Options for ringing in the New Year include plenty of stylish and over-the-top events.
At Brasserie Beck, roasted goose will be a choice on its prix fixe menus (four courses for $95 from 5–7 PM; five courses for $125 from 8:30 PM on; 202-408-1717).
Dig out your dancing shoes for the festivities at the Carlyle Club in Alexandria where the Tommy Dorsey orchestra will play from 7:30 PM–midnight, enabling party-goers to work off the sumptuous five-course dinner on the ballroom floor ($224 per person, includes parking and a midnight toast; 703-548-5953).
A civilized end-of-the-year celebration can be found at CityZen in the Mandarin Oriental, where Eric Ziebold will offer a nine-course tasting menu from 5:30–10 PM ($200 per person); a lighter evening option is available in the hotel’s Empress lounge, which will feature dancing to a jazz ensemble, hors d’oeuvres and dessert (9 PM–1 AM; $175 for two includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label champagne; 202-787-6868).
Central Michel Richard will offer a luxurious four-course prix fixe dinner – foie gras, lobster ravioli and veal ($75 per person for seatings from 5:30–7 PM; $95 per person for seatings from 8–10 PM, includes champagne toast at midnight; 202-626-0015).
The Italian Embassy will host an opulent gala featuring an elaborate buffet, open bars, a wine cellar, live opera performances, classic film screenings, games of chance, and a DJ and dancing; bagels and mimosas will be served to departing guests (8 PM–2 AM; $159 per person, reservations required; 3000 Whitehaven St. NW; 202-686-5990).
A global village of celebrations will take place in nine different rooms at the Marriott Washington Wardman Park, each simulating nightlife settings ranging from 1950’s Havana to a Tokyo karaoke bar to a Las Vegas mock gambling casino – and each with its own distinctive buffet, open bar, live music and entertainment (9 PM–2 AM; $164 per person; 301-519-8030).
Bargain happy-hour prices ($8 drinks and small plates) will be in effect in the lounge all night at PS 7’s, with free hors d’oeuvres, mini-pastries and a DJ beginning at 10:30 PM and a free glass of bubbly at midnight; a five-course tasting menu ($80) will supplement the à la carte choices in the dining rooms (202-742-8550).
Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert will add special dishes to its regular and bar menus, and pass out party favors and free champagne to greet 2008 (202-974-4900).
Belly dancers and bubbly will see the New Year in at the Penn Quarter hot spot, Zaytinya, where revelers can order as many meze (little plates) as they like for a fixed price ($65 from 5:30–7:30 PM; $95 from 9–11 PM), with live entertainment and a complimentary glass of fizzy during the later seating, and a DJ and dancing from 11:30–2 AM; its regular à la carte menu will be served all evening for bar diners (202-638-0800).