(12.31) The best plan for avoiding an accident on New Year’s Eve is to leave the car at home and walk. And try to be a heads-up pedestrian: It’s going to be rainy and you might be dressed in black.
For those who do need a ride — the weather and events downtown may keep Uber et al. pretty busy — Providence Firefighters will be offering free rides home for the fifth year in a row. Rides to private residences within the city will be available between 8pm, Monday evening, and 7am, Tuesday morning. Call (401) 272-7999, and don’t get sick in the car. Big thanks to AFF Local 799.
Here, in no particular order, are a few suggestions for spending the night out without breaking the bank or having to travel far from home:
It’s DJs and PJs at Troop PVD on Valley Street. They will be hosting The Pajama Jammy Jam: dinner service until 10pm and then switching to a late night breakfast menu. PJs are not mandatory but there will be costume prizes.
Join The Gnomes at the Parlour on North Main Street for ‘One Love Jam Down.’ The Gnomes fuse a dynamic folk-rock edge with Celtic, Scandinavian, Eastern European, Caribbean influences. End the evening with EarthKry and Chachi.
Head over to Ogie’s New Year’s Eve 2019 on Westminster Street with DJ Vinyl Richie, balloons, glitter, noisemakers. Free champagne toast at midnight . . . tickets $20 at door.
Two great live bands are playing at the Met on Main Street in Pawtucket . . . Narragansett Beer’s NYE with the Silks, and Eric and the Nothing . . . $18 day of.
More excellent live music at Dusk on Harris Avenue with the Atlantic Thrills, Harvey Garbage, Green Sabbath, and the Benjis.
Alchemy on Richmond Street is throwing a Reggae Bashment.
Nick-A-Nee’s will celebrate with the House Combo of Joe, Jim, Jim, Ben, and John. Still no cover and dog-friendly.
Or try the Hot Club down on the river. No dress code, but festive attire is encouraged. DJ Tank Jones at 10pm. Champagne of beers toast at midnight. They will be popping bottles of Proseco all night.
And Nolan’s Corner Pub will be open until 3am! They promise a limited quantity of giant High Life 750ml “Champagne of Beers” bottles.
For an earlier night (they usually close at 11:30pm) head over to McBride’s in Wayland Square with its popular “last call.”
Each night we pause at 10pm to call “Last Call” where all raise their glass in memory of someone who has “gone to the promised land.” Patrons can request a Last Call in memory of a loved one by contacting us or in person.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 — Champagne & Fried Chicken at The Eddy downtown on Eddy Street, from 11am to 7pm. (Food by Durk’s.)
There are lots of swell places around town where everybody knows your name — although it’s not a good sign if everybody knows your name everywhere. The following establishments also serve alcohol and are normally open on Mondays. At least one of them must be within walking distance of your house: the E&O Tap, What Cheer Tavern, the Wild Colonial, The Point Tavern, Julian’s, the Avery. Have fun, be safe. The worst place to spend New Year’s Eve is the emergency room.
(Seen here is a 4th century floor mosaic depicting Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, on display at the RISD Museum (which actually will be closed both December 31st and January 1st). Artist unknown.)