The Ultimate Guide to New Year’s Parties in Bushwick and Beyond

NEW YEARS EVE! NEW YEARS EVE! I’d chant it from the Empire State Building if only they wouldn’t handcuff me and take me somewhere not as bright and sparkly. New Year’s Eve in NYC can be awesome, but you need to know where the party is at in order to have a minimal stress and maximum fun experience. Don’t sweat- we’ve gathered the 25+ of the BEST New Years Parties we’ve heard about around Bushwick, Brooklyn, and even a few in the city in a handy, catagorized list for you to peruse. So if you want to rage, or go out to eat, or go see a concert, we’ve got some options, or if you’re broke, or want to stay in Bushwick we’ve also got some parties for you…let’s make this the best NEW YEARS EVE ever! Shall we?

What to do if you wanna RAGE:

#5 Bushwig NYC’s Drag Party @ Secret Project Robot ($10)

This will be a party that will leave you smeared in glitter and dancing among drag queens and party goers of all persuasions. The night will include ive performances, djs, and some serious constumes.With time going from “9:30-forever” it’s safe to say this party will be raging.

#4 The Rub @ The Bell House ($40)

The Bell House is always a great destination to find yourself on important holidays, with a blend of fun and friendly (read: not sketchy) people who just want to dance. This year features DJ Eleven , DJ Ayres, DJ Wonder and a free champagne toast!

#3 Rubulad’s Party Go Round @ Multiple Bushwick Locations ($20)

20 bucks will get you a triple dose of fun in Bushwick with Rubulad- and that means a really awesome, notoriously out there evening. Three secret locations are game this NYE. Visit Palace of Light for some live music; Cabaret of Curiosties for magic, puppets, and aerial amazements; and Interstellar Observatory to dance the night away with DJs!

#2 Unicorn Meat’s The Wander @ North 5th Warehouse ($80)

Naturally, the Brooklyn production group Unicorn Meat had to come up with something special for NYE. Not only they are bringing a fusion of magical light installations, electronic music and a big warehouse party experience, they are also bringing Moby who will DJ just for you! The Wander is promised to be a cosmopolitan experience, and the art installation will take you to Tokyo, Berlin, Costa Rica, and many more!

#1 Reunite Bang!On Warehouse Party @ Secret Location ($50)

We already recommended this as the go-to party of the New Years Eve- need more convincing? An amusement park ride, midnight carnival performance, live performances, Felix Cartal & Yeasayer DJ sets… all in a brand new warehouse in E Williamsburg…we’ll see you there.

What to do if you wanna SEE A CONCERT:

#5 Onra, Nick Catchdubs, Samo Sound Boy @ Villain ($55-100)

Our staff photographer Kaitlin, who doubles as an insane party animal, said this is the place to be on NYE. Onra is a french hip-hop producer that chops up the music of the 70s and 80s, then layers sampled raps and beat.

#4 Pretty Lights @ Roseland Ballroom ($75)

Pretty lights make pretty trippy music to explore your soul while grooving to. Expect a fantastic light show and a truly awesome musical act.

#3 Holy Ghost!, Midnight Magic @ Brooklyn Bowl ($45)

Brooklyn Bowl is always a riot, and with DFA sweatharts Holy Ghost! among other surprise guests, this will be a music/food/drink/bowling bash not to be forgotten.

#2 Disco Biscuits @ Madison Square Garden ($69)

Ok, everyone knows the Disco Biscuits as America’s top psychadelic-rock jam band. Many also know them as the best music to “party” to, if you know what I mean. No doubt this concert will be insanity at Madison Square Gardens. I’m talking hundreds or thousands of glowsticks, people.

#1 RJD2, Com Truise, Chrome Sparks @ Gramercy Theater ($35)

This is NYE’s biggest performance-based dance party waiting to happen. Headliner and Mashup/Dub artist RJD2 will have you begging for more, while Com Truise and Chrome Sparks will warm you up in an energetic, tweaky electronic way.

What to do if you wanna EAT WELL:

#5 New Year’s Eve @ Dear Bushwick (Free after 11, Dinner $60- at 7, 9 pm- Reservations required)

They’ll be offering an excellent pri-fixe dinner featuring Fried Sweetbreads with bacon fat chips and Beef Short Ribs with parsnips and aged cheese gratin crouton. Email [email protected] for reservations. After 11 pm the bar will be all the rage, offering drinks in the garden.

#4 New Years Pre-Fixe @ Cafe Ghia ($50- Reservations Required)

One of our fave restaurants featuring a pre-fixe of a number of food options (from Cod to Rissotto), and the price includes a drink! They have many seatings from early evening on. Reserve your spot by dropping by.

#3 Pre-Fixe (and Golden Hindu Dancers!) Dinner/Celebration @ The Spice Market ($125, 7 pm on, 403 w 13th st)

This celebration is going to be fantastic- a menu featuring lobster rolls and coconut shrimp, an all-star DJ, and Golden Hindu Deity Dancers. Call 212.675.2322 for reservations.

#2 Indulgent 4-course meal @ St. Austere ($45-90, 7pm on, 613 Grand St)

The Williamsburg restaurant offers a gluttonous menu with champagne toast or open bar option. Click for more info.

#1 SmokeHouse Eve @ Brooklyn Brewery ($100, SOLD OUT)

Looks like Brooklyn Brewery will be liberally serving beer and food all night which the dj plays- they’ll have Saxelby cheese, McClure’s pickles, deserts from Milk Bar and wine from BOE. Wow!

What to do if you ARE BROKE:

#5 New York Night Train Annual Dusk Til Dawn Party @ Home Sweet Home ($10)

New York Night Train will be spending their NYE at Home Sweet Home at the Lower East Side. $10 cover will get you champagne, live music, lotsa dancing, champagne, hanging out, and “general good times with good people ’til the sun comes up.” We’re in!

#4 Salome presents Psychic Dance Party at The End of the World @ House of Screwball (8-10PM – No cover; 10PM-12AM: $7)

Salome, a party collective believes that after December 21, 2012 passed through the light and transcended into the next plane of existence. We are all psychic and don’t need language to communicate. Actually, dancing is now the main form of communication. To prove this, they are inviting everybody to 142 Stockholm Street for a crazy dance party. We are very delighted about the fact that this psychic dance experience is very affordable. Oh, did we mention $2 drink specials?

#3 Union Hall Karaoke Spectacular @ Union Hall ($5)

$5 entry, champagne drink special and most importantly KARAOKE at Union Hall sounds like a win win to us. …Because NYE is the perfect occasion to sing the night away and mutual embarrassment with your friends is a strong bonding experience like no other!

#2 2013 In Your Face @ Tandem with In the Pocket and Ridgewood Soul-cial (free)

You don’t need to come up with anything new and awesome for NYE provided that you’ve been doing awesome stuff and going to Tandam all 2012! Besides sensual cocktails mixed by Terry and Jacob, look forward to traditional Tandem fog, lasers, bubble dinosaurs and sexy visuals in addition. Tandem will have DJs in both rooms: The front room will belong to the Ridgewood Soul-cial Club and classic soul and funk goodies. In the back room, the In The Pocket Crew will be spinning disco, house, new wave and 80s funk.

#1 Proper Bushwick House Party

A proper Bushwick house party is likely taking place in your living room and/or in the living room of your neighbors. Are you tired of NYE spent wandering the streets of NYC? Invite your friends and their friends over; be your own DJ and get your own six-pack. Fun guaranteed!

What to do if you wanna STAY IN BUSHWICK:

#5 New Year’s Eve at Dear Bushwick- (Free after 11, Dinner $60- at 7, 9 pm- Reservations required)

They’ll be offering an excellent pri-fixe dinner featuring Fried Sweetbreads with bacon fat chips and Beef Short Ribs with parsnips and aged cheese gratin crouton. Email [email protected] for reservations. After 11 pm the bar will be all the rage, offering drinks in the garden.

#4 Mister Saturday Night at House of Yes ($35)

Feautring Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin, this “intimate” NYE party is now sold out! Dammit!

#3 New Years Pre-Fixe @ Cafe Ghia ($50- Reservations Required)

One of our fave restaurants featuring a pre-fixe of a number of food options (from Cod to Rissotto), and the price includes a drink! They have many seatings from early evening on. Reserve your spot by dropping by.

#2 Bushwig NYC’s Drag Party @ Secret Project Robot