As always, there are countless places to party like there’s no tomorrow this New Year’s Eve – clubs, parks, entertainment complexes and concert halls that will stay up long past their bedtimes. Most of them, especially the Miami hot spots, will charge an arm, a leg and your first-born to attend their festivities. We suggest avoiding the 305 if you want to keep your patience and sanity going into 2013.
Here’s our guide to the most-anticipated New Year’s Eve events in Palm Beach and Broward counties, with price ranges to fit any budget, arranged from north to south.
The Capitol Steps will once ring in the new year at Maltz Jupiter Theatre, this time with an all-new show. Be the first on your block to see it before the political comedy troupe brings its updated material to other venues across South Florida. 5 and 8 p.m.; $50-$85; 561/575-2223 or www.jupitertheatre.org
Funnyman Rob Schneider will be the guest of honor at the Palm Beach Improv. A couple of years ago, the former “SNL” cast member re-started his standup career for the first time in more than 20 years, and he hasn’t slowed down since. There will be special entrees and desserts for the occasion. 7 and 10 p.m.; $40-$68.87; 561/833-1812 or www.palmbeachimprov.com
Miami garage-rock sensations Jacuzzi Boys will headline the annual New Year’s Eve Block Party on Clematis Street. A ticketed event for the first time, the event will feature more than a dozen bands on five stages of music, including New Coke, The Resolvers and Parallels. The evening’s theme will be an Alien Invasion Zone, and will include an extraterrestrial fashion show, live art and “body-painted naked go-go dancing aliens,” with free Champagne at midnight. Begins at 6 p.m.; $10; 561/832-9999 orwww.facebook.com/pages/respectablestreet
The Cirque-a-Licious Big Top Dinner Show promises spectacular entertainment at Meyer Amphitheater, featuring dancers from Cirque du Soleil. Special effects and top-notch lighting and production design will abound, including a blizzard of real snow. A two-course meal with a double entrée, dessert, coffee, wine and Champagne will be served. 8 p.m.; $275-$550; 561/552-9952 or www.bigtopdinnershow.com
At New Year’s Eve Swing at Lake Worth Playhouse, the Glen Rovinelli Orchestra and singer Missy McArdle will perform swing music, and guests can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and Champagne, with a preshow reception catered by Callaro’s Steakhouse. 7:15 p.m.; $35; 561/586-6410 or www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
The Backyard Boynton Beach, one of the area’s most popular new hangouts, will celebrate the New Year with Rock the Countdown, an afternoon/evening of live local music beginning with the Blue Audio Band and headlined by Riverdown at 8 p.m. At midnight, there will be a complementary Champagne toast and a prize balloon drop. Begins at 3 p.m.; free; 561/740-0399 or www.thebackyardboyntonbeach.com
The craze for “The Great Gatsby” and all things 1920s has reached one of Delray Beach’s hottest Italian restaurants. In a program titled “Hysteria,” SoLitarecommends visitors arrive dressed in Jazz Age clothing – think fedoras, feathers, furs, flapper attire and presumably other items of clothing that do not begin with ‘f.’ There will be a three-course dinner at 7 p.m. and a four-course dinner at 9 p.m.; the more-expensive latter arrangement includes live entertainment, party favors and a midnight balloon drop. No cover for general admission, $68-$138 for dining; 561/899-0888 or www.solitaitalian.com
Thousands of attendees are expected to spend their New Year’s Eve at First Night 2013 in downtown Delray Beach, the area’s largest NYE celebration, sprawling across 21 indoor and outdoor venues. The festivities include a broad range of music, dance, theater, visual art and film, plus arts and crafts activities, obstacle courses, face painting, ice skating and improv comedy from Take Heed Theatre Company. Live performers include Amber Leigh and Son of Man. 4 p.m.; $10 advance or $15 on Dec. 31; 561/279-1379 ext. 17 orwww.visitdelraybeach.com
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is offering multiple entertainment options on New Year’s Eve. For $90 to $110, deep-pocketed music fans can take in Kool & the Gang, the legendary funk group that blended jazz and soul into its sonic stew, at 10:30 p.m. But I’m more partial to the Romantics (pictured), the great power-pop trio responsible for “What I Like About You” – they’ll play a free show at the casino’s Nectar Lounge at 11:30 p.m. 954/977-6700 orwww.seminolecasinococonutcreek.com
Blues legend B.B. King will swing by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, presumably with his guitar “Lucille” in tow. Ranked No. 6 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all-time, King has performed music for more than six decades, racking up some 15,000 performances. Considering that he’s 87 years old, there may not be too many tours left in him, so catch this special show while you still can. 9 p.m.; $59-$99, includes dinner package at Tarbon Bend between 5:30 and 7 p.m.; 954/462-0222 orwww.browardcenter.org
One of Florida’s largest New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Downtown Countdownin downtown Fort Lauderdale will be one of the most happening, family-friendly places to be when the illuminated ball drops at midnight. DJs and live cover bands will perform on two outdoor stages, children can enjoy their own early ball lighting at 7 p.m., and everyone can expect an extravagant fireworks display, with the fun continuing until 3 a.m. Begins at 4:30 p.m.; free; 954/828-5363 or www.fortlauderdale.gov
Finally, we would remiss if we didn’t mention Kid Rock, the genre-bending hitmaker who will bring his southern-fried goulash of country, rock and hip-hop to Hard Rock Live. I’m not a fan of this guy, but enough people are that his records continue to go platinum, with his 2008 single “All Summer Long” hitting No. 1 in eight countries. He’ll be touring in support of his new release “Rebel House.” Even with an outlandish ticket price, I would expect this one to sell out. 9:30 p.m.; $100 to $150; 954/797-5531 or www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com
