10 New Year’s Ideas You’re Not Sick Of Already
December 26, 2014
1. POLAR BEAR PLUNGE, NEW YORK CITY: Start your year off with a baptism by ice, courtesy of Coney Island's infamous Polar Bear Plunge. Down at the bottom of Brooklyn, crowds of daredevils run at a full pelt into the frozen waters, with only bikinis and silly hats separating them from the chill. Screw diets: You'll have more than earned a cup of cocoa afterwards.
Photo courtesy of joenolanphotos/Flickr.
Photo courtesy of joenolanphotos/Flickr.
2. FIRST NIGHT BOSTON: In Boston, New Year's Eve isn't just the time for debauchery – it's also the time to take in a horde of arts events at the annual First Night Boston. Yeah, there are the expected fireworks and processions, but skip those to catch indie legends Yo La Tengo at the Hynes Convention Center Ballroom and guitar wizard Patty Larkin up at Berklee.
3. RAW VEGAN NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION, LANSDALE: It’s an hour out of Philly, but this healthy hoopla may just add years to your life. Shankara Vegan Restaurant’s New Year's yoga/meditation/sound therapy program kicks off at 5:30, and then the real celebration — replete with a kombucha mocktail hour, a buffet dinner, DJ Shamrock, and a sparkling cider toast — lasts from 7:30 till 1 AM. We’ll let you count this restorative recreation towards your 2014 and 2015 resolutions.
Photo courtesy of Alex Erde.
Photo courtesy of Alex Erde.
4. THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE CO, CHICAGO: What says "rockin' New Year's" more than Shakespeare-themed improv...right? Luckily, Chicago's Improvised Shakespeare Co. are there to mash up their Cordelias with their Desdemonas. After the Bard-themed misadventures, there's dancing and late-night tacos. What more could a person want?
Photo courtesy of The Improvised Shakespeare Company.
Photo courtesy of The Improvised Shakespeare Company.
5. SPACELAND AND MOON BLOCK PARTY PRESENT: NEW YEAR'S EVE: 2015, PALMS SPRINGS, CA: File under "worth heading out of town for." This New Year's, the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs will play host to three too-cool-for-school West Coast acts: LA rockers Deap Vally, Seattle indie kids Crystal Skulls, and local collective Fool's Gold. Once the guitars are stowed, DJs take over – but don't expect an interruption of the chill vibes.
Photo courtesy of Iggy Gonzalez.
Photo courtesy of Iggy Gonzalez.
6. ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW AT THE CLAY THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO: Talk about alternative New Year's. It's only fitting that one of San Francisco's classic movie theatres is playing host to that most beloved of cult film events: Rocky Horror (alongside the accompanying talents of live troupe The Bawdy Caste). The Time Warp may not actually bring 2015 any faster, but when you're belting out the lyrics in your glittering finest, who's to know?
Photo courtesy of Movie Store Collection Ltd.
Photo courtesy of Movie Store Collection Ltd.
7. CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS PARTY, SEATTLE: Glass artist Dale Chihuly is known for his large-scale, serpentine sculptures. If you're a creative type – and have a bit of cash to burn – the Chihuly Garden and Glass pARTy (get it?) lets you wander amidst the works, hors d'oeuvres in hand, against the backdrop of the city's fireworks display. Not too shabby.
Photo courtesy of Letao Tao Photography 2013.
Photo courtesy of Letao Tao Photography 2013.
8. TORONTO MIDNITE NEW YEAR'S EVE RUN: Looking to get a head start on your New Year's fitness regimen? Kick off your year with Toronto's Midnite New Year's Eve Run, a celebratory 5K that winds its way through the city. Of course, the run is followed up by a party and a swag bag with all kinds of delicious treats, but hey – there's also a voucher for a fitness class tucked in there.
Photo courtesy of My Next Race.
Photo courtesy of My Next Race.
9. JAI HO! BOLLYWOOD NEW YEAR'S EVE PORTLAND: Make like Sha Rukh Khan and take your moves to the floor at Jai Ho!, Portland's preeminent Bollywood New Year's party. Accompanying the Bollywood soundtrack will be a free henna booth, Jai Ho! Dance Troupe performance, and a light show. Is this Portland or Mumbai?
Photo courtesy of Wassiliy/iStock/Thinkstock.
Photo courtesy of Wassiliy/iStock/Thinkstock.
10. WILLIE NELSON AT AUSTIN CITY LIMITS LIVE: You know you're celebrating New Year's in Texas when Willie Nelson shows up to the party. Or, in this case, is the party. On New Year's Eve, he'll be headlining Austin City Limits Live, with guest appearances from Father Time Texas and Baby New Year (no, really).
Photo courtesy of Scott Newton.
Photo courtesy of Scott Newton.
1. POLAR BEAR PLUNGE, NEW YORK CITY: Start your year off with a baptism by ice, courtesy of Coney Island's infamous Polar Bear Plunge. Down at the bottom of Brooklyn, crowds of daredevils run at a full pelt into the frozen waters, with only bikinis and silly hats separating them from the chill. Screw diets: You'll have more than earned a cup of cocoa afterwards.
Photo courtesy of joenolanphotos/Flickr.
Photo courtesy of joenolanphotos/Flickr.
2. FIRST NIGHT BOSTON: In Boston, New Year's Eve isn't just the time for debauchery – it's also the time to take in a horde of arts events at the annual First Night Boston. Yeah, there are the expected fireworks and processions, but skip those to catch indie legends Yo La Tengo at the Hynes Convention Center Ballroom and guitar wizard Patty Larkin up at Berklee.
3. RAW VEGAN NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION, LANSDALE: It’s an hour out of Philly, but this healthy hoopla may just add years to your life. Shankara Vegan Restaurant’s New Year's yoga/meditation/sound therapy program kicks off at 5:30, and then the real celebration — replete with a kombucha mocktail hour, a buffet dinner, DJ Shamrock, and a sparkling cider toast — lasts from 7:30 till 1 AM. We’ll let you count this restorative recreation towards your 2014 and 2015 resolutions.
Photo courtesy of Alex Erde.
Photo courtesy of Alex Erde.
4. THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE CO, CHICAGO: What says "rockin' New Year's" more than Shakespeare-themed improv...right? Luckily, Chicago's Improvised Shakespeare Co. are there to mash up their Cordelias with their Desdemonas. After the Bard-themed misadventures, there's dancing and late-night tacos. What more could a person want?
Photo courtesy of The Improvised Shakespeare Company.
Photo courtesy of The Improvised Shakespeare Company.
5. SPACELAND AND MOON BLOCK PARTY PRESENT: NEW YEAR'S EVE: 2015, PALMS SPRINGS, CA: File under "worth heading out of town for." This New Year's, the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs will play host to three too-cool-for-school West Coast acts: LA rockers Deap Vally, Seattle indie kids Crystal Skulls, and local collective Fool's Gold. Once the guitars are stowed, DJs take over – but don't expect an interruption of the chill vibes.
Photo courtesy of Iggy Gonzalez.
Photo courtesy of Iggy Gonzalez.
6. ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW AT THE CLAY THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO: Talk about alternative New Year's. It's only fitting that one of San Francisco's classic movie theatres is playing host to that most beloved of cult film events: Rocky Horror (alongside the accompanying talents of live troupe The Bawdy Caste). The Time Warp may not actually bring 2015 any faster, but when you're belting out the lyrics in your glittering finest, who's to know?
Photo courtesy of Movie Store Collection Ltd.
Photo courtesy of Movie Store Collection Ltd.
7. CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS PARTY, SEATTLE: Glass artist Dale Chihuly is known for his large-scale, serpentine sculptures. If you're a creative type – and have a bit of cash to burn – the Chihuly Garden and Glass pARTy (get it?) lets you wander amidst the works, hors d'oeuvres in hand, against the backdrop of the city's fireworks display. Not too shabby.
Photo courtesy of Letao Tao Photography 2013.
Photo courtesy of Letao Tao Photography 2013.
8. TORONTO MIDNITE NEW YEAR'S EVE RUN: Looking to get a head start on your New Year's fitness regimen? Kick off your year with Toronto's Midnite New Year's Eve Run, a celebratory 5K that winds its way through the city. Of course, the run is followed up by a party and a swag bag with all kinds of delicious treats, but hey – there's also a voucher for a fitness class tucked in there.
Photo courtesy of My Next Race.
Photo courtesy of My Next Race.
9. JAI HO! BOLLYWOOD NEW YEAR'S EVE PORTLAND: Make like Sha Rukh Khan and take your moves to the floor at Jai Ho!, Portland's preeminent Bollywood New Year's party. Accompanying the Bollywood soundtrack will be a free henna booth, Jai Ho! Dance Troupe performance, and a light show. Is this Portland or Mumbai?
Photo courtesy of Wassiliy/iStock/Thinkstock.
Photo courtesy of Wassiliy/iStock/Thinkstock.
10. WILLIE NELSON AT AUSTIN CITY LIMITS LIVE: You know you're celebrating New Year's in Texas when Willie Nelson shows up to the party. Or, in this case, is the party. On New Year's Eve, he'll be headlining Austin City Limits Live, with guest appearances from Father Time Texas and Baby New Year (no, really).
Photo courtesy of Scott Newton.
Photo courtesy of Scott Newton.
