Going Out






New Year's Eve Events Guide The annual alcohol-free celebration showcases art, film and live music.[/caption]

Austin’s New Year
The annual alcohol-free celebration showcases art, film and live music. Musical headliners include Grupo Fantasma, Golden Dawn Arkestra and Carolyn Wonderland with additional appearances by The Statesboro Revue, Big Cat, Vallejo, KP and the Boom Boom, Shawn Nelson and Kalu James. Food trucks are also on-site to serve patrons during the event. The fireworks finale is at 10 p.m. 4-10 p.m. Free. Auditorium Shores, South First Street and Riverside Drive. 512-974-7700. www.austintexas.gov/any


Omakase menus
Uchi and Uchiko offer special food lineups of chef-selected specialty dishes in addition to their full menus. Complimentary champagne is served at midnight. $150 (for two people). Uchi: 801 S. Lamar Blvd. Uchiko: 4200 N. Lamar Blvd. 512-916-4808. www.uchirestaurants.com


NYE at Restaurant Congress
Guests can pick between five-course and seven-course dinner options as part of a special New Year’s Eve celebration at Restaurant Congress. Reservations should be made in advance. Partner establishments Second Bar + Kitchen and Bar Congress also have celebratory specials in addition to normal menu offerings. Five-course dinner: 6-7 p.m., $125 (per person), $195 (includes beverage pairings); seven-course dinner: 8-9 p.m. $185 (per person), $265 (includes beverage pairings). Restaurant Congress, 200 Congress Ave. 512-827-2760. www.congressaustin.com


New Year’s Eve Ball
Guests can either bring children age 10 and younger to Pinballz Arcade’s Noon Year’s Eve party during the afternoon, or celebrate among adults in one of Austin’s arcades. 9 p.m. Free (no cover). Pinballz Arcade, 8940 Research Blvd., Ste. 100. 512-420-8458. www.pinballzarcade.com


Special pizza menu
Due Forni Pizza & Wine adds specialty items that can be ordered separately or as part of a set menu, which includes Tartare di Manzo, a steak tartare “pizza,” as well as seared sea scallops and panna cotta. $55 combined (per person). Due Forni Pizza & Wine, 106 E. Sixth St. 512-391-9300. www.dueforni.com


Four-category menu
Lenoir Restaurant’s holiday menu offers food from four categories: field, sea, land and dream. $75 (per person). Lenoir Restaurant, 1807 S. First St. 512-215-9778. www.lenoirrestaurant.com


Four-course prix-fixe
Searsucker Austin serves four New American classic dishes from chefs Brian Malarkey and Kenzie Allen. 5:30 p.m. $80 (per person). Searsucker Austin, 415 Colorado St. 512-394-8000. www.searsucker.com/austin


Four-course prix-fixe
Finn & Porter offers four special menu offerings complete with a midnight champagne toast. 5 p.m. $85 (per person). Finn & Porter, 500 E. Fourth St. 512-493-4900. www.finnandporteraustin.com


Three-course prix-fixe
Sala & Betty hosts a three-course meal to celebrate the new year. 5 p.m. $35 (per person). Sala & Betty, 5201 Airport Blvd. 512-645-0214. www.salaandbettyatx.com




New Year's Eve Events Guide Popular local musician Bob Schneider is joined by the Last Bandoleros to perform some of his favorite tracks as well as new music from his latest album, “King Kong Vol. 3.[/caption]

Bob Schneider’s New Year’s Eve Party
Popular local musician Bob Schneider is joined by the Last Bandoleros to perform some of his favorite tracks as well as new music from his latest album, “King Kong Vol. 3.” 8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show). $35-$105. The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. 512-472-5470. www.austintheatre.org



Going All Out






New Year's Eve Events Guide Free bus, rapid bus and rail rides are available through Capital Metro.[/caption]

Expanded New Year’s Eve transit service
Free bus, rapid bus and rail rides are available through Capital Metro. MetroRapid downtown departures along Guadalupe and Lavaca streets run until 2:30 a.m. Also, five Night Owl bus routes at Sixth Street and Congress Avenue run every 30 minutes until 3 a.m. MetroBus operates on a regular weekday schedule. 6 p.m.-3 a.m. Free. Locations vary. 512-474-1200. www.capmetro.org/newyearseve


No Cover New Year’s Eve
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden offers special service during New Year’s Eve by adding smoked prime rib ($33) and butter-poached lobster sausage ($10) to its menu. Them Duquaines and Teddy Long are also scheduled to perform on the outdoor stage, and complimentary beer toasts—pony bottles of Miller High Life—occur at midnight. 5 p.m-1 a.m. (dinner), 7 p.m., 10 p.m. (live music performances begin). Free (entry). Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden, 81 Rainey St. 512-386-1656. www.bangersaustin.com


Big Fancy Dance Party
Instead of traditional dinner service, the laV Restaurant & Wine Bar space is cleared for a dancing celebration complete with a live DJ, photo booth and sparklers. Admission includes hors d’oeuvres, such as oysters, cheese and charcuterie, and a midnight champagne toast. There is also a cash bar available for guests. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. $75 (per person). laV, 1501 E. Seventh St. 512-391-1888. www.lavaustin.com


Big Freedia’s NYE Party
New Orleans-based rapper Big Freedia, deemed “the queen of bounce music” for his vibrant twist on hip-hop, performs as part of an outdoor, all-ages celebration. Big Freedia may be best known nationally for his Fuse TV reality show. 6 p.m. $25. Mohawk, 912 Red River St. 512-666-0877. www.mohawkaustin.com


New Year’s Eve special party
Geraldine’s, the new restaurant on the main floor of Hotel Van Zandt in the Historic Rainey District, adds several luxury items to its regular menu, including caviar, foie gras and truffles. Additionally, Drew Davis and Ben Cina perform original songs and popular covers. 5 p.m. (dinner), 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m. (live music). $20 (after 10 p.m.). Geraldine’s, 605 Davis St. 512-476-4755. www.geraldinesaustin.com




New Year's Eve Events Guide TRACE hosts a pre-party four-course dinner that includes cotechino and escargot, Texas wagyu beef tartare, lobster spaghetti alla chittara and smoked Strube Ranch beef short rib as well as desserts.[/caption]

Studio 512 party
TRACE hosts a pre-party four-course dinner that includes cotechino and escargot, Texas wagyu beef tartare, lobster spaghetti alla chittara and smoked Strube Ranch beef short rib as well as desserts. After dinner, the restaurant converts into an all-night dance party featuring a VIP bar (four drinks per person), late-night bites and desserts while DJ Bird Peterson performs. Dinner: 5-11 p.m., $115 (per person); after-party: 11 p.m.-2 a.m., $200 (VIP per person), $1,650 (Deluxe VIP includes bottle service for six people), $4,500 (Ultimate VIP includes bottle service for 15 people); admission also enables access to Stop The Clock celebration. W Austin Hotel, 200 Lavaca St. 512-542-3600. www.whotelaustin.com/studio512


Stop The Clock
The Living Room Bar at the W Austin Hotel kicks off the night with a two-drink champagne celebration in The Secret Bar followed by live DJ set from GoGo Garcia in the Living Room Bar. 8-10 p.m. (champagne celebration), 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (NYE celebration). Free (hotel guests only), $50 (admission), $2,500 (WOW package, which includes complimentary personalized champagne bottles, bottle service, appetizers and an exclusive server for up to 20 people). W Austin Hotel, 200 Lavaca St. 512-542-3600. www.whotelaustin.com/stoptheclock


Annual rooftop New Year’s Eve party
Parkside hosts a rooftop dance party that features DJs, a photo booth, hors d’oeuvres, a full bar and a champagne toast at midnight. $100 (per person before Dec. 25), $125 (per person after Dec. 25). Parkside, 301 E. Sixth St. 512-474-9898. www.parkside-austin.com


Midnight absinthe toast
In addition to food specials, Péché substitutes a traditional champagne toast in favor of a complimentary vert absinthe midnight toast. Midnight. Péché, 208 W. Fourth St. 512-494-4011. www.pecherestaurant.com


This list is not comprehensive.