The Great Big NYE Destination Party Guide

A most perfect eve for every Adam out there

By The Editors
December 18, 2015 9:00 am

Ball drops and champagne showers and waking up on the bathroom floor: these are the New Year’s Eves of our yesteryears.

That’s not to say we won’t be popping bubbly, making false promises and smooching a few strangers this December 31st — we’d just prefer to do it in polite company.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up seven North American celebrations for the discerning partygoer from fireworks on a British Columbian beach to a nine-course tasting menu to a private lawn party hosted by a N’Awlins jazz outfit that’s been active since the ‘60s.

Here’s to a healthy and handsome 2016, fellas.

 

The Folk-Rock Fiesta of the .01%

Where you’re going: San José del Cabo, Mexico

Where to stay: Mar Adentro Cabos. Modern. Secluded. Exquisite.

What’s happening: NYE with Lord Huron at Mar Adentro Hotel

LA-based indie rockers Lord Huron are going south of the border for a private one-night shindig set in the peerless lap of luxury that is Mar Adentro.

A Nine-Course Feast for People with 4-Wheel Drive

Where you’re going: Truckee, CA

Where to stay: Basecamp Hotel. Handsome Glamping.

What’s happening: Trokay Soiree

An elevated affair in both a literal and poetic sense: you’ll be dining at 6,200 feet in breathtaking Lake Tahoe, and the nine-course dinner includes such drool-inducing numbers as a Napoleon of Peekytoe Crab and Caviar, Sea Urchin Toast with Foie Gras, Tazmanian Ocean Trout with Black Truffle, and a Rack of Elk with Pommes Dauphine.

Fireworks on the Beach. For Lovers.

Where you’re going: Tofino, Vancouver Island, B.C.

Where to stay: If you’re not staying on-site at the Long Beach Lodge, you’re going to the rustic elegant Wickananinnish Inn. Say that five times fast.

What’s happening: The Long Beach Bash

A top-notch surf-and-turf dinner including selects like Dungeness Crab and Lamb Sirloin followed by a beachfront fireworks display. Thrillseekers can kickstart the new year with a nice little shock to the system: following brunch, there’s a Polar Bear Swim. Hot chocolate included.

A Masquerade Ball for High School Theater Alums

Where you’re going: New York, NY

Where to stay: W Times Square. Flashy. Cool. Electrified.

What’s happening: Winter Masquerade at The McKittrick

Trust us, these people know how to throw a party. You’ll begin with a Royal Feast and then be escorted as a special guest of Mr. Maximilian himself to the Observatory of Sleep No More (an audience-participation-heavy production of Macbeth) for what is certain to be a reality-shattering extravaganza.

A Jazz Jubilee for Prohibition Revivalists

Where you’re going: New Orleans, LA

Where to stay: Loft 523. A boutique hub for artists and rebels.  

What’s happening: Hall Land Syne at Preservation Hall

A night of dancing and debauchery in the heart of the French Quarter with the famous house brass band and jazz virtuoso Sam Powell, the King of Tremé, presiding.

A Dance Party for People Who Like Planetariums

Where you’re going: Chicago, IL

Where to stay: Chicago Athletic Association. A 125-year-old private club meticulously restored to its former glory.

What’s happening: Voyager 2016

An intergalactic, fantasy-filled saturnalia named for the twin space probes NASA launched in the late ‘70s. Bring your dancing shoes, people. You’ll journey through the cosmos with two music stages, interactive art displays and heaps of elite DJs from legendary event production powerhouse Canvas.

A Cabaret for High-Wire Habitués

Where you’re going: Los Angeles, CA

Where you’re staying: The Line. A vibrant but rustic clubhouse overlooking downtown LA.

What’s happening: Edison Downtown’s Ball

A fantastical, circus-inspired fête for big kids, with stilt walkers, aerialists, dancers and eccentriques galore set to music by Desi Valentine.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.