I hear there’s some parties going on tonight

Reading Gawker’s list of the five types of New Year’s Eve parties, I realize I’m a stalwart member of group four: the people who go to bed at 11 p.m.

I’m not against celebrating New Year’s. I like the picking/drinking champagne aspect of it, I just don’t like dropping what seems to be a $100 minimum to go out. The other possibility — a house party with strangers — is just too depressing on New Year’s.

This year is different. This year, I rounded up a few places that don’t have covers. Granted, it’s not many, but if you give them your New Year’s business this year, other places will follow and we can put a stop to the “Well, a $75 cover is a lot but they do give me one free champagne toast” line of thinking.