FOUR UNIQUE WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Unless a friend is throwing  a party, making New Year’s Eve plans tends to be a nightmare. What the hell are you going to do this year? You have no idea!

Here are four ideas that might spark your interest.

1. Peace Concert: The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is holding a Concert for Peace on New Year’s Eve starting at 7 p.m. The tickets are free (first-come first-serve); premium seats have already sold out. “Founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1984, the annual New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace is a signature Cathedral event, gathering old friends and new for over a quarter of a century. The music, the candles, and the spirit of peace send audiences out into the chill January night feeling connected, uplifted, and ready to communicate and uphold that spirit.” This year, the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra is playing, as well as Judy Collins. More here.

2. Emerald Nuts Run: Each New Year’s Eve at midnight, a bunch of nuts run around Central Park in a 4-mile race. But the fun starts even earlier, with a dance party and costume contest. There are also fireworks. “Kick off the New Year at the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run! Join the fun and celebrate with dancing (starting at 10:00 p.m.) and a costume parade and contest (starting at 11:00 p.m.) at the Central Park Bandshell, just south of the 72nd Street Transverse. The 4-mile unscored run will begin on the stroke of midnight, and will include a spectacular fireworks display to light up the night.” More here.

3. Comedy and Cabaret: The Underground Lounge on 107th Street is offering a New Year’s Eve open bar (“all call drinks from the back bar”) along with a comedy and cabaret show for $79. They also promise “kissing and carrying on.” Does that come with the deal? More here.

4. Swing Dancing: Jazz at Lincoln Center is starting a new tradition this year, but it will cost a pretty penny: $325 in fact. “As part of our 25th Anniversary Season, Jazz at Lincoln Center launches a new tradition, producing for the first time a swing dance concert in The Allen Room. Backdropped by the finest and most romantic view in New York City, hip revelers will launch into 2013 with help from The Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, whose stated mission over its two-decade run has been to “keep the spirit of big band swing music alive and thriving” by animating the classic big band charts of Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman…Includes two sets of live music, open bar, food, party favorites, champagne toast, and the best view in NYC.” More here.

We expect to have more local events listed by New Year’s Eve.

Photo by carolynhack via flickr.