Toronto New Year's Eve Party Guide 2011

Toronto New Year's Eve parties are just about ready to ring in 2011, and there certainly isn't a shortage of options. Generally speaking New Year's venues can be broken into three groups: event spaces, bars and restaurants and, of course, clubs. In keeping with this, I've broken the list accordingly and highlighted a couple events in each category.

For additional Toronto New Year's Eve event ideas, head over to our events section, which has even more listings.

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: EVENT SPACES/ALTERNATIVE VENUES

New Year's at the Burroughs Penthouse (639 Queen St. W.) -- As is the case with their Halloween party, one can expect the 6000 foot loft space to be heavily attended and there's a whole whack of DJs, including: Marc Meny, Meech, and Meati, Grahmzilla, Barletta, Max Alexandre, The Sonixx, Paul David, and Russo. Doors at 9pm. Open runs until about 11:30 pm. $80, tickets available at Soundscapes.

Tranzac New Year's (292 Brunswick Ave.) -- It's been a tough year at the Tranzac, but things are looking up for 2011. And if you like Toronto indie music, this is a solid bet. The NYE lineup includes Hooded Fang, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Light Fires, Sandro Perri, Muskox , Dr. Ew, DJ Craig Dunsmuir and more. Doors at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance from the Tranzac, $17 at the door.

• Casa Loma New Year's 2011
• New Year's at the Liberty Grand (Exhibition Place)
• Amsterdam Brewery (21 Bathurst St.)
• The Imperial Ball (Palais Royal, 1601 Lake Shore Blvd. W.)
• New Year's Eve Cruise (boards at 539 Queens Quay West)
• The Windsor Ball (Windsor Arms Hotel, 18 St Thomas St.)
• Teenage Riot Records 2011 NYE Loft Party (Twist Gallery, 1100 Queen Street W.)
• New Year's Eve Celebration (Capitol Event Theatre, 2492 Yonge St.)
• The Good Times Gang presents NYE 2011 (Latvian House, 491 College St.)
• Citytv New Years at Nathan Phillips Square

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: BARS + RESTAURANTS

NYE at The Drake (1150 Queen St. W.) -- It's a 1920s themed night, complete with slick attire, live jazz and moonshine. Doors at 7pm. Ticket ranges: $35 general admission, $75 cabaret dinner and $75 special three-course dinner.

Chronologic New Year's at The Garrison (1197 Dundas St. W.) -- I like this idea: take the best dance tracks from 1890 to 2011 and play them in chronological order to welcome the New Year (hint: that means you'll probably miss the tracks from the early 20th century). Dave La Merde and special guests spinning in the front and non-stop party music in the back. Doors at 10 pm. Tickets $15 in advance from Rotate This and Soundscapes (or $20 at the venue).

• Raunch N' Roll New Year (The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W.)
• Shake A Tail New Year's Eve (Clinton's, 693 Bloor St. W.)
• New Year's Eve at Parts & Labour (1566 Queen St. W.)
• New Year's Eve 2011 at Wrongbar (1279 Queen St. W.)
• Lifetime: NYE 2011 (Revival, 783 College St.)
• Golden Cabaret 2011 at the Roosevelt Room (328 Adelaide St. W.)
• NYE 2011 at Velvet Underground (510 Queen St. W.)
• Some Old Bullshit New Year (61 Ossington Ave.)
• The Battle of Duttysburg: New Year's for free (Lot 16, 1136 Queen St. W.)
• NYE Bash at Blondie's (1378 Queen St. W)
• No Frills - NYE at Unit (1198 Queen St. W.)
• NYE at the Beaconsfield
• Dream Land 2011 (The Beaver, 1192 Queen Street W.)
• The "Bloodshot BBQ" New Year's Eve Rock&Roll Bash (Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave)
• Bovine New Year's Eve Party (542 Queen Street W.)
• The Midnight Premiere at Kultura

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES: CLUBS

Arrival 2011 (The Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St.) -- Featuring two rooms with six DJs and booze service until 3 a.m. DJs Evan G, Lady Bass, Rolls Royce, and Myki Von Ferro in the Rocket Lounge hosted by Matt Barker while DJs Patrick Guay and Mark Falco play the main room with host Walther Aguilar. Doors at 10 pm. Tickets $25 at Priape (501 Church St.), more at the door.

• The Mod Club's 8th Annual New Year's Party (722 College St.)
• Decadence 11 New Years Eve (Century Room, 580 King St. W.)
• New Year's Eve at Time Nightclub (81 Peter St.)
• New Year's Eve 2011 (C Lounge, 456 Wellington St. W)
• Bass Ball NYE (The Social, 1100 Queen St. W.)
• New Year's 2011 at Lot 332 (332 Richmond St.)
• NYE 11 | Danny Fernandes Live (Embassy Nightclub, 102 Peter St.)
• NYE 2011 at Footwork (425 Adelaide St. W.)
• Oldies 990 New Year's Party (Magpie, 831 Dundas St W.)
• MAGIC 2011 (The Guvernment, 132 Queens Quay E.)
• The Barn New Year's Eve ((418 Church St.)
• XLNYE11 (Andy Poolhall, 489 College St.)
• 99 Resolutions (99 Sudbury St.)

Photo by Carl W. Heindl in the blogTO Flickr pool.

Five New Year's Eve Party Ideas for Paris Hilton

Socialite Paris Hilton and her sister Nicky Hilton party hard at La Voile Rouge on Pampelonne beach in Saint Tropez, France. (Photo Agency)more pics »

Paris Hilton and Cy Waits (Photo Agency) With the family Hawaiian Christmas behind them (the Hiltons are said to do a big family gathering in the islands each year), Paris and her Vegas club tycoon beau are free to set upon the New Year's Eve festivities with a vengeance.

Here are 5 NYE ideas for the party power-couple:
1. Party with Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi in St. Barts. If you think for a second that this lesbian couple won't raise the roof right up to the ceiling, you are wrong.
2. Find the party that Kate Moss is attending and do likewise. She's been furious with her assistants for not finding the right party. But you gotta bet that when she does, that open bar doesn't stand a chance.
3. Find the party that Angelia Jolie is attending and do the opposite. This writer is on Team Handler. Angie seems like great big old bore, especially on NYE. Brad would be fun, for sure, but Jolie... pass.
4. Book the Rolling Stones at your in-house private club. Send dad the bill. How many people have a nightclub in their house? One person does: Paris. Booking the Stones seems like a no-brainer, really.
5. Bust The Lohan out of Betty Ford and go on a wild Vegas bender. Best story ever.

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Haven't Planned For New Year's? Check Out Some Fabulous Ideas

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New Year's Eve can still be a splashy affair. Credit Patch Design Team

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Maybe you really do want to just curl up in your flannel pajamas, grab some sushi and a small bottle of champagne and watch "When Harry Met Sally" for the 50th time this New Year's Eve.

Maybe you and your loved ones really do just want to camp out in the living room with some comfort food and enjoy the festivities from a distance.

Maybe.

Or maybe the holiday shuffle has gotten the better of you, and you just haven't had time to think about New Year's. Don't worry: We've done some thinking for you. And here's what we've come up with.

The Mansion at Natirar in Peapack: Splashy, fun and elegant

If you feel like treating yourself to a more lavish night out, the Mansion at Natirar is opening its doors for this special occasion. The party will take place in the ballroom of this spectacular mansion overlooking the rolling hills of Somerset County.

But this isn't your grandfather's ballroom. Having been recently transformed, this historic building offers a warm and inviting party atmosphere with couches and a live DJ playing dance tunes for all ages and tastes. Enjoy the countdown to the New Year with a live feed from Times Square.

The mansion is just steps away from Ninety Acres Restaurant and Culinary Center, which opened last year. Ninety Acres and the Mansion were once part of the original estate called Kate Macy Ladd, built in the early 1900s. The center was co-founded by Sir Richard Branson (the industrialist behind the Virgin Group of 400-plus companies) and Bob Wojtowicz of Warren, who also is developer of the property.

For a $150 admission fee, there will be an open bar featuring special drinks such as the Winter Break, a delicious combination of apple cider, spiced rum, maple spice and orange juice, and the Jersey Pine Barrens, with pine infusion, apple schnapps, fresh Granny Smith apple juice and cranberries.

The decadent dessert buffet will feature grape shooters with pomegranate gelee, yogurt panna cotta with mango and mint, milk chocolate mousse with pistachio brittle and an assortment of truffles, tartlets, cakes, cookies and petit fours.

The estate's beautifully renovated classic architecture serves as an idyllic venue and promises a rare treat for ringing in the New Year.

To book your New Year's Eve reservations for the party, call 908-901-9500. For more information about Natirar, visit Natirar.com.

Affordable hotel packages: A $99 New Year's deal

The Somerset Hills Hotel in Warren and Hotel Indigo in Basking Ridge are offering $99 packages that include an overnight stay for a single or couple at either hotel, plus admission to the party at the Tap Room at the Somerset Hills Hotel.

The party includes chef's choice passed hors d'oeuvres, party hats and favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Enjoy dancing to popular tunes with a live DJ.

For those who just want to join the party, admission fee is $40. The hotel is offering a coffee bar from 1 to 3 a.m. and free shuttle between hotels for guests. Both are pet-friendly hotels, so bring your four-legged family members.

The Somerset Hills Hotel is located at 200 Liberty Corner Road, and Hotel Indigo is less than a mile away at 80 Allen Road. For reservations, call: 908-647-6700 or TheSomersethillsHotel.com and NJBoutiqueHotel.com.

First Night Morris County: The biggest bang for your buck.

In its 19th year, First Night Morris County in Morristown promises to be a spectacular way to ride in 2011. As long as you're dressed in layers and wear comfortable shoes, this event offers the biggest bang for your buck, with an admission price of $20 per person, which gives you access to 21 venues within easy walking distance and access to 80 performances. It touts itself as the biggest NYE celebration in the state.

You'll enjoy a wide range of entertainment including jazz, world music, rock and choral music. There will also be poetry, storytelling, theatre, dance and comedy presentations. Shuttles will be available through Atlantic Health Systems for those who need a ride throughout town.

The town-wide celebration begins at 7 p.m. Two fireworks displays will be featured, at 9:15 p.m. and midnight. Tickets are $20 per person if purchased before Dec. 31, and are $70 for a four-pack. When purchased on New Year's Eve, tickets are $25 per person. For more information see our preview of First Night, and to purchase tickets go to FirstNightMorris.com.

Cornucopia Cruise Line: Dance on the Water

If you feel like trying something very different, head to Hoboken and a short cab ride to Pier 12 and Sinatra Drive (15 blocks by cab) and depart on the Cornucopia Majesty—a floating New Year's Eve party on the Hudson River featuring dinner and dancing. The ship boards at 9:30 p.m., sails at 10 p.m. and returns at 2 a.m. For $179, the package includes a premium open bar, champagne toast, buffet dinner and party favors. Enjoy the fireworks display over the Manhattan skyline from the Statue of Liberty area on the water.

For more information call 1-800-924-8477 or 732-697-9500 or visit Cornucopiacruise.com/holidays.asp.

Also worth checking out:

• At Shanghai Jazz, at 24 Main Street in Madison, you can enjoy the acclaimed Tony DeSare Trio and Asian cuisine with a choice of first and second seatings. There are five-course and seven-course tasting menus. First seating is $99 (until 8:30 p.m.); second seating is $159 (9 p.m. to 1 a.m.). Call 973-822-2899 to make reservations.
• The Sheraton Parsippany Hotel offers a relaxing stay in Parsippany for $189 per night, which includes a bottle of champagne in your room upon arrival, a champagne toast with party favors at midnight in the Tipperary Pub and breakfast for two on New Year's Day. The hotel is offering a special late check-out at 4 p.m., so you can sleep in and take your time waking up to the New Year. The hotel is located at 199 Smith Road and can be reached at 973-515-2000.
• The Stanhope House, which was build in 1794 and which bills itself as the last great American Roadhouse, is offering the opportunity to hear two bands for a a $15 or $20 cover charge (it's $15 if you purchase a ticket in advance). Music legends like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Paul Butterfield and Richie Havens have played the Stanhope House; on the bill for NYE are the Shadetree Mechanics and Too Stupid To Quit. The Stanhope House offers dinner and a pub menu. For more information, call 973-347-7777 or see StanhopeHouseNJ.com

New Year’s Eve Party Ideas: Finger Foods, Appetizers & Holiday Bites

In just four short days we’ll be ushering in 2011, and the holiday festivities will be over. Why not transition in style with some New Year’s Eve fun? We’ve got the New Year’s Eve ideas just for you!

Whether you’re hosting a party, joining someone else’s or having a quiet night at home with the family, these New Year’s Eve ideas for fun party food are a great way to celebrate.

With delicious, easy ideas like Sweet and Spicy Walnuts, Homemade Caramelized Onion Dip and Hazelnut-Crusted Fried Brie, how can you resist?

Get all of the recipes and inspirations for your New Year’s Celebration:

New Year’s Eve Party Recipes