As the surprisingly mild days of December wind down, it is becoming apparent that the end of the year is upon us. Detroit will soon find itself perfectly wedged between the past and the future as a rare night will be afforded to reflect upon 2015, to set a vision for 2016 and most importantly… TO PARTY! Crafting the ultimate New Year’s Eve event schedule counts as an important resolution, right?  Check out our top party picks for to bring in the New Year across the city. We’ve got your back- with a range of prices for all the big (and little) spenders, here is some of New Year’s Eve’s hottest events in the D.

Flint Eastwood X Haute to Death

Address: Elizabeth Theater at the Park Bar, 2040 Park Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48226

Buy Tickets  / Facebook Event

9p-2a

Price: Medium ($17.00 advance / $20.00 at the door- while tickets last. Ticket includes Complimentary coat check, photo booth, and hors d’oeuvres)

You may have survived 2015, but The Elizabeth Theater at The Park Bar will be presenting a New Year’s Eve event that is TO DIE FOR. That’s right, dynamic duo Ash Nowak and Jon Dones of Detroit’s “most stylish and hedonistic dance party” have partnered with special guest Flint Eastwood for a NYE dance extravaganza.  Gaining momentum from both their recent “Small Victories” EP and sold out album release party, special guest Flint Eastwood is sure to rise to the occasion and take H2D to the next level.

Fiery Flint Eastwood frontwoman Jax Anderson promised us,

“Haute to Death NYE will be a culmination of every wildly exciting thing to happen in 2015. It’s one last explosion of greatness to end one year and start another.”

Prolific party-throwers Nowak and Dones have called The Elizabeth Theater home of their NYE event for the past six years. They have also hosted monthly events for the past 8 years in Midtown’s sanctuary dive, The Temple Bar. Haute to Death has acquired its own victories in 2015  gaining attention from publications such as:  New York Magazine, Vice Media, AudioFemme website, and Grand Circus Magazine. Needless to say, Haute to Death will be will be the place to glam up, get loose, and let go in 2015. Jerilyn Jordan [for Audiofemme] explains of their notorious party, “Skin will touch skin, sweat will converge with other spilled fluids, and your hair will refuse to hold whatever product or styling you came in with.”

What to expect: Class. Fun. Mischievousness. This is the party that you show up in your best and live out your baddest. Disco Ball sparkles, photo booth snaps and dance floor catharsis. This party is about ringing in 2016 with panache.

Sounds Like: Classic and Contemporary Disco, Diva, House, New Wave, Post-Punk and Pop.

New Year’s Eagle: Marble Bar

Address: Marble Bar, 1501 Holden St, Detroit, Michigan 48208

BUY Tickets / Facebook Event

8pm, Price: Low (Under $10.00)

Although the former Detroit Eagle has only been renovated and re-opened for a few months, it will be making a lasting mark on the New Year with their upcoming “New Year’s Eagle” event. Presented by independent music label Freakish Pleasures and stacked with a rock solid lineup, Marble Bar will feature local gems such as: Detroit techno enthusiast and devotee BMG, experimental electronic artist MGUN, familiar Detroit face Charles Trees, bad ass Detroit-based trio Ritual Howls, and DJ Ryan Spencer of ever so popular Jamaican Queens.

What to expect: As Freakish Pleasures so eloquently describes, this night will serve as “a night of brutal dance music and the sleaziest party in town.”  Come Get Ur Freak On at this exciting event and dance your way into 2016.

Sounds Like: Electronic, Industrial Noise, Dance

Nothing Elegant

Address: The Eastern – 3434 Russell St, Detroit, Michigan 48207

Buy Tickets  / Facebook Event

9p, Price: Medium ($12.00)

A collaborative effort between Dine Drink Detroit, YumVillage, DJ Thornskryker, The Eastern, and monthly event Nothing Elegant has coalesced into what will be an unforgettable night in Eastern Market. Catch Detroit Pistons’ DJ Thornstryker gracing   the 1’s and 2’s, along ‘Nothing Elegant’ favorites DJ Lady Fantastic and DJ Amy Dreamcatcher. Scott Rutterbush is hosting the event, and YumVillage is serving a food station & promoting. There will be pizza!”

We caught up with two of the event hosts, Sara Aldridge and Emily Thornhill to find out what we can expect from this event. Sara explains,

“We really strive to create a party where everyone feels welcome — gay, straight, black, white, lawyer, and student. We’re kinda a no- frills party where you can come and just do you- whether that means wearing diamonds and high heels or jeans and a t-shirt. We just really feel like people have the most fun when they are comfortable and that’s what we aim for.”

DJ Thornstryker also entertained a few fun questions, giving us a peek into what the night will entail. What will be unforgettable about this event?  “The amount of sequins worn by the DJ’s.” What is DJ Thornstryker’s most memorable moment from 2015?: “The most memorable moment for me was when I became a full time DJ, for the first time in my life I was able to let go of my day job. Just before my 30th birthday, amazing!”

What to expect: Everyone is welcome. No- frills good ol’ fashioned dance party. Ladies game strong.

Sounds Like: Dance, Retro

Antietam

Address: 1428 Gratiot Avenue Detroit, MI 48207

Tickets: Available for purchase on site

10A-2A, Dinner 7pm-10pm (Reservations required)

Eastern Market’s  French Restaurant Antietam will be getting a late night tropical twist for New Year’s Eve as they host popular island style dance party, Coconut Babylon. “Act 1” of the night will initiate with a limited seating delectable dinner tasting. For the second Act of the night, Coconut Babylon’s devoted DJs Monty Luke, Jeff Risk, and Daisuke Hughes will keep the riddim going from 10PM till 2AM.  Gratiot Avenue’s French treasure delivers both amazing drinks and cuisine, and we can’t wait to see what they’re cooking up for this special occasion. Grab a ticket while they last, and get a head start on those exercise resolutions by Dutty Whining the night away.

What to expect: Be astonished by Antietam’s talented chefs and indulge in a luxurious, gorgeous Art Deco design, and an intimate feel.

Sounds like: For Act 2 of the evening, get ready for an up-close and personal dance-hall feel with drinks flowing like the island breeze. Poster artwork by Vaughn Taormina.

Tires + Minimal Detroit. Juan Atkins

Address: 6541 East Lafayette Street, Detroit, MI 48207

11p-8a, Price: Medium ($15.00)* goes All-night long

Get your engines running because tires and Minimal Detroit has put Metroplex Records’ Juan Atkins up to the task of revving up the night on New Year’s Eve to celebrate their 30th anniversary. The set list includes many other heavy hitters guaranteed to have your body moving at full throttle. Catch acts Population One, Minx, Tech Beat, Plural, True Smoke, John Collins of Underground Resistance, Mizz Chavez and Salar Ansari putting the techno and electro tracks on overdrive. And of course the man behind this genre of music himself! This newer venue never fails to disappoint, and has been a buzzing and growing hub of creativity and collaboration throughout 2015.

In fact, the folks over at tires are so legit, they’ll be offering free champagne to the first 100 people to enter! (Just when you thought season of giving was over.) If you can’t make it at 11, then feel free to stop by after you’re done doing everything else because as far as we can tell this is the latest lasting party in the city– going until a whopping 8AM! Let the beat drive you into the New Year, and come see what tires is all about.

What to expect: Lots of sweat, party all-night long, and a beautiful Detroit sunrise.

Sounds like:  Classic Detroit techno/electronic, best sound system in the underground galaxy

Bevlove Presents: SWEET SIXTEEN

Address: Club Reign, 2055 GRATIOT DETROIT MI 48207

Buy Tickets // Facebook Event

9P, Price – Medium/High: ($20.00- $35.00), VIP available

Come and spread your wings, it’s your chance to shine! Detroit’s sassy, sultry, soul singin’ sista Beverly Johnson a.k.a. BevLove is requesting your presence in Eastern Market for a hazy night of spoils sure to start your year off right. Stacked with some of Detroit’s most talented acts, this event will feature performances by: Valley Hush, Market** (hot new band!), James Linck, Rapper and R&B crooner Chavis Chandler, Bevlove and Suede, DJ Breeze, and the multifaceted Sheefy Mcfly as Edward Elektro. Artist and DJ Sheefy McFly predicts that a lively nightclub atmosphere will engulf event-goers as music of various genres will fill the night air (up there).

We asked the hostess with the most-ess BevLove about the evening- here’s what she had to say. Attendees can expect “an amazing light show, unique fashion styles, positive vibes, safety, a welcoming atmosphere and a standout countdown.  Without going into too much detail, you absolutely do not want to miss what we have planned for the countdown!” But what’s her favorite part? “The artist lineup. I am also excited in advance for how beautiful all of you will look!”

Beverly also revealed that Cranky Jane will be sponsoring the VIP booth and champagne specials will be fizzing through the evening.

What to expect: Fashion A-game strong, sparks flying from the VIP area, true Detroit superstar line-up.

Sounds like:  Pop, Indie-pop, Hip-hop, Electronic, Dance

NYE with Stacey Pullen at TV Lounge

Address: 2548 Grand River Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48201

Buy Tickets  / Facebook Event

9P- 4A, Price: High  (30.00)

Ain’t no party like a Paxahau Party and New Year’s Eve will be no exception. Globally known dance party duo Paxahau has brought many breathtaking shows to the D in 2015, including the likes of:  Carl Craig, Bonobo, Soul Clap and let’s not forget… The Movement Festival!  Be ready to dance until you drop as Detroit techno legend Stacey Pullen owns the stage for a rare extendo- set of 4 hours!  Stacey Pullen has recently been featured on Billboard.com and has been a well acquainted face on the local techno scene since the early 90’s.  Although this will be Stacey’s first New Year’s Eve show in Detroit, it’s pretty evident that he was born to do this. Al Ester, Bruce Bailey, Chuck Flask, Dan Bain &Adia, Delano Smith, Loren, Mister Joshooa, Norm Talley, Pontchartrain and Phil Tha Mixx will also rip the stage, serving up some of the city’s  hottest electronic, techno, house and dance tracks. TV Lounge is well known for its nightclub atmosphere and will certainly serve as the perfect setting for you to mix, mingle, and mill about until the wee hours of the morning.  The only question left to ask is … can YOU stand the test of time?

What to Expect: Anything can happen at the Night Show. Packed house, fancy footwork, and arty till the break of dawn– must check to see if your ears still work on Friday morning.

Sounds like:  Electronic, techno

**Please celebrate responsibly. Call Uber, Lyft, or other Detroit cab services and have a safe night!

–Words by Hailey Dukes. New kid on the block and sponge for all things Detroit. Student to this earth and the people, places, and things on it. Walking an unceasing journey to observe, feel, analyze, understand. Inspire me! Follow Hailey on IG @wolf___hailey // Twitter @heyygirllhai

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