All dressed up and nowhere to go on New Year's Eve? Consider any of the following options happening across the Valley on Wednesday, December 31, each of which will allow you to commemorate the final moments of 2014 in grand fashion. And there are plenty of events and affairs to choose from. If you're into the block party thing, there will be blockbuster bashes happening in both Tempe and Scottsdale. Want to pop some bottles in a posh setting? Many hotels will be holding swank soirees and galas while nightclubs everywhere will be throwing high-energy fiestas filled with drinking and dancing. If you'd like to have a rockin' New Year's Eve, however, local concert halls and venues are guaranteed will have all manner of live music. But no matter what route you take for your Auld Lang Syne adventures, make sure to get home safely. See y'all in 2015.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Circle K New Year's Eve Block Party
Downtown Tempe
It wouldn't be a New Year's Eve in the Valley without this spectacular staple, which will take place along Mill Avenue and feature a massive mix of live music and entertainment, food trucks, interactive activities and games, family fun zones, beer and champagne gardens, access to multiple bars and restaurants, the midnight countdown, and other distractions and festivities. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Online admission is $20.
The Clarendon Hotel
401 W. Clarendon Ave.
The Clarendon will most definitely be the bee's knees on New Year's Eve during A Modern Gatsby Gala, which will take the hotel and its patrons on a trip back in time to pre-Prohibition days for an evening of flappers, dandies, and revelry that's the cat's pajamas. The celebration will be held around the Oasis Pool and up on the Sky Deck and will include chef's select hors d'oeuvres, a midnight champagne toast, and live entertainment by Flamenco Por La Vida, CONDER/dance, SambAZ, DJ 7evel7, and The Pyromantics. 8 p.m. Advanced tickets are $50 online. Call 602-252-7363 or see www.eventbrite.com.
Marquee Theatre
730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe
The Valley's own Authority Zero will share their New Year's Eve with a few thousand of their fans and fellow locals Howard Til Midnight, The Venomous Pinks, For The Love, Neato, and My Life Sentence. The music starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $29. Call 480-829-0607.
Rawhide
5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler
The beats will be raining down like confetti inside Rawhide's Frontier Hall during the Decadence Arizona New Year's Eve 2014 party as EDM fans dance up a storm to a soundtrack laid down by such superstars as Kaskade, DVBBS, Fedde Le Grand, Flosstradamus, Seven Lions, and Savoy. Doors open at 6 p.m. General admission is $80, VIP access is $125. See www.relentlessbeats.com.
The Saguaro
4000 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale
Auld Lang Syne will be feted with an abundance of style and elegance during the NYE 2015: New Year's Eve Celebration at this Scottsdale boutique hotel. A three-hour premium reception will boast a chef's selection of hors d'oeuvres and buffet featuring selection made with gourmet and locally sourced ingredients. It's followed by a video countdown, confetti explosion, midnight champagne toast that will bring 2014 to a close in spectacular fashion. The trio of DJ Decipha, DJ Slippe, and Ken Mooso will provide the sounds all evening. 9 p.m. Tickets are $125 and VIP admission (which includes access to an exclusive and private lounge, an ultra-premium reception, and other perks) is $165. Accommodations packages are also available. Call 480-308-1100 or visit www.newyearsevearizona.com.
Scottsdale Comedy Spot
7117 E. 3rd Ave., Scottsdale
Comedian The Greg Willson will present a pair of New Year's Eve gigs at the club. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20. Call 480-945-4422.
Scottsdale Ultimate New Year's Eve Party
Craftsman Court, Scottsdale
www.scottsdalesultimateblockparty.com
Country superstar Frankie Ballard will headline this Scottsdale New Year's Eve tradition, which will also feature live music from Tommy Ash, Chad Freeman and Redline, and Laura Walsh. The street party itself will include access to Dos Gringos and Rockbar Inc., various DJs, a midnight fireworks show, and more. Gates open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22.50.
Talking Stick Resort
9800 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale
Welcome in 2015 in the company of R&B/soul legend Sam Moore during the resort's Fire and Ice Party. Las Vegas tribute act Boogie Knight will open the evening at 8 p.m. An all-you-can eat buffet will be offered beforehand at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the party are $99 for the show only, $125 with dinner included. Call 480-850-7734 or visit www.dannyzeliskopresents.com.
W Scottsdale
7277 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale
The posh Scottsdale hotel will host a luxurious Chateau de Versailles New Year's Eve affair with spirits, dancing, and plenty of upscale revelry. 8 p.m.; $75 for ladies, $100 for men. Room packages for two are $479 and include tickets to the party, amenities and gifts, two complimentary cocktails, and more. Various high-end packages will be offered for those wishing to celebrate in style and range in price from $1,500 to $5,000. Call 877-782-0104 or see www.wscottsdalehotel.com/newyears.
BARS & CLUBS:
Baja Joe's
1927 N. Gilbert Rd., Mesa
New Years party with drink specials, dancing, and DJ Chop and DJ DBX working the mixers. 9 p.m. Call 480-655-1828.
Boondocks Patio & Grill
4341 N. 75th St., Scottsdale
Celtic rockers The Young Dubliners are scheduled to perform during Boondocks' NYE extravaganza. VIP options include the a three-hour exclusive reception for $100 per person, a $500 table service deal with two premium bottles for a party of six, and a primo $1,000 table service package featuring four bottles and admission for 12 people. 8 p.m., $20 general admission. Call 480-949-8454 or see www.eventbrite.com.
BLUR Nightclub
7419 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale
If you're still awake well after everyone else has gone home, the party will be going until the wee hours and beyond over inside BLUR at the annual Afterglow affair. A lineup of DJs that include Turner and Heit, Juheun, Michelle Sparks, Dan Lunsford, Kuntrol, and Jon Amaral will keep things lively as the sun rises. Doors open at 3 a.m. Admission is $20. Call 480-662-5959 or visit www.relentlessbeats.com.
Cactus Jack's
4747 E. Elliot Rd.
New Year's Eve Bash with performances by Spafford and special guests The Higgs. 7 p.m.; $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Call 480-753-4733.
Copper Blues
50 W. Jefferson St.
930 E. University Dr., Tempe
Both Valley locations of this rock pub and kitchen will be sending 2014 out in style with an evening of live music, lagers, and libations. Local singer/songwriter Ryan Simms will serenade the patrons at Copper Blues in Tempe while high-energy band The Instant Classics will be rocking the downtown Phoenix location. The parties start at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 8:30 p.m. Call 480-719-5005 or 480-376-1243.
Crescent Ballroom
308 N. 2nd Ave.
Sean Watson's annual New Year's Eve affair at the Crescent is arguably one of the biggest parties on Auld Lang Syne in downtown Phoenix — and this year its getting even bigger. An enormous tent will be set up on the street in front of the venue and will host DJ Roya and DJ Funkfinger from Tongue Tied spinning retro and indie dance favorites. Meanwhile, Watson and The Blunt Club's Pickster One will be in the main room dropping high-energy mixes of electro-pop and dance music, Dumperfoo will be doing live painting, and artist Matt Castleberry will serve up visual feasts and video projections. 8 p.m., $5. Call 602-716-2222.
El Dorado Bar
8708 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale
Live music from Front Page will start at 8:30 p.m. while food and drink specials will be offered all day. 10:30 a.m. Call 480-276-6074.
El Hefe
4425 N. Saddlebag Trail, Scottsdale
This Scottsdale party spot will be throwing a major celebration with DJs, drinks, dancing, in honor of both New Year's Eve and its grand reopening after a major remodel. 8 p.m. Call 480-945-6200.
Fat Tuesday
680 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
Pop some bottles and go HAM at New Years Eve Champagne Ball Block Party, which will encompass three Mill Avenue spots (Fat Tuesday, The Handlebar, and El Hefe) and include five different bars and a slew of DJs performing on four different stages. A variety of VIP packages can be purchased, ranging from the "Bubbles and Beads" option (featuring a reserved table for two and a bottle of both XXIV Karat grand cuvee and XXIV Karat rose) for $200 to the pimp "King Rex" experience (with express entry, premium seating, two appetizer platters, three bottles of top-shelf spirits, Monster energy mixers, and three bottles of Veuve Clicquot yellow label champagne) for $1,000. General admission is $30 in advance, $40 at the door. Call 504-571-9640 to RSVP or visit fattuesday.ticketleap.com/nye.
Gypsy Bar
50 W. Jefferson St.
Celebrate the New Year with DJs, dancing, a complimentary champagne toast, party favors, a midnight ball drop, and more. A hosted bar and buffet will be available for $20 each. 8 p.m. Call 602-732-5490.
Last Exit Live
717 S. Central Ave.
Few people will be standing still inside Last Exit when the members of Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra are filling the place with their dance inducing sounds during a special New Year's Eve performance. 8 p.m., $10. Call 602-271-7000.
The Lost Leaf
914 N. 5th St.
The funk-meisters of Dr. Delicious will perform. 9 p.m. Call 602-258-0014.
Marc's Sports Grill & Nightlife
4494 W. Peoria Ave, Glendale
www.marcssportsgrillandnightlife.com
New Year's Eve Bash with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, party favors, noisemakers, balloon drops, karaoke in the lounge, dancing in the main bar with DJ Spanky, and more. 7 p.m.; free before 9 p.m., $5 afterwards. Call 623-842-1053.
Maya Day & Nightclub
7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale
Go on an exotic excursion on New Year's Eve without ever leaving Scottsdale via Maya's Escape to the Orient soiree, which will star house music superstar Adrian Lux. 9 p.m.; $15 for ladies, $20 for men. A $45 VIP ticket also gets you into a special pre-party starting at 7 p.m with a one-cent hosted bar and passed hors d'oeuvres. Call 480-625-0528 or visit www.sletickets.com.
RA Sushi Bar
Five Valley locations
Every RA in Metro Phoenix will offer happy hour prices on more than 25 different appetizer and sushi selections ranging from $3.49 to $8.99, as well as a wide variety of libations and adult beverages ranging from $3.75 to $8 each, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. until midnight. Call 480-303-9800.
The Reef
393 W. Warner Rd., Chandler
New Years Bash with free hats, horns, and champagne at midnight, as well as $5 drink specials until 11 p.m. and DJ Signal in the mix all night. 7 p.m., $10. Call 480-963-5520.
Rhythm Room
1019 E. Indian School Rd.
Ring in the New Year with the rootsy blues of The 44s all evening long. 8 p.m., $30. Call 602-265-4842.
The Rogue Bar
423 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale
The DJs of CUPCAKE! will mix fetish fun with glitz and glamour during their Hollywood Legends dance party, which will feature burlesque, a lip-synch contest, a photo booth, games of spin the bottle and a kiss off at midnight, a chance to share your "New Year's revolutions" to help change the world in 2015, and more. Those who come as their favorite Hollywood saints can win cash prizes in a "best dressed" contest and Self.Destrukt and Defense Mekanizm will spin electro, industrial, and '80s music. 9 p.m., $6. Call 480-947-3580.
The Shout! House
6770 N. Sunrise Blvd., Glendale
Wrapped in Gold Party with live entertainment from the dueling pianos starting at 7:30 p.m., party favors, a prime rib dinner buffet, guaranteed seating, and more. Gold dress is encouraged. 6:30 p.m., $45-$75 per person. Call 623-772-1500.
Skeptical Chymist
15689 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale
New Year's Eve party with live music from the Aussie Jim Band, party favors, and more. 8 p.m. A special New Year's Eve gourmet dinner and drinks package is also available for $80. Call 480-609-8677.
Time Out Lounge
3129 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
www.facebook.com/timeoutlounge
New Year's Eve blowout with music from The Industry, Rotten Youth, Nobody Special, We Might Be Wasted, Buried in Red, Unstable Youth, No Paradigm, The Atomic Zombies, and DJ Mama Melody. The first 30 patrons will receive free tickets to a prize raffle. 8 p.m. Call 480-968-6491.
Yucca Tap Room
29 W. Southern Ave., Tempe
The Love Me Nots will present their annual New Year's Eve show at the Yucca with support from Fairy Bones, The Dead Eyes of London, and Le Zets. 9 p.m. Call 480-967-4777.
