If you’re like me, you wait until the last minute to make New Year’s Eve plans. But not this year! 2012 is going to be THE year, and although almost every venue in DC will have a NYE party, I have several ideas for your NYE party fun!

Ring in the New Year while dancing the night away at one of DC’s nightclubs or party venues.

Glow/Fur – featuring the Grammy-Nominated Morgan Page, this $40 NYE party includes 7 Bars, 3 rooms, 3 DJs, 2 VIP Mezzanines and an outdoor patio.

Josephine – party includes plenty of champagne and music by N’dy. For tables or tickets, call 202-556-3972.

Shadow Room – for $75/$100, ladies/gents can party all night with an open bar and DJ Vicious on decks. Call 202.887.1200 or visit the venue’s website for ticket details.

Ultrabar – $40 general admission ticket grants you access to this multi-level club. Visit the venue’s website for further details on table and champagne pricing.

Lima – details TBD but given its consistency in the party/DJ scene, this venue will be a do-not-miss.

18th Street Lounge – doors open at 9pm for DJ sets by All Good Funk Alliance and Thomas Blondet. Love this spot.

Midtown – $20 gets you open bar from 8-10pm. Party continues til 3am.

The Hamilton – the newest DC restaurant/music venue plays host to The Music Maker Blues Revue to ring in the new year! $100 ticket gets you an assortment of heavy hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight from 9pm-1am. A cash bar will be available, as will entrees from The Hamilton’s new menu for purchase.

9:30 Club – head to this super-awesome music venue to see Drive-By Truckers w/ Alabama Shakes (Paste Magazine’s Best New Band 2011) and enjoy a champagne toast and  drawing for winner of the Holiday Raffle.

Policy – head to this little gem for their $45 NYE party that includes 3 premium bar drinks, champagne toast at midnight and party favors. Arrive early for yummy nibbles.

More ideas via the WaPo’s Going Out Gurus here.

Party the night away at one of DC’s hotel galas. These are some the region’s liveliest parties, many with open bar and a wide variety of music and entertainment.

Downtown Countdown DC – this New Year’s Eve Gala at the Washington Hilton features a 5-hour premium open bar, hors d’oeuvres, multiple rooms of entertainment including 3 bands, 4 DJs, comedians, karaoke, and DC’s largest midnight balloon drop. This year will feature live performances by Third Eye Blind and the Dirty Heads.

W Hotel – offering a variety of ways to celebrate NYE, head to this hotel for dinner at J&G Steakhouse followed by a night of dancing at the P.O.V rooftop with amazing views of the nation’s capital. Stay overnight in the hotel if you want the full VIP experience.

NYE James Bond 007 Thunderball Gala – Euronet International sponsors this extravaganza at the Washington Plaza Hotel. Dress in your best Bond attire and enjoy an open bar, international buffets, dessert stations and mock casino gambling with 007 prizes.

Park Hyatt – this gorgeous hotel features a NYE party with open bar, live music by the Ira and Nicki Gonzales Trio, buffet-style tapas and desserts, and a champagne toast.

Are you more interested in an artistic/historic evening?

A Jazz New Year’s – attend this performance at the Kennedy Center which features superstar entertainer Patti Austin and a six-piece band playing the works of Duke Ellington. NYE festivities continue into the evening with dancing and a countdown to 2012 in the Grand Foyer. There is also a NYE celebration in the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall that features a classical concert by guest conductor Murry Sidlin and members of the National Symphony Orchestra.

Headliner’s Ball – this NYE party at the Newseum includes entertainment from Round Midnight, DJ Scientific Beats, access to the museum’s exhibits, and a midnight countdown on the 40-foot by 22-foot high-definition screen.

New Year’s Annapolis or Alexandria – enjoy a family oriented, low-key New Year’s celebration on the City Dock and along Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland, or downtown Alexandria, Virginia. There are plenty of restaurants to choose between and gorgeous cobblestone and brick roads to walk along.

Is comedy your thing?

Improv Comedy Club – ring in the New Year with Comedian Ralph Harris from “Last Comic Standing”, Comedy Central, HBO and the film “Dreamgirls.”

Looking for a quiet, romantic New Year’s Eve?

Enjoy a nice meal at one of the Washington, DC area’s top restaurants. Notables include:

Sonoma – will be  hosting a $95 Roaring 20’s-themed NYE party featuring a prohibition-era cocktail hour, casino tables and 4-course dinner.

2941 Restaurant – ring in the New Year with a three-course prix-fixe menu priced at $95 per person. The fine dining Falls Church restaurant will be accepting
reservations from 4-10pm on NYE.

Bourbon Steak – if you’re looking for an opulent dinner, head to this Georgetown gem for a tasting menu that includes luxe dishes like Osetra caviar sandwich with toasted blini and fried quail egg, Chinese roast squab with foie gras steamed bun and plum sauce and Grilled bison tenderloin with black truffle gnocchi and toasted hazelnut. The restaurant will offer two seatings for NYE – a three-course menu for $90 from 5:30-6:30pm and a six-course tasting menu for $175 from 8:30-10:30pm. A wine pairing option for is available for $95.

Fiola – this modern Italian trattoria, which has hosted celebs like Jennifer Aniston and her beau, Justin Theroux, will be offering a five-course tasting menu priced at $125 per person and $200 per person including wine pairings. There will be two seatings at 5pm and 9pm, respectively.

The Source by Wolfgang Puck – raise a glass to the New Year during the offered five- or seven-course tasting menu. The five-course menu is priced at $125 per person without wine pairings or $190 per person including pairings. The seven-course menu is priced at $150 per person without pairings or $225 including wine pairings.

Proof – offering a four-course tasting menu priced at $95 per person, the tasting menu will feature caviar and lobster, and all NYE diners will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne with an ultra premium Champagne for guests who opt for the tasting menu.

Estadio – for the first time ever, this restaurant will take reservations for dinner throughout the evening. In addition to the regular a la carte menu, the popular contemporary Spanish restaurant will offer a special four-course tasting menu priced at $75 per person.

Co Co Sala – $125 will get you a 6-course dinner, champagne, party favors and other surprises.

Do you prefer an evening on the water?

Take a cruise along the Potomac River and enjoy an unforgettable NYE with an evening of dining, dancing and skyline views of the nation’s capitol on the Odyssey or the Spirit of Washington.

Don’t miss your chance to score discounted tickets now as many venues will increase the attendance price as the date draws near. And, as always, shoot me your invites, suggestions and ideas to [email protected] if I missed anything! HAPPY NEW YEAR!