The annual 2015-2016 New Year’s Eve emergency option list

It’s December 30th, and you still haven’t figured out what to do. WHY IS THIS SO HARD?

December 30, 2015; 1:51 PM • by Susan Howson

Photo by: Toni Blay

Looking for more family-oriented stuff? Head on over to this week’s 5 Things for Families.

RVA NYE 2016

• What’s it like: General 21+ dance party mayhem, but not in any destructive way. RVA NYE has evolved and shifted over the last few years, and I think many lessons have been learned. To me, the Siegel Center is a great location for this event and prevents you from a lot of wandering off into random alleys and/or rivers (Carytown and Brown’s Island have been venues in the past).
• What’s on the agenda: DJs, a “light show,” and other dance party vibes provided by Gent & Jawns, Mad Decent, DJ Doddie Braza, Fantastic Planet, Hoody, Mass FX.
• What’ll it cost: The standard ticket is $20 in advance, $30 at the door, and it gets you just access to a ragin’ dance party. The $50 VIP ticket gets you express bar lines, champagne for the toast, free coat check, and free finger foods.
• What else do I need to know: You can’t dress offensively. I’m not sure what that means, but if you think your outfit will offend others, you might be asked to leave?

Details

• Thursday, December 31st • 7:00 PM – 1:30 AM
• Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad Street
• $20/$50 online or $30 at the door

Great Gatsby NYE 2016 at Off the Hookah

• What’s it like: I’m going to make an educated guess that this one will be a little younger, a little more Shockoe Bottom Party Vibe, and a little more glitzy. It’s a Great Gatsby Party after all.
• What’s on the agenda: Three DJs, six bars, 18 VIP sections, champagne toast. 18 VIP sections? Better catch ’em all!
• What’ll it cost: $30 at this point, as online sales are closed. Drinks available by purchase only.
• What else do I need to know: There’s a “dress code enforced,” which means you better be prepared to get your Gatsby on.

Details

• Thursday, December 31st • 8:00 PM
• Off the Hookah, 140 Virginia Street #200
• $30 at the door

New Year’s Eve 2016 Fiesta at Havana ’59

• What’s it like: Fairly classyish while still being upbeat and fun. You know, Latin style!
• What’s on the agenda: Dinner, drinks, and dancing with DJ Taz spinning salsa, Latin mix, and more. Plus big TVs for everyone to watch the NYC ball drop.
• What’ll it cost: $30 until 6:00 PM on the day of, $40 at the door–this is the price for party tickets only. If you’d like a party PLUS a dinner, you’ve gotta call Havana at 804.780.2822 to reserve (and it’ll cost you $89 in advance or $99 at the door, IF space permits). See the site for what dinner includes.

Details

• Thursday, December 31st • 9:30 PM – 2:00 AM
• Havana ’59, 16 N. 17th Street
• $30, $40, $89, or $99, depending on your desires

Ring in 2016 with Continental Divide

• What’s it like: A smaller but very pretty bar on a beloved corner (with ready access to about a million other places around there, if you’re not having fun). Their tickets include FIVE drinks, so do not stagger into Main Street and barf on the hood of a car that just hit you, people. I’m concerned for your safety.
• What’s on the agenda: Tequila! Party favors, “drunk munchies buffet” post-midnight, a champagne toast, and lots of DJ dancin’.
• What’ll it cost: $65, but it gets you five drink tickets (see above warning of alcohol poisoning) and “the most fun you’ve ever had on NYE ever. Like EVER,” according to the event page.

Details

• Thursday, December 31st • 10:00 PM – 4:00 AM (WHAT! IT IS LIKE WE ARE NEW YORK CITY OVER HERE!)
• Continental Divide, 2501 W. Main Street
• $65

Skyball 2016 at Belle & James

• What’s it like: I hear great things about Belle & James, and I also hear great things about Bond puns, in that I appreciate and admire them! This would be a good spot to bring a small group of friends and have fun together while getting tipsy in a responsible fashion.
• What’s on the agenda: A midnight toast (this is a theme), finger foods, live video feed for the NYC ball drop, party favors, “signature Bond cocktails,” “and more.”
• What’ll it cost: You can get single admission tickets for $53.74 (regular non-early bird price is $80.12, which will kick in after they’ve sold 100 tickets) or couples for $95.94 (non early-bird price is $138.14). Read more about it here.

Details

• Thursday, December 31st • 10:00 PM
• Belle & James, 700 E. Main Street
• $53.74 – $138.14

Decemberween 10

• What’s it like: Well, the Party Liberation Front, who’s putting this shindig on, has a reputation for things like fire dancers and whatever the more serious name for hula hoopers are. This will not be for the faint of heart, this will be a party in the truest sense of the word. In other words, someone WILL bump into you and spill your drink, but you might be OK with that because you noticed his belly dancer tattoo and you are intrigued and then you guys live happily ever after.
• What’s on the agenda: It’s 18+, so there will be lots to do besides drink, to the tune of interactive art, performance art, dancing, fire (I knew it!), “community,” and more. Hardywood will be providing beers, and there will also be wine, mixed drinks, and champagne for sale. Check out the full DJ and music listing here.
• What’ll it cost: $20 in advance (until December 31st at noon) and $30 at the door.
• What else do I need to know: This is a 100% fundraiser for Art on Wheels…and Party Liberation Front. Which is kind of a way to say that “some profits go to Art on Wheels.”

Details

• Thursday, December 31st • 8:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Diversity Richmond, 1407 Sherwood Avenue
• $20/$30 (buy advance tickets here)

DIY NYE

Take a deep breath and relax. There are other options for NYE besides laying down a bunch of cash and getting wildly drunk in a sparkly outfit, although now that I’ve written that sentence, that does sound like a lot of fun.

Here are my suggestions for other stuff you can do:

Get some friends together, go out to dinner, drink champagne, chat, go home!

Karri Peifer at the RTD listed it all out for you very nicely, and far be it from me to duplicate it.

Get some friends together at your home, make a delicious meal, play some board games

May I suggest a recipe from one of my favorite sites, Food 52? Try the vegan eggnog and spike it with both rum and bourbon. Very delicious, I can personally attest. As for the games in question, everyone seems to like Scattergories, but if you want some really fun action, go with Catchphrase, Codenames, Cards Against Humanity, Ultimate Werewolf, or the ol’ “Play ‘Roxanne’ and drink every time Sting sings ‘Roxanne'” game. Oh, it’s very real and will annihilate you.

Watch Making a Murderer on Netflix and then eat ice cream in bed and go to sleep

That may or may not be what I’m up to. Don’t call after 9:30 PM! Winking emoji next to shame-faced emoji.

December 30, 2015 1:51 PM · in Fan of the Fan, North Richmond News, and more 0