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ATHLETES UNITED FOR PEACE LAST RACE OF THE YEAR
Heartland Cafe | 7000 N. Glenwood | 773-465-8005 or www.heartlandcafe.com
All are welcome at this annual 5K walk and run, including Republicans. "We don't mind healthy discourse -- it's the best path to enlightenment," says an organizer. The route has yet to be determined, but the excursion will start at 8 PM and end at the left-leaning Heartland, where there'll be food and champagne, plus a set by Aswah Greggori and the Enforcers. The $25 ticket price ($30 day of, $20 ages 13 to 19, $10 for kids) includes a souvenir T-shirt and access to more food and music from the Saps and Roundeye at the adjacent Red Line Tap (7006 N. Glenwood) as well as at the No Exit Cafe (6970 N. Glenwood).
BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN FIREWORKS
Grant Park | Congress Pkwy. and Columbus Dr. | 312-744-3315
You can't beat the price for the city's annual fireworks extravaganza. Attendees are asked to assemble at about 11:40 PM in front of the fountain; the display over Monroe Harbor, set to a recorded sound track of rock, pop, and classical, is supposed to be coordinated with the fireworks a bit north at Navy Pier. 
CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA
Hotel Allegro | 171 W. Randolph | 847-344-0488 or www.ice9events.com
Promoters Another Level and Ice 9 present three rooms of house, trance, hip-hop, and "high energy" courtesy of DJs Dannyboy, Billy the Kid, Inphinity, Peter Haze, and others. The party runs from 9 PM to 2 AM; the $135 ticket price includes an open bar, appetizers, champagne, and favors. Rooms are available for $169 and up.
CHICAGO'S SINGLE GREATEST NEW YEAR'S EVE
Grand Central | 950 W. Wrightwood | 312-335-9596 or www.chicagosocial.com
There'll be rock and roll on the piano early and DJs late at this party, which is sponsored by the singles-oriented Chicago Sport and Social Club. The $115 admission includes an open bar, food, a champagne toast, and party favors. It runs from 8 PM to 1:30 AM.
DIAMOND LIFE NEW YEAR'S EVE
Chicago Hilton & Towers | 720 S. Michigan | 312-399-8124 or www.miracleentertainments.com
There'll be two parties running simultaneously at the Hilton & Towers. The $35 general admission tickets gets you access to one with a cash bar, complimentary appetizers, a champagne toast, dancing, and live performance by Signified Sound System. The $65 VIP package grants you entree to a penthouse party with a premium open bar, a buffet, and a killer view of the lakefront fireworks. "Creative after 5" attire is suggested for both. Rooms at the hotel are available starting at $109.
DESTINY 2005 NEW YEAR'S EVE GALA EVENT
Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier | 600 E. Grand | 847-975-1402 or www.chicagonye.com
DJ Aladdin spins house, hip-hop, hindi, and bhangra and there'll also be live dhol (a Punjabi percussion instrument) at this Indian-themed event. Admission of $100 gets you a four-hour premium open bar, food, a champagne toast, a midnight confetti drop, and a laser show. It runs from 9 PM to 2:30 AM. VIP tickets, which are $150, include a cocktail reception at 8 PM, and access to private food stations, bars, and a balcony from which to view the Navy Pier fireworks. Either ticket will get you a discounted rate of $109 for rooms at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. Guests must be 23 or over and formal attire is encouraged.
FIRST NIGHT EVANSTON
Downtown Evanston, various locations 847-475-6483 or www.firstnightevanston.org
Evanston holds its annual alcohol-free, family-friendly downtown arts festival, with 40 performances on 17 stages. On the schedule: Irish dancing, marionettes, magic, ice sculpture, skits, and lots of music. Desserts, coffee, hot chocolate, and popcorn will be available at some venues. It starts at 6 PM; at 11:30 the action will move to the lakefront for midnight fireworks. There'll be free parking at metered spots and city lots and garages, as well as free shuttle buses, and various hotels are offering special packages. Tickets are $12, $8 for kids 6 to 12, and free for those under 5.
FUTURE FORWARD.05
Marriott Hotel | 540 N. Michigan | 800-511-1552 or www.purefuture.com
This is the fifth year that UR Chicago and PURE have teamed up to present this huge DJ-heavy party. From 9 PM to 3 AM the Marriott's ballrooms will pulse with hip-hop, techno, and dance from DJs Jernell Geronimo, Andrew Vonn, Teri Bristol, John Curley, and Chris Tomasone, while Shaka 23, Jay Prasad, and Johnny Chaos go to work in the VIP room. Tickets are $95; $125 gets you VIP access plus food and an open bar. There's a special room rate of $139, with the option to book the night before or after for half price.
HARMONIOUS NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION
Holmes Place Health Club | 355 E. Grand | 312-467-1111 or www.iwomp.com
Some like to celebrate New Year's Eve with champagne and confetti; others like to indulge in some yoga and crystal healing workshops. This year 400 people are expected to attend this alcohol- and tobacco-free event, which is a fund-raiser for IWOMP, a wellness-information resource. Activities include tai chi, kirtan singing, a DJ spinning "livetronic" dance music, bodywork and healing workshops, and astrological readings. Partygoers can also relax in the pool, hot tub, and sauna. Hours are from 8 PM to 2 AM; tickets, which include a vegetarian dinner, are $65, $80 at the door.
HYATT REGENCY MCCORMICK PLACE NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place | 2233 S. Martin Luther King Dr. | 312-791-6190
As a boy in Indiana, Mike Epps spent four months in a juvenile detention center for supergluing a classmate's hands together. Since then he's stayed on the straight and narrow, but he hasn't given up on the comedy; his resume includes stints on the Def Comedy Jam tour and roles in Next Friday and Friday After Next. He'll perform at 8 PM at the Arie Crown Theater; afterward there'll be drinks and live music at the Hyatt. The ticket price of $279 includes hotel accommodations; tickets for the show only range from $37.50 to $62.50.
HOT STEEL NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
Hyatt Regency Chicago | 151 E. Wacker | 312-552-2000 or www.q101.com
Q101's annual end-of-the-year bash is hosted by on-air personality Sludge and features music from DJ Energy Brad and bands Libido Funk Circus, the Moods, and Bang. It runs from 9 PM to 2 AM; the $99 ticket includes an open bar, appetizers, party favors, and a discounted room rate of $79 at the hotel.
HYATT REGENCY O'HARE NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
9300 W. Bryn Mawr, Rosemont | 847-696-1234 or www.q101.com
Q101's semiformal suburban fete, hosted by Q101's Fook, costs $55 and features dance tunes from Video King Music DJ and "cutting edge light and video technology." The price includes an open bar and party favors. A $199 hotel package includes tickets to the party, a dinner buffet for two, and late checkout at 3 PM. The party runs from 8 PM to 2 AM.
IMPROVOLYMPIC
3541 N. Clark | 773-880-0199 or www.improvolympic.com
ImprovOlympic hosts an early New Year's Eve show at 8 PM and a late show that starts with dinner at 10 PM; the improv gets under way an hour later. Tickets are $50 and include a free glass of champagne, party favors, and an afterparty with a DJ.
IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
4626 N. Knox | 773-282-7035, ext. 10
David Dunne and Blackwater are slated to play Celtic pop at the center's annual event. Doors open at 7 PM; admission is $25 in advance, $30 after December 30, and includes hors d'oeuvres, party favors, and a champagne toast.
KISS THE SKY
W Hotel Lakeshore | 644 N. Lake Shore Dr. | 312-421-7672, ext. 47
Sponsored by All Terrain Productions, KISS FM, and Red Eye, this party offers a high-rise view of the Navy Pier fireworks from the two top-floor bars at the W (including one with a 360-degree view of the city). DJ Sheik spins from 9 PM to 2 AM, and there'll be a premium open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and other treats. Tickets are $150.
A MIDNIGHT KISS
W Hotel City Center | 172 W. Adams | 312-421-7672, ext. 46
Sponsored by All Terrain Productions, KISS FM, and Red Eye, this party features DJ Jesse de la Pena, plus an open bar, nibbles, and more. Tickets are limited and cost $125; it runs from 9 PM to 2 AM.
MIDNIGHT YOGA
Bikram Yoga Wicker Park and Bikram Yoga Lincoln Park | 1344 N. Milwaukee and 2736-A N. Clark | 773-395-9150
It will be a hot NYE indeed at these two studios, where yoga is practiced in 105-degree rooms (the heat is supposed to make the muscles more flexible). The sweaty downward dogs and sun salutations will run from 10:30 PM to midnight. The cost is $15 and preregistration is encouraged.
MINI COOPER COUNTDOWN NEW YEAR'S EVE 2005
Notebaert Nature Museum | 2430 N. Cannon Dr.| www.ticketweb.com
You might get more than a noisemaker and free champagne at this Lincoln Park Young Professionals NYE bash: after midnight the organizers will be raffling off a 2005 MINI Cooper convertible. Also included in the spread are an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, chocolate martinis, cakes and other treats, and music from DJ Rey, Two Strung Out, and In Line 6. Tickets are $75 and $125; cocktail attire recommended.
MYSTIC BLUE NEW YEAR'S EVE CRUISE
Navy Pier | 600 E. Grand | 877-299-7783 or www.mysticbluecruises.com
Mardi Gras is two months away, but that's no matter to the folks at the Mystic Blue, who have again chosen a Brazilian carnival theme for their annual NYE cruise. The $150 ticket includes hors d'oeuvres, food stations, a premium open bar, DJs, party favors, a champagne toast, and of course, a great view of the harbor fireworks. Boarding starts at 8:30 PM; the ship cruises at 9:30 and docks at 12:30 AM.
NAVY PIER NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS
600 E. Grand | 312-595-7437
You can shell out big bucks to watch this display at a private party, but there's always the option of standing outside to watch it for free. The lights on the Ferris wheel will count down to midnight, and the fireworks will be coordinated with those over Monroe Harbor to the south.
NEIGHBOR'S EVE 2005
Multiple locations | 773-268-1356
Entertainment, food, and soda are available at four locations at the ninth annual SAFE night ("safe, alcohol-free, family events") in the Hyde Park-Kenwood area. There'll be belly dancing, klezmer, and reggae at the First Unitarian Church (5650 S. Woodlawn) starting at 6:30 PM. The United Church of Hyde Park (1448 E. 53rd) features jazz; a family stage at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club (5480 S. Kenwood) offers clowns and face painting; and there's a blues stage at Saint James Church (4611 S. Ellis). A free trolley runs between sites. Admission is $5.
NEW YEAR'S EVE GALA
Drake Hotel | 140 E. Walton | 800-955-5566 or www.chicago-scene.com
Organizers Chicago-Scene.com and Scene magazine expect more than 2,000 people to attend this extravagant party at the venerable Mag Mile hotel. Entertainment includes a performance by cover band the Paramours plus house, hip-hop, classic rock, and retro spun by DJ Speed and others. The $155 ticket covers an open bar from 9 PM to 1 AM, a buffet, a champagne toast, a balloon drop, and dessert; VIP tickets ($215) include a three-course dinner (with seatings at 7:30 and 8 PM) and private bars, coat check, and restrooms. Black tie optional.
NEW YEAR'S AT THE GLOBE
The Globe Pub | 1934 W. Irving Park | 773-871-3757 or www.theglobepub.com
You can ring in 2005 twice at this Anglophiliac party: once at 6 PM, when the clock strikes 12 in London, and once again at midnight. Formerly the Lyon's Den, the bar recently reopened as the Brit-pub themed Globe. The $60 celebration starts at 8 PM and includes an open bar and buffet, party favors, a champagne toast, and a DJ. The 6 PM toast will only set you back the cost of a pint.
NEW YEAR'S EVE ROCK 'N' ROLL BALL
Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier | 600 E. Grand | 312-836-4299, 312-559-1212, or www.wxrt.com
Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, and Michael McDermott play WXRT's annual gala, which is also the site of Channel Seven's live broadcast. DJ Roland spins in the Tom Tom Lounge, and there'll be martini and specialty food stations. General admission ($67) includes ten food and drink tickets and party favors.
NYE 2005: NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION
Palmer House Hilton | 17 E. Monroe | 312-726-7500
Several local club promoters have banded together to put on this event, which features DJs Flipside, Fabian, Translucent, and Nathan Scott. The $145 tickets cover four hours of premium open bar, appetizers and a buffet, a champagne toast, a video countdown, a confetti drop, and party favors. The deluxe package ($399) includes two tickets and a hotel room. The party runs from 9 PM to 2 AM. Black tie optional.
ODYSSEY NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS CRUISE
Navy Pier | 600 E. Grand | 888-741-0281 or www.odysseycruises.com
The Odyssey's three-hour aquatic extravaganza costs $225 and includes hors d'oeuvres, a four-course dinner, premium open bar, live entertainment, party favors, a champagne toast, and, of course, an amazing view of the midnight fireworks. The boat boards at 8:30 PM, leaves an hour later, and docks at 12:30 AM.
QE2
Hotel Sofitel | 20 E. Chestnut | 312-421-7672, ext. 48
Masquerade is encouraged and "creative elegance" is de rigueur at this second annual ball for the LGBT crowd, for which the hotel will be decorated as the famous luxury liner. Fox News's Michelle Leigh and David Viggiano and American Idol runner-up Jim Verraros host the event, to which only 450 tickets will be sold. It runs from 9 PM to 2 AM; the entertainment includes music from DJs Chris Eterno and Matt Wells. The ticket price ($150, $175 after the first 100 are sold) includes dinner and unlimited cocktails, and a portion of the proceeds go to Chicago House, a nonprofit serving people with HIV and their families. The Sofitel is offering a special room rate of $210 for partygoers.
RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER
Loop Theater | 8 E. Randolph | 312-744-5667 or www.handbagproductions.org
Hell in a Handbag's campy takeoff on the TV holiday classic -- in which a confused Rudolph, Herbie the "not gay enough" elf, and butch Yukon Cornelia must face the Abdominable Drag Beast -- returns for its seventh season. Tickets for the New Year's Eve performance at 8 PM ($30) include a postshow party with a DJ, drinks, and food.
SCREW X-MAS
Cornservatory | 4210 N. Lincoln | 773-865-7731 or www.cicomedy.com
Chemically Imbalanced Comedy and Sweetback Productions join up for their second annual hodgepodge of skits, monologues, improv, and songs celebrating the darker side of the holidays and associated family gatherings. The special New Year's Eve performance starts at 8 PM and includes dinner, drinks, a champagne toast at midnight, and a dance party. Tickets are $25, $40 per couple.
SECOND CITY & SECOND CITY E.T.C.
1616 & 1608 N. Wells | 312-337-3992
Second City is offering two revues in two seatings, at 7 and 10 PM, but the $30 admission includes a copy of Sheldon Patinkin's Backstage at the Second City and a pass that's good for a show at the other venue. The main stage hosts Red Scare, directed by Mick Napier, while the E.T.C. presents the revue From Fear to Eternity, directed by Sue Gillan. There'll be complimentary champagne after the later shows.
SPIRIT OF CHICAGO NEW YEAR'S EVE CRUISE
Navy Pier | 600 E. Grand | 866-211-3804 or www.spiritcruises.com
The Spirit of Chicago cruise offers a traditional New Year's Eve gala, with appetizers, a dinner buffet, live cabaret entertainment, a DJ, a premium open bar, a balloon drop and a champagne toast at midnight, plus a view of the fireworks at Navy Pier for $149. You can also have your photo taken as you disembark. The ship boards at 7:30 PM; it'll cruise from 9 PM to 12:30 AM and remains at the dock until 1 AM.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Raven Theatre | 6157 N. Clark | 773-338-2177 or www.raventheatre.com
For those who can't get through the holidays without some drama, the Raven Theatre presents a special performance of Tennessee Williams's classic play. Curtain is at 7:30 PM; the $35 ticket price includes champagne and door prizes.
WINTER WONDERFEST
Navy Pier | 600 E. Grand | 312-595-5225 or www.winterwonderfest.com
The annual family-oriented festival includes indoor ice and inline skating, a model train display, crafts, cookie decorating, train rides, a carousel, a giant slide, and climbing walls, as well as music and puppet shows. It's open from 10 AM to 11:45 PM, at which point everyone will convene outside to watch the fireworks. Admission is free, but wristbands granting access to activities are $12. |
For those who want to welcome 2005 with a bang, the options are many, from luxury blowouts at downtown hotels to inexpensive neighborhood festivals where kids are welcome. The CTA has announced it will continue the tradition of offering penny fares for the night, the free trolley from the Grand Avenue Red Line stop to Navy Pier runs until 1 AM, and some Metra trains will run late (call 312-836-7000). Listings, compiled by Heather Kenny, are based on current available information.