The Last Hurrah for 2013: Your New Year’s Eve Party Planner

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An eleven-piece swing band is one of the many draws at the glamourous Bootlegger's Ball, hosted by Gemini & Scorpio.

An eleven-piece swing band is one of the many draws at the glamourous Bootlegger’s Ball, hosted by Gemini & Scorpio. Photo by Linus Gelber.

As we count down the last days of 2013, the time to figure out your New Year’s Eve plan is fading. For some, fireworks in Prospect Park or clinking champagne with friends in a warm apartment is plenty celebratory for a year that brought us universal healthcare, the death of DOMA, and the election of a progressive mayor from Brooklyn. But if you need a bigger, more fabulous send-off, Brooklyn Spaces has rounded up a slew of stellar options, from high-class cabarets to foodie fêtes to down-and-dirty dance parties to ring in 2014 in style.

Gemini & Scorpio Bootleggers’ Ball
Irondale Center, 85 S. Oxford St.
Fort Greene
9pm, $50–$60

Underground party mavens Gemini & Scorpio are reprising one of their most popular themes this year and inviting guests to get dolled up in Depression-era glamour for a vintage costume ball, cabaret, and epic dance party in one. The 11-piece swing band, burlesque dancers, aerialists, sideshow stunts, a psychic, and absinthe cocktails will feel even more glamourous against the backdrop of the beautiful Irondale Center.

Tea Factory Sounds’ 3rd Annual Reggae Prom
175 Stockholm St #111
Bushwick
9pm; $5

For a very Bushwick New Year’s, head to the Tea Factory Lofts where a collective of reggae musicians present tunes from the Frightnrs, the Far East, Grace of Spades, and more. The “prom” theme means fancy dress is encouraged, and entrance is free before 10pm.

Shanghai Mermaid
Secret Brooklyn location
9pm, $75

Although the gorgeous Red Lotus Room is no more, monthly costume ball Shanghai Mermaid has a new home, and New Year’s eve will be the first soirée in the new space. The theme is “Old Hollywood,” so celebrate in glamorous speakeasy style dressed as your favorite silent film star. Expect musicians, circus acts, and performers to keep you reveling far past dawn.

Monster’s Ball
Brooklyn Brewery, 79 North 11th St.
Williamsburg
8pm, $100

Brooklyn Brewery presents a Brooklyn foodie extravaganza, with meats from Brooklyn Cured, cheese from Saxelby’s, pickles from McClure’s, and desserts from Momofuku Milk Bar. Plus, of course, beer—eight different kinds, including a vintage Black Chocolate Stout. If you’re not too stuffed to move, dance to ’80s pop, rock, and soul.

New Years 2: Galaxy Quest
Silent Barn, 603 Bushwick Ave.
Bushwick
9pm, $10

Celebrate New Year’s as well as the Silent Barn’s 1st anniversary in their new space! The entire building will be remade as a spaceship, and each hour you’ll travel to a different planet. Don’t worry—a ship captain will be on hand to “guide guests through the strange musical lifeforms,” including Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, Unstoppable Death Machines, and plenty of DJs.

Aerialists, two main stages, more than a dozen DJs and bands, illuminated art installations, Burning Man Art Cars, body painting, and hundreds of fellow revelers await you at BangOn!'s New Year's party.

Aerialists, two main stages, more than a dozen DJs and bands, illuminated art installations, Burning Man Art Cars, body painting, and hundreds of fellow revelers await you at BangOn!’s New Year’s party.

BangOn!NYC Time & Space
Secret Brooklyn location
9pm, $40–$140

The BangOn! parties seem to get larger and wilder each year. This one will take place in a block-long, 60,000-square-foot East Williamsburg warehouse, and will feature two main stages, more than a dozen DJs and bands, illuminated art installations, Burning Man Art Cars, body painting, aerialists, and much more.

Rubulad’s Cheap & Dirty NYE
893 Bergen St.
Crown Heights
9pm, $10–$20

New York’s longest-running underground art party moves to Crown Heights this year, with a cavalcade of performers in several rooms, including 40-woman AfroBrazilian drumming band Batala, ’60s French pop band Les Sans Culottes, accordionist Mary-Go-Round, DJ Shakey, a nonstop film fest, a light circus, and a “science music roadshow.”

Subway Soul Club NYE Special
Coco66, 66 Greenpoint Ave.
Greenpoint
8pm, $15–$20

If you want a party that’s all about dancing, head to the newly renovated Coco66 for the Subway Soul Club’s ’60s shindig. Whether you’re a mod or a hipster, dance the night away to soul, motown, and go-go grooves.

New Year’s Eve with Slavic Soul Party
Barbès, 376 9th St.
Park Slope
10pm, $20
For a more intimate, all-night dance party, head to Park Slope to hear nine-piece brass band Slavic Soul Party whip up the tiny Barbès into fiery, sweaty frenzy.

Dance & Drag Party
Secret Project Robot, 389 Melrose St.
Bushwick
9pm, $10

Macy Rodman brings her underground BATHSALTS drag party to DIY art collective Secret Project Robot. The evening will feature a half-dozen queens, go-go boys, plenty of DJs, and a flower drop at midnight.

The Rub NYE Party
Bell House, 149 7th St.
Gowanus
9pm, $45

For a classic sweaty dance party with a great vibe, you can’t beat the Rub. On NYE their standard mix of new and classic R&B, hip-hop, and pop will be brought to you by DJ Ayres and DJ Eleven, plus special guests Nick Catchdubs and Prince Klassen.

NYE Floating Kabarette
Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main St.
DUMBO
8pm, $125–$225

For the sixth year running, Galapagos presents a special edition of their flagship cabaret show to elegantly ring in the new year. Hosted by Bastard Keith and featuring acrobatic Jason Mejias, burlesque dancer Rosie 151, contortionist Miss Ekaterina, Jenny Rocha and her Painted Ladies, and more.

NYE New Orleans Spectacular
Radegast Hall Biergarten, 111 N 3rd St.
Williamsburg
10pm, “small cover”

This swinging soirée features Professor Cunningham and His Old School playing New Orleans jazz, as well as burlesque from Love Show dancers. Bonus: at 2am Radegast will serve their anti-hangover remedy—garlic soup.

NYE Indie Dance Party
Cameo Gallery, 93 N 6th St
Williamsburg
9pm, $60

Cameo is hosting an indie dance party free of pretension and cheese, with bubbly pop stars Avan Luna and DJs like Juan Maclean, JDH (from FIXED), and Mondo, hosts of a dance party we happen to love. First tier tickets are already sold out, so get on it.

Midnight in Marrakesh
Montauk Club, 25 Eighth Ave.
Park Slope
9pm, $100

This normally private social club only opens its doors on New Year’s Eve to members, but this year they’re inviting non-members to join them inside the landmarked clubhouse for an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and the creole jazz of the Red Hook Ramblers. Formal or cocktail attire required.

Check the Bk Spaces calendar for even more options, which will be added right up until the ball starts to drop.

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