat?: Just Blaze hosts his regular Santos Party with DJ Soul and guests Clark Kent and Stretch Armstrong. Basement has DJ Gravy, Max Glazer, and Micro Don and a set by Jasmine Solano and Nire of MTTM.

Where: Santos Party House, 96 Lafayette St. 
Runtime: 9pm-late
How Much: $40 before midnight, $25 after.
Drug of Choice: Whatever they got raided for in October.
We Rate: 8.4

Whoat?: Guided by Voices!

Where: Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Place, Manhattan
Runtime: Doors at 7pm
How Much: $72
Drug of Choice: Nostalgia.
We Rate: 7.5 

Whoat?: Weird out into 2011 the right way. PC Worship, Guardian Alien, Nonhorse with DJ GDFX and DJ Beachballs (Justin Frye), other "special guests", a "Live Action Multi-New Year Espionage & Dancing Game New Years Game," and free custom-designed masks at the door.

Where: Showpaper Gallery, 217 East 42nd Street
Runtime: 10pm-6am
How Much: $10
Drug of Choice: Happy trees.
We Rate: 8.3

Whoat?: Patti Smith!

Where: Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, Manhattan
Runtime: Doors at 8pm
How Much: $55
Drug of Choice: Metamucil.
We Rate: 7.5 

Whoat?: This MyOpenBar favorite offers free Jim Beam, Sauza, and Absolute from 10:30pm-11:30pm and 4am-5am. Guaranteed madhouse, seeing as it's free. Also, Cassie Ramone's other DJ set of the night once she departs Cake Shop?

Where: Night of Joy, 667 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn
Runtime: 9pm-6am
How Much: Free
Drug of Choice: Slow jamz.
We Rate: 8.0

Whoat?: Come dressed as a Q. Tarantino movie character for the Tarantino Jungle Boogie as Tarantino soundtracks spin all night. Tarantino.

Where: The Emerson, 561 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn
Runtime: 8pm-4am
How Much: Free.
Drug of Choice: The blood of John Travolta.
We Rate: 6.0 

Whoat?: Fancy party, commence. Hors d'oeuvres and buffet til midnight. Four hour top shelf open bar. With DJ Shortkutz and DJ Serious.

Where: Highline Ballroom, 431 W 16th Street
Runtime: 9pm-4am
How Much: $115-200
Drug of Choice: So much cavier.
We Rate: 6.8 

Whoat?: Chill in Greenpoint with DJs Ernie Cote and Killer Bee. $3 vodka all night sweetens the deal.

Where: Blackout Bar, 916 Manhattan Ave
Runtime: 8pm-4am
How Much: Free
Drug of Choice: You really meant to ingest something awesome, but here you are, at Blackout.
We Rate: 7.0 

Whoat?: Blkmarket Membership is a party for those who cannot contain their New Years Party-pocaylpse within one night of dancing and debauchery. 30 hours of DJs in Midtown. (More info.)

Where: District 36, 29 W 36th Street
Runtime: Fri 31, 10pm to Jan 2, 4am
How Much: $60
Drug of Choice: Ride that dragon!
We Rate: 6.66 

Whoat?: Happy House, a regular Union Hall party, takes over both floors of the Park Slope bar. If hanging out at this 30-something spot because of the excellent beer selection and bit-sized hamburgers appeals, you know who you are.

Where: Union Hall, 702 Union Street, Brooklyn
Runtime: 10pm-4am
How Much: $15
Drug of Choice: Weed tip for the stroller valet.
We Rate: 5.0

Whoat?: Soul Khan and friends includes Brown Bag Allstars, El Gant, Scienze, KB Jones, DJ Ready Cee, E Holla, DJ Dyllemma, Maticulous.

Where: Cin-M-Art Space 43, 43 Murray Street, Manhattan
Runtime: Doors at 10pm
How Much: $13
Drug of Choice: Whatever's in the flask.
We Rate: 7.0 

Whoat?: Free vodka (10pm-10:30pm), free door.

Where: Veronica People's Club, 105 Franklin Street, Brooklyn
Runtime: 9pm-late
How Much: Free
Drug of Choice: Not emptying your bank account is enough... right?
We Rate: 7.0 

Whoat?: Do yoga, meditation and "restorative movement" in the hours leading up to New Years, at which point you eat some hor d'ouevres.

Where: Bamboomoves Forest Hills, 107-40 Queens Blvd, Suite 206, Queens
Runtime: 9pm-12am
How Much: $50
Drug of Choice: Vibes Mgmt.
We Rate: 5.0 

Whoat?: This will be styling. Q-Tip does his regular DJ party with "friends" that include Theophilus London and added door heft.

Where: Ace Hotel, 20 W 29th Street
Runtime: 9pm-late
How Much: $60
Drug of Choice: Whatever buddah you get from the sexy drug ruler.
We Rate: 8.3

Whoat?: Mister Saturday Night's party has resident DJs Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin, along with Detroit's Kyle Hall and dubstep pioneer Martyn. Open champagne bar all night. If your aim is to dance and you have the cash, it wouldn't hurt to burn it on this.

Where: TBA for ticketholders
Runtime: 9pm-late
How Much: $56.25, none at door, buy it here.
Drug of Choice: Default.
We Rate: 7.9 

Whoat?: Lost in Music presents DJs Alexis Georgopoulos (DFA, RVNG, Smalltown Supersound), live sets from Hiro Kone, and Laurel Halo.

Where: Zebulon, 258 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn
Runtime: 10pm-4am
How Much: Donations
Drug of Choice: Opium.
We Rate: 7.7 

Whoat?: The grad school of bars, KGB hosts a 15-hour party at Sullivan Room with a whole bunch of DJs.

Where: Sullivan Room, 218 Sullivan Street, Manhattan
Runtime: 9pm-noon
How Much: $20 "early tickets" (No word on door price)
Drug of Choice: Your favorite N+1 volume.
We Rate: 6.5 

Whoat?: Four-floor Webster Hall cluster foock 2011! "The largest balloon drop in the free world!" Starring a 3:30 am set from the Bloody Beetroots! Girls, watch your drinks very carefully, all night!

Where: Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th Street, Manhattan
Runtime: 8pm-9am
How Much: $99-150 (You missed your shot at a $1,200 VIP table!)
Drug of Choice: Roofies.
We Rate: 1.0 

Whoat?: Steve Angello of Swedish House Mafia. All night long. Pay extra for a "Swedish VIP" slot and get bottle service and special "Swedish massages."

Where: Roseland Ballroom, 239 W 52nd Street
Runtime: 9pm-5am
How Much: $95-$5000
Drug of Choice: Swedish meatballz.
We Rate: 3.4 

Whoat?: Catch the Roots play one or all of their three sets at Brooklyn Bowl. If it is worth $350 to you.

Where: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn
Runtime: 9pm-6am
How Much: $85. Sold out. $250-350 tickets available here.
Drug of Choice: Rubbing alcohol for your bowlin' balls.
We Rate: 7.0 

Whoat?: New York Night Train's affair brings in live sets from Kid Congo (backed by K-Holes), Stalkers, Hammered satin, and Baby Shakes, and DJ sets from Ian Svenonius, Josh Styles, William Martin, and of course Jonathan Toubin.

Where: Home Sweet Home, 131 Chrystie Street
Runtime: 9pm-10am
How Much: $10
Drug of Choice: Vintage 1960s era "uppers."
We Rate: 9.0

Whoat?: Let's Play House goes slick with a DJ slots by Morgan Geist and Midnight Magic plus more DJs and a live set from Fall On Your Sword.

Where: RSVP to rsvp@lphnyc.com for location.
Runtime: 8pm-4am
How Much: $22.50 here
Drug of Choice: Designer drugs.
We Rate: 7.5 

Whoat?: You can always chill with live sets from soul legends Marva Whitney and Billy Prince.

Where: Bell House, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn
Runtime: Doors at 8pm
How Much: $40
Drug of Choice: Fancy old man cocktails.
We Rate: 7.0 

Whoat?: Phish. Har har.

Where: Madison Square Garden
Runtime: 7:30pm-altered space time
How Much: $60-70
Drug of Choice: Well, y'know...
We Rate: 4.0