How will YOU decide where and how you’ll bring in the New Year? Do you choose by the entertainment, food, event creativity, sexiness, cost or proximity to your pad? ~ We’ve been diligently working to research what’s going during last night of 2011. If you’re in the mood to dress to impress (masked or not) or “come as you are,” we’ve got more than two dozen suggestions. If dancing is a MUST, there’ll be plenty of booty-shakin’ and revelry in the Bay Area (and out ON the Bay). Popular bands taking stage in Clear Lake include The Hunger, Madigan, Tommy Dardar, The Fuse, Kaos and Come See My Dead Person. There’s a record number of balloon drop throughout the area. Wow! ~ Most places have champagne toast, but one location is offering a midnight Tequila Toast – Olé! ~ Not your style? No worries! There are also quiet sit-down dinners perfect for a lovely conversation with a date or a gathering of friends. Eat early and move on to your next location, or dine into the new year. Intrigued yet? ~ Happy New Year, however you celebrate the last night of 2011. We'll see ya next year! ~ Betsey Ennis, Editor (click below to read listings & descriptions.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fox & the Hound: Bottle of champagne per couple, plus buffet all night and balloon drop at midnight for people who pay VIP door fee. DJ, dance floor and approximately $500 in cash and $500 in prizes (iPods, small flat screen, blu ray, etc.) will be dropped at midnight. Waive the cover fee and still get in on the party. (There will be a room available for people that do not want to pay cover.) Best-dressed contest. - - - - - - - - Union Tavern: No cover charge at this New Year’s Eve Party featuring live music by Come See My Dead Person. Balloon drop and free champagne toast at midnight. - - - - - - - - Scout Bar: Rock in the new year with live music all night featuring The Hunger with special guests Saturate, from Guts to Glory and Six Gun Sound. It’s an 18 and up show. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the first band on at 9 p.m. Age 21 and up get in free with an invitation; $20 without an invitation. Free champagne toast at midnight, plus balloon drop with cash and prizes in both rooms. - - - - - - - - Jackie’s Brickhouse: New Year’s Eve Party with Kaos. Make your VIP reservations today to secure a table. Reservations are limited, so call in advance to book you reserved seating. $40 per couple includes appetizers, party favors, a bottle of champagne and glasses for toasting. Reservations are preferred. Call 832-864-2459. - - - - - - - - Alvin Restaurant Group @ Barbed Rose, Il Manzo Rosso & Gordon Street Tavern: New Year’s Eve Block Party chose from two packages. (A) THE ITALIAN JOB: 5-course Italian Wine dinner starting at 6pm in the future Il Manzo Rosso Italian Restaurant – includes full access to three different bands (Junior Gordon, James Reese Band and a Jazz band TBA) magician, midnight buffet and champagne toast. $130 presale tickets. (B) New Year’s Eve Experience: Starting at 9 p.m. includes access to 3 bands, magician, midnight buffet and champagne toast. $50 presale tickets. - - - - - - - - Dempsey’s: Party into 2012 with live music of Five O, plus complimentary champagne toast and balloon drop with $500 in cash and prizes. $10 cover charge. RSVP is appreciated and preferred. - - - - - - - - Masa Sushi (both locations): Diners can participate in the hourly drawing. One winner takes home a $100 Gift Certificate at each location per hour. 5 to 11 p.m. only on New Year’s Eve. - - - - - - - - Bakkhus Taverna: 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash will include D.J and Dancing, Drink Promotions and other Freebies, plus champagne toast at midnight. Good Friends, Good Times, New Year! (No cover!) - - - - - - - - Katie’s: Tommy Dardar is playing for New Year's Eve. Tickets are $10 and include food, favors and champagne at midnight. Reservations required. Call or stop by to purchase your tickets. (281-559-3773) - - - - - - - - Zone 504: NYE Bash featuring live music by Flipside from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Champagne tast & balloon drop at midnight. No cover charge! - - - - - - - - Jackie B’s: A $15 cover includes live music by Southbound, plus a champagne toast at midnight and breakfast buffet. - - - - - - - - T-Bone Tom’s: Live music with Last House on the Left from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. - - - - - - - - Sherlock’s Baker St. Pub: Bring in the New Year with live music by Madigan on the main stage and DJ Bill on the patio. Pre-sale tickets are $5, or $7 cover at the door. Champagne toast at midnight and party favors included. - - - - - - - - Roger’s Bar & Grill: Bring in the New Year with a live DJ, balloon drop and free champagne toast at midnight. It's a Masquerade Lingerie Ball, so show up in costume for free cover. - - - - - - - - Pier 27 Tavern: 3rd Annual New Year’s Eve Bash goes New York, New York with a “Times Square at Pier 27” theme. Move to the live DJ beats and be privy to free New York-style food buffet, door prizes all night, the balloon drop and free champagne toast at midnight. Tickets go on sale December the 10. $40 reserves a table. $7 cover at the door. - - - - - - - - Opus: New Year's Menu includes choice of crab cake or asparagus parmesan; choice of house salad or Caesar salad. Entree selections are as follows: Filet au Poivre with twin lobster tails, Red Snapper with Shrimp, Crab and Lobster Tail or New York Strip with crab meat au gratin. Top off your meal with Chocolate Mousse served in a Chocolate Ring accompanied by a White Chocolate Dipped Strawberry. $75 per person. For reservations, call 281-334-5225. - - - - - - - - Cullen’s Upscale American Grille is offering two menus for the evening available during two seatings. Options and samplings from their menu are as follows: Early Seating (4 to 6 p.m.) is $45 per person, plus tax plus gratuity. You meal will start out with a choice of Spicy Arugula Salad or Chestnut Soup. The entrée choices include Pan Seared Gulf Fish or Dry Aged Certified Angus Beef New York Strip or Chicken Breast Roulade. Two amazing desserts are offered: Dark Chocolate Cremeaux or White Chocolate Strawberry Mousse. The Late Seating Menu is available from 6 to 10:30 p.m.; $69.00 per person. Start with your meal with choice of Spicy Arugula Salad, Chestnut Soup, Braised Pork Shank or House Cured Gravlax; The second course: Spiced Pear Granita; Entrée choices include: Pan Seared Gulf Fish, Dry Aged Certified Angus Beef New York Strip or Chicken Breast Roulade; Choose from three decadent desserts: Dark Chocolate Cremeaux (Caramel Cream, Mango Mousse, Hazelnut Feuilletine) or Dessert Trio (Pistachio, Lime & Strawberry Mousse, Chocolate Espresso Tart and Tangerine Marshmallow, Raspberry Macaroon and Orange Ganache) or White Chocolate Strawberry Mousse (Meyer Lemon, Candy Floss, Passion Fruit Sauce, White Chocolate Cup). For reservations, visit CullensHouston.com or call 281-991-2000. - - - - - - - - Cullen’s Live: Viva Las Vegas New Year’s Eve Party featuring live music with Graceland Ninjaz. $15 presale tickets through December 24; $25 the week of; $35 tickets the day of. For reservations, tickets and dinner packages, visit CullensHouston.com or call 281-991-2000. - - - - - - - - La Brisa (League City location): Toast in the new year with a complimentary Tequila toast at midnight. Preferred dress code: White and Black. The fun includes a balloon drop (over a $1000-worth of prizes), DJ, free appetizers, no cover, 21+. The party is from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. A table minimum required with reservations. To RSVP (or for more information), email [email protected]. - - - - - - - - Signature Bistro: “New Year’s Eve at the Bistro” kicks off with a five-course New Year’s dinner. Reservations required for dinner. $75 per person (tax and gratuity not included) with option of wine pairing per course. Seating available from 5 to 10 p.m. Appetizer: Cioppino. Salad: Deconstructed Classic Caesar Salad. Entree Choices: Grouper with Southwestern Black Eyed Pea Salsa served with spinach and risotto or Pear Cider Braised Ribs served with black-eyed peas and spinach. Aperitif of Apple Brandy with an assorted fruit plate. Dessert options: Bread Pudding or Chocolate Mousse. After dinner, reserve a VIP table around dance floor. No cover. $50 minimum per couple includes party favors and cocktail service plus dancing and live music by Crossroads ’til 2 a.m. Limited seating available. RSVP today: 281-474-4455. - - - - - - - - Cabo: New Year’s Eve Bash features live music by The Fuse. No cover. Party favors. Table reservations for $100 a piece. RSVP: 281-532-2691 or [email protected] Mainly Drinks: Dinner includes wine pairing, is by reservation only. Two seatings: 8 to 10 p.m. or 10 p.m. to midnight. Call for details on pricing: 281-867-1700. - - - - - - - - Fatty’s: Get in on the Facebook guest list for Fatty’s NYE Bash. Stop by Fatty's to purchase$15 advance tickets ($20 at the door). The festivities begin at 8 p.m. with hourly drink specials; Lyndrix starts at 9 p.m. Balloon drop and champagne at midnight. - - - - - - - - The Tree House: Let the Johnny Felder Band bring you into the New Year at The Tree House. Champagne toast at midnight and party favors. NO COVER! - - - - - - - - Cock-eyed Seagull: New Year’s Party start at 8 p.m. Celebrate with your favorite bartenders in all-white. Live music with Guacamole Gods and friends featuring Myrna Saunders. - - - - - - - - Allegria: Down-n-Dirty Martinis and More with Elle at the “Allegria Bourbon Street Lounge.” Open til 1 a.m. New Orleans Speakeasy costuming welcome. $20 per person at the door includes food and champagne toast. - - - - - - - - Big Ben: Bring in 2012 with live music, drink specials, door prizes and a champagne toast at midnight. The patio grill stays open ’til 2 a.m. - - - - - - - - Boardwalk FantaSea: New Year’s Eve Fireworks Dinner Cruise. All aboard for a night of fine dining, dancing and beautiful views of Galveston Bay and the Kemah Boardwalk. Fireworks show is at 10 p.m. Boarding begins at 7:30. Cruise from 8 to 11 p.m. Cash bar. Tickets are $79.99. For booking, go to BoardwalkFantaSea.com or call 281-538-9600. - - - - - - - - The Hop: New Year's Even Bash 2011 offers three price options. All options include party favors and champagne toast. OPTION A: $50 per person (must be paid in advance) includes reserved table and entry fee, 12-ounce Prime Rib dinner with baked potato and salad and two cocktails. OPTION B: $35-$55.00 (must be paid in advance) includes reserved table and entry fee (up to three people per table); OPTION C: $10 entry fee for 1 person. No guaranteed seating. (Prices do not include tax or gratuity.) For more information, call 281-338-4671 - - - - - - - - * Editor’s Note: This information is the most accurate we could provide as of press time (late November). This guide is a sampling of what is going on New Year’s Eve. Listings are subject to change per the discretion of each establishment. Availability is limited at most locations, so reserve early. And most importantly, tell them you saw them in The SCENE! ~ Cheers!