Alternatives to the same-old New Year's Eve activities
The green knight is especially powerful and festive on the dawn of a new year.
Are your New Year's Eve options dwindling? You're not aware of any wild house parties, tickets to The Black Keys and Girl Talk are sold out, and you're unwilling to shell out $150 for a fancy party at a hotel or nightclub just to be surrounded by fake smoke, confetti, and women whose attire ignores that it's 12 degrees outside. So you don't have to stay at home, sharing a bottle of sparkly with your cat and hypnotically staring at Ryan Seacrest's glimmering teeth, The A.V. Club searched out some alternatives to cheesy, overpriced club parties, sold-out shows, and all of the other standard New Year's Eve shenanigans.
Stuff everyone else does: Hip, super-packed shows. In addition to the aforementioned Girl Talk and Black Keys shows, there are also Crystal Castles, Umphrey's McGee, The Fiery Furnaces, and Jens Lekman.
What you could do instead: Thursday is karaoke night at Carol's Pub (4659 N. Clark St., 773-334-2402) and they don't make any exceptions for holidays (thanks for letting New Year's Eve fall on Thursday, Santa!). Why pay lots of money to watch someone else sing when you and your friends can make your own music, and for no cover? Arrive early enough to snag a table and catch performances from the motley crew of Carol's regulars before sloppy drunks stumble in after their shows let out.
Stuff everyone else does: Fireworks downtown, preceded by overpriced dinners with dainty portions.
What you could do instead: If fireworks and food are needed to make your Dec. 31 memorable, head to Medieval Times (2001 Roselle Rd., Schaumburg, 1-888-WE-JOUST), where both happen in one convenient location. The show's New Year's Eve celebration includes a four-course meal for $70, a reasonable price when you factor in the live tournament, party favors, a champagne toast, and "medieval style fireworks." (Also, it's a perfect post-Christmas gift for anyone that asked for a chainmail glove.) While the faire countrymen at Medieval Times don't describe precisely what "medieval style" fireworks entail, they do promise a midnight balloon drop, so it'll be like you're in Times Square, celebrating New Year's Eve 1210.
Stuff everyone else does: Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy (the full schedule is already posted). Okay, so maybe not everyone does this, but if you're a television-loving nerd, you've likely caught a portion of the marathon on one New Year's Eve or another.
What you could do instead: C'mon nerds, at least leave the house on New Year's. Let Rod Serling narrate tales of the strange to someone else this year and join the living at the Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave., 773-871-6604) for an interactive showing of The Poseidon Adventure. The disaster movie classic, set on a cruise ship on New Year's Eve and starring the relatively fresh-faced Gene Hackman, will be synced so that midnight in the film and midnight in real life will occur at the same time. Spooky.
Stuff everyone else does: Diversey River Bowl (2211 W. Diversey, 773-227-5800) New Year's Bash—spend the night with pizza, lights, and the city's Big Lebowski dweebs for $100.
What you could do instead: Try Lincoln Square Lanes (4874 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-561-8191) instead. If you're going to bowl on New Year's Eve, you're probably looking for low-key, casual fun, nothing fancy or pretentious—so why spend $100? With the jukebox playing plenty of Springsteen and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lincoln Square Lanes is exactly the type of sleazy alley you'd want to be bowling in at the end of the decade. The Lodge hosts a bowling and comedy "spectacular" on the 31st, but it's still only $25, including pizza, live comedy, and a DJ, as well as a midnight toast, not of champagne, but Miller High Life—"the champagne of beers."
Stuff everyone else does: If you're the quiet, teetotaler type, you might be inclined to stick close to home, open a bottle of sparkling cider and go to bed the instant the clock strikes midnight.
What you could do instead: Yogic New Year's Eve at Kundalini Yoga (410 S. Michigan Ave., 312-922-4699). The $85 price may seem a bit steep for deep stretching and a little chanting, but think of all the spiritual health you'll gain. Start on all of those resolutions for a healthier mind and body right from the stroke of midnight. This event includes yoga, meditation and vegetarian fare "served in an alcohol/tobacco free environment." Because you don't need alcohol to have fun, right? Let's hope so.
