On our rock and jazz pages, we list a number of the big ticket shows in town on New Year’s Eve, including Cassandra Wilson at the Blue Note and The Black Crowes at the Garden and Patti Smith at Bowery Ballroom.
The Black Crowes show will include the North Mississippi All-Stars as an arguably much better warm-up act, and all these shows are likely to impress any date you might be taking.
But there are plenty of other things to do that you may put less of a dent in your wallet. And there are also other smaller, more select shows.
One point that can’t, of course, be made too often about New Year’s Eve is that you shouldn’t try to go to too many parties. It’s nice if you got lots of invites, but obviously you don’t want to spend the whole night in transit from one party to another. Savor the night.
Keep in mind, also, that much of the area around Times Square will be blocked off and hard to get around and remember that it may be faster to take the subways than a cab to get many places. And if you’re going out to dinner be prepared for the jacked-up prices.
Finally, don’t forget that the most important thing to making a great New Year’s Eve isn’t where you go, but with whom.
Anyway, here are a few shows we’d recommend:
CLUB SHOWS
Ambulance LTD
The popular UK band, who have been compared to the Kinks, are at the Mercury Lounge. And they’ll have a glass of (no doubt cheap) champagne for audience members when the ball drops. Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St. (betw. Ludlow & Essex Sts.), 212-260-4700; 8:30, $25.
Happy Ending
There’ll be a string of capable DJs turning the tables in what is one of Chinatown’s—and therefore the city’s—coolest little dives. Our suggestion is that you go to a good nearby Chinese place like Moon House or Great New York Noodle Town and then head on over. 302 Broome St. (betw. Forsythe and Eldridge Sts.), 212-334-9676; 9, $10.
John Cameron Mitchell & Stephen Merritt
This is an after-the-ball drops and after-Sandra Bernhard-has-performed show. If you’ve been lost in space for a few years, Mitchell is the writer-performer behind Hedwig And The Angry Inch and Merritt, frontman for The Magnetic Fields, may be the best living pop songwriter. It’ll be very gay—in both senses. Our recommendation is that if you want to go that you call for tickets pronto. Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (betw. Astor Pl. & E. 4th St.), 212-539-8770; 9:30, $35/25 adv.
Paul Oakenfold and Sandra Collins
Dance party with world famous DJs at the increasingly down-market former site of Limelight. Avalon advertises that the show will include an open bar from 9-11 p.m., a champagne toast at midnight and a continental breakfast if you stay until the party is supposed to end at 9 a.m. Our hunch is that this actually means you get a mediocre breakfast among a crowd of people coming down from the mule-high kick of a whole night of popping, drinking and snorting—and how easily you’ll get in and to the bar at this notoriously packed nightspot we wonder. Still, it’s a lot of partying for the $75 and up price-tag. Avalon, W. 20th St. (at 6th Ave.), 212-807-7780; 9-9 a.m., $75 and up, go to nyavalon for more information.
James Brown
Yes, the “hardest-working man in show business”. Also includes the seemingly obligatory (cheap) champagne toast. But be warned:
getting around in this nabe after the show won’t be easy. So, unless you won’t to join the out-of-towners in watching the ball drop, you may want to skip JB just now.
BB King’s House of Blues, 237 W. 42nd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-997-4144; 8 & 10, $85.
COMEDY
Sandra Bernhard
Our favorite “uncle” performs her always delovely comedy routines, and, we hope, not all that much music down on Lafayette. Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (betw. Astor Pl. & E. 4th St.), 212-539-8770; 7:30 & 10:30, $100, call for details.
MOVIES
Dr. Strangelove and Rock Around The Clock
The perfect New Year’s Eve double-feature: first, mankind blows the planet into the comets, and then we tear it up with Bill Haley and the Comets. Two Boots Pioneer Cinema, E. 3rd St. (betw. Aves. A & B), 212-591-0434; 7:30 & 9:30, $10-13 for both films, $6.50-$9 separately, call in advance.
Match Point
Woody Allen’s latest movie is being hailed as one of his best ever, though not by our Matt Zoller Seitz, whose review is to be found in this number of the Press. Beekman One & Two, 1271 2nd Ave. (betw. E. 67th & E. 68th Sts.), 212-249-4200; call 212-777-3456 for showtimes and tickets. n
