NYRemezcla New Year's Eve 2008 Guide

source: NYRemezcla

ALMA: NYE White Party
Sullivan Room 9pm-3am $20/$25
ALMA's party of the year, following the Brazilian tradition of wearing all white, and celebrating a lo brasileiro with plenty of samba, capoeira, live music, and more! ALMA residents DJ True and Miller Cruz will be on the decks, along with Jay Rodriquez on sax & flute, and Eliano Braz on violin. Come with white flowers and get in for $20. RSVP recommended.

The Melting Pot NYC
Nuyorican Poets Café 9pm $20/30
The folks from The Melting Pot NYC are taking over at the Nuyorican tonight, with an all-night party featuring live DJs (Kervyn Mark, Kamala, and Sal Leone) spinning global dance music, a live performance by San Juan Hill Band, a dance performance by House of Ninja, champagne toast at midnight, and much much more. Tickets cost $20 in advance, but $30 the night of.

Chicha Libre Barbes 9:30pm $10
Barbes regulars Chicha Libre help you celebrate the new year with their weekly party, playing one of our newest favorite music genres: chicha. Part surf music, part psychedelic cumbia, chicha is a Peruvian phenomenon that is still popular in the Andean country, but little known in these parts of the world. Why not start 2008 with something a little different?

Gogol Bordello Terminal 5 9pm (doors) $45/$55
Bring in the new year dancing and moshing to New York's own multi-kulti gypsy punk misfits Gogol Bordello, at new-in-2007 venue Terminal 5. These guys put on one of the best live shows ever (ever!), and really reached mainstream success in 2007 ...so buy tickets early ($45 in advance, $55 day of)--this one's likely to sell out! Either way, the fiesta follows at Mehanata (aka the Bulgarian Bar).

New Year's Eve Papatzul all night varies
It's one of the busiest nights of the year at our favorite Mexican spot.... and the Papatzul crew is more than ready for the challenge, with a night of quality food, drinks, and music that is guaranteed to last into the wee hours of the morning. Clandestino DJs m*sco and fLp will provide the tunes, and dancing is most welcome. Call ahead to reserve a table, or hang out by the bar ...or both.

New Year's Eve Extravaganza Bembe 7pm-6am $20
The folks at Bembe are going all night long with their 2008 New Year's Eve Extravaganza featuring DJs Adriano, Concerned, Duda Amorosino and Stefande Andemicael. Chauncey Yearwood and Pete Barr will be on percussion all night, and this party don't stop till 6 in the mornin'!!!

Colombian NYE D'Antigua 10pm-4am $15, $40
La Farra NY hosts a Colombian New Year's celebration in Jackson Heights, with Gregorio Uribe playing live vallenato, porro, cumbiamba and fandango. Go there for a full dinner and fiesta, or just make it for the party. Either way, go prepared to dance, and to go home exhausted.


New Year's Eve Celebration Rayuela 9:30pm-1:30am $105/$65
One of 2007's hottest Latin fusion restaurants (and one of the only few that does it right!) has a delectable feast prepared for the 31st. $105 gets your a four-course meal and all the sangria you could want, and it's $65 for hors d'oeuvres + sangria. At midnight, there will be a special cava toast, along with the traditional eating of 12 grapes. Make your reservations now!

A Taste of Latin Paradise SOB's 8pm-6am $30-150
SOB's is going all out for New Year's with three live groups (8 y Mas, Son Sublime and Matraca and the Batucada Beat Dancers), plus two DJs (La Makina + Mario Axé), which makes for plenty of salsa, samba, merengue, and virtually every other Latin rhythm out there for you to dance to. But that's not all... there will also be a prix fixe menu, SOB's famous mojitos, champagne and more! ...plus it runs till 6am!!!

Noche Flamenca feat. Soledad Bravo Joe's Pub 7:30, 10:30pm $100, 150
Tonight marks the last night of Noche Flamenca's run at Joe's Pub, featuring amazing dancer Soledad Bravo. Sure, tickets are steeper than earlier nights, but this time you can stick around for the Nellie McKay afterparty and keep things going all night long (hide out in the bathroom if they try to get you to leave post-flamenco... tip the bathroom attendant extra well!)

Turntables on the Hudson Brooklyn Lyceum 8pm-morning $20/30
It's Turntables on the Hudson's tenth new year's celebration, and though they've strayed a bit from the Hudson, lately, this one promises to be a good one. DJs Nickodemus, Mariano, Sabo and Tito Roc are on the decks, with Nappy G and Christian Rogers on percussion. And either as testament to their age, or to their Park Slope location, this is a kid-friendly party (kids segment starting at 8pm), with tickets for tots available at $10 a pop.

New Year's Eve Party Baraza 9pm-4am $5
It's always a party at East Village spot Baraza, and New Year's Eve is no exception. At just $5 to get in, there's nothing to feel guilty about as you dance the night away to Latin, funk, house, and Brazilian music courtesy of DJ Alchemy. We recommend getting there early, as it tends to fill up fast.

Gala Dinner Centrico all night varies
Celebrity chef--and resident Centrico chef--Aaron Sanchez has prepared two very special menus for the 31st at this spacious Tribeca Mexican restaurant. Eat a la carte before 9pm, or choose from the prix fixe options after 9... either way, we guarantee you will not leave disappointed! In fact, you probably won't leave at all, as the margaritas keep flowing all night, and the soundtrack is always superb.

9th Annual New Year's Bash La Kueva 2.0 8pm-4am $20
Ring in the new year with all your favorite rock en español and Latin pop favorites at La Kueva, with DJ Nova on the decks + buffet till midnight, champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and more, just for $20!!!

Chico O'Farrill Orchestra Birdland 8pm, 11pm $60-80
It's a night of traditional Afro-Cuban Jazz, with the Chico O'Farrill Orchestra, directed by Arturo O'Farrill, at the old school venue Birdland. There will be two performances: one at 8, and the other at 11, with several different pricing options, depending on whether you want food or just drinks. Vocalist Hilary Kole will be joining the group tonight.

Hassle-Free New Year's Lava Gina 9:30pm GRATIS!!!
It's all about having a good time at East Village world music bar Lava Gina. Forget expensive covers/open bars/package deals/etc., and hang out at this laid-back bar for FREE! They'll be showing the ball drop etc on TV, and there will be plenty of champagne available. Coordinate with your friends, and celebrate the new year hassle-free. (Reservations are recommended for parties of 20 or more).

Fiesta Grande Gonzalez y Gonzalez 9pm-4am $30-100
This popular cheesy Mexican spot is all about the salsa and partying on New Year's. There are two different price options for booze, plus a $30 prix fixe menu, as well as DJ Bravo spinning "hot latin music" and a live performance by Hector Ramos, "el galan de la salsa". Oh, and open bar is from 9pm-1am (!!!!).

NYE Dinner + Party Son Cubano 7, 9:30pm $50, $135
This Meatpacking District favorite is offering a special prix fixe meal for the night, with two seatings (at 7pm and then from 9:30-10:15pm). If you don't want to do the whole meal thang, just drink the night away for $50. Then be prepared to dance for the rest of the night to salsa, reggaeton, and pop favorites.

New Year's Eve Dinner Calle Ocho 7 onward varies
Nuevo Latino restaurant Calle Ocho has a variety of dining and partying offers for New Year's Eve, depending on what you feel like doing... with room for however many people you want to celebrate with.

New Year's Eve Dinner Esperanto all night dinner
Super cool East Village spot Esperanto isn't doing anything prix fixe or super fancy for the 31st, but it's always a fun place to hang out, and they'll have their usual delicious menu available, as well as a DJ spinning Latin, Brazilian and funk music all night long.

New Year's Eve Dinner Havana Central 5:30pm-4am varies
Both locations of this Cuban restaurant are offering special New Year's Eve menus, with several different seating options, replete with a 5-course Cuban meal (funny, we never had one of those when we were in Cuba!), unlimited mojitos, wine pairing, live music, champagne toast, party favors, and much much more. Make your reservations now!

New Year's Eve Dinner La Palapa 10pm varies
Both the East and West Village outposts of this Mexican restaurant will be offering prix fixe menus, followed by a champagne toast and the traditional eating of the grapes at midnight. Reservations are recommended.

New Year's Eve Dinner Maya 5pm $59-99
You want mariachis? Maya will have a mariachi quintet in full force from 9pm "through the new year" (!!). Plus a special four course meal courtesy of Chef Richard Sandoval. Sandoval's other restaurant, Pampano , has a similar plan for the night, at $110/person.

New Year's Eve Dinner Zona Rosa 5pm on $70
This midtown spot offers a three course menu, as well as a la carte options, plus mariachis from 9pm to 1am. Call for reservations.

New Year's Eve Party Luz 9pm-4am $70
This Fort Greene Nuevo Latino spot offers up hors d'oeuvres, a special menu, champagne toast at midnight, complimentary New Year's cocktail, live broadcast of the ball drop, and plenty of party assortments.

New Year's Eve Party Willie's Steak House all night no cover
This friendly Bronx Latin steakhouse and Latin jazz hub offers up a night of meat and music, with DJ Cisco on the ones and twos.