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Maybe you decided to say fuck it this year and not make any plans. Or maybe the host of the party you were going to attend got food poisoning. Or maybe you just moved to D.C. and need something to do last minute. At any rate, in a few hours the panic might start setting in as you feel the pressure to ring in the new year with at least a little pomp and/or circumstance. Here are a few options you could jump onto last minute. As far as we know, these are still all available, but some will likely fill up before the clock strikes midnight. Have a fun, safe and happy new year's eve, everybody!
Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA; Clarendon metro stop). No cover, no live music, just a low key night at one of the best bars in the area. Also available for a normal night out a bar rather than a big party: The Raven (3125 Mount Pleasant St).
The Black Cat, as always, plays host to Peaches O'Dell to ring in the new year. We spoke to her a couple of new yearses ago about the annual event and her general fabulousness. It's one of the most dependably fun parties the city has to offer, so keep it in mind if you don't have plans. With Tony Anthony and his Malvivants, and DJ Mark Zimin of Mousetrap. $25, 8 p.m.
The U Street wine bar Vinoteca (1940 11th St NW) is offering an open bar, DJ, live band, gourmet food and bubbly toast for $125 (or $200 per couple).
Photo by Brian Knight Photography
Zatinya (701 9th Street NW ). You can do an early seating (from 5:30 to 7:30) for $60, or a late night seating for $100 (that includes a champagne toast at midnight); both feature a special chef's menu and seating is still available. More info here.
For just $5, you can spend the night amongst the living dead at The Red & The Black's (1212 H Street, NE) Zombie New Year party.
Wonderland (1101 Kenyon St NW) in Columbia Heights will have DJs and a Miller High Life toast for $25/couple or $15/person this evening. Also in Columbia Heights, newcomer restaurant Commonwealth (1400 Irving St NW) has two parties — the Tarts & Vicars party in the pub is free of charge, will feature prizes for best costumes, and includes a champagne toast, with the pub menu available from 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. In the dining room, a 3-course meal is available, starting at $25/person.
And for those of you that really don't want to go to a party but just want to do something, you can head out to the Mall and watch the fireworks up above.
And on New Year's Day: The Warehouse Theater and Cafe is still in between spaces, a situation that's downright appropriate for a day celebrating the transition from 2008 to 2009. On New Year's Day, the Warehouse debuts Punch Club, a weekly tasting event that features what the Room 11 organizers describe as a "tightly curated beverage selection." Tomorrow evening and each Thursday to follow, the Warehouse will show off drinks from the menu for Room 11 — that's the Columbia Heights wine bar the Warehouse has in the works — with drink prices ranging from $5 to $8 and food from $1 for snacks to $10 for sandwiches. Casual atmo, no cover — and to be clear, this is happening at the current Warehouse location.
Got another idea? Let us know in the comments.
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I'll be at the rockstar table at H20 getting full table service, courtesy a specially trained pair of fellating wombats Puffy had flown in just for the occasion. Then we'll "watch the ball drop" on "Times Square," by which I mean "lightbulbs filled with poo" and "your momma." Lastly, there's a little rumor that Baby New Year will be making an appearance. If that doesn't happen, I've got Newt Gingrich in a diaper ballgagged in my trunk. He'll be fine. I drilled airholes and everything. Even checked up on him every half hour to whisper, "Be of good cheer, Master Ridley, and play the man." A couple of taser zaps and we'll be dancing the gay tarantella until dawn.
Take that, Mark Zimin.
@monkey, since you are still reading DCist at 4:00 PM on New Year's Eve, I suspect you will be watching Golden Girls reruns in your basement with nothing but your collection of vintage National Geographic magazines to keep you company.
Oh wait.... I resemble that remark.
Happy New Year's, anyone unlucky enough to still be at work!!
What about a list -- with Google map -- of streets to avoid because of the inevitable barrage of firecrackers, bottle rockets or IEDs. Or will the cold weather keep those crazy kids inside?
Oh MikeB, you really ought to expand your horizons out of the cozy confines of the good ole U.S. of A....where every special occasion from birthdays to a good deal on paper towels is celebrated with firecrackers... seriously, like our liquor laws, we're so conventional with our use of firecrackers in this country (perhaps the operative word is cracker, I don't know)....
There are late shows (8:30pm, 9:00pm, 9:30pm) at the Kennedy Center tonight. After the shows there is a big party with live music until 1:00am (you need a ticket from a show or kc restaurant receipt to get in). Tickets are a hell of a lot cheaper than a cover charge to most places though and it's usually pretty fun.
These are not bad ideas per se; but as I have a properly maintained and piloted TARDIS I don't really get excited about the New Year's Eve.