New Year's Eve is filled with potential. The potential to get hit on by a tenacious drunk while waiting 20 minutes for a drink of your own. The potential to call a cab that never shows. The potential to have the #bestnightever with 100 selfies to prove it.

Or all of the above.

NYE expectations should be managed — the bars are packed and Uber's prices will surge. But you can stay in and play Cards Against Humanity with your boring neighbors another night.

Everyone has different party prerogatives. What's yours?

"New Year's Eve is my one night out a year, and I want to go big."

International Market Square is a NYE hotspot, with the Crystal Ball bringing in various DJs and eloquent rapper/singer Dessa. Shuttle there and back from several Minneapolis locations for $20.

8 p.m. Dec. 31, 21-plus, $40-$1,060, 275 Market St., Mpls., crystalballmn.com

Winstead

Carnaval: NYE 2015 channels Rio de Janeiro and entertains with Dragon's Fire Theater's stilt walkers, fire performers and aerialists, plus DJs Mad Mardigan, D Mil and more. Nibble Crave hors d'oeuvres and late-night Erbert and Gerbert's snacks.

9 p.m. (8 p.m. VIP) Dec. 31, 21-plus, $40-$100, Muse Event Center, 107 3rd Av. N., Mpls.,

www.nyempls.com

Burlesque maven Sweetpea hosts Fantasia — a LGBT dance party packed with performers, including Stiletto Men, Cirque du Pole, the Vigilantease Collective and more. DJ Quantum and the Butch Dandy Duo provide the soundtrack.

9 p.m. Dec. 31, 21-plus, $22-$142, Mill City Nights, 111 N. 5th St., Mpls., 612-333-3422, www.millcitynights.com

"I want to feel like a red-carpet boss."

Rouge at the Lounge's masquerade bash features DJs, light snacks and free masks for forgetful revelers. VIPs ($125) score unlimited bottles, excluding premium Champagne, while $75 unlocks an open bar.

9 p.m. Dec. 31, 21-plus, $20-$125, 411 2nd Av. N., Mpls., 612-333-8800, www.rougempls.com

Union and Rev Ultra Lounge throw a heaven- and hell-themed Inferno party with DJs, costumed performers and various food packages available.

9 p.m. Dec. 31, 21-plus, $30-$65, $60-$80 dinner packages, 731 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-455-6690, unionrooftop.com

"There's a 100 percent chance I'll start 2015 with a hangover."

Drink to your liver's desire for $85 (tickets $99 after Christmas) at the Pourhouse. Nonliquid entertainment includes DJ Ben Quam, live music, cabaret dancers and drunk people watching.

9 p.m. Dec. 31, 21-plus, 10 S. 5th St., Mpls., 612-843-2555, thepourhousempls.com

Swanky nightclub Aqua has a premium open-bar option for $85, too.

9 p.m. Dec. 31, 21-plus, $25-$85, 400 1st Av. N., Mpls., 612-232-3232, aquampls.com

"I'd rather overeat than overdrink."

The culinary creatives at Travail and the Rookery offer a ticketed 10-course bonanza with unlimited beer and bubbly. At press time, tickets were still available, but move quickly.

Dec. 31, $125 (+ $37.50 tax and gratuity), 4124 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale, 763-535-1131, www.tempotickets.com/travail

Meanwhile, their pie-slinging counterparts at Pig Ate My Pizza celebrate Fat Boys-style with an all-you-can-eat buffet, plus passed apps, small plates and unlimited beer and wine. The late seating promises more of a party vibe, hinting at tippy cup and a raffle.

Anderson

6:30 p.m. ($40 + fees), 9:30 p.m. ($70 + fees), Dec. 31, 4154 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale, 763-537-7267, www.tempotickets.com/travail

Before temporarily closing for a revamp, St. Paul staple Heartland Restaurant dinner parties with a special four-course prix fixe menu.

Dec. 31, $75, 289 E. 5th St., St. Paul, 651-699-3536, www.heartlandrestaurant.com

Uptowners! Coup d'etat has you covered with five courses, plus Champagne cocktails and wine pairings.

Dec. 31, $75 ($25 wine pairing), 2923 Girard Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-3575, coupdetatmpls.com

"I love New Year's Eve! But now I have kids."

Junior can rock out on inflatable guitars, make bejeweled art and dance to Will Hale and the Tadpole Parade at the Minnesota Children's Museum's Sparkle-rama, where the ball drops at 8 p.m.

5-9 p.m. Dec. 31, $10-$14, 10 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-225-6000, www.mcm.org

There's a diaper (or post-diaper) dance party at Edina's Edinborough Park, with face painting, noisemakers and access to the indoor play park. Grown-ups get in free.

6-9 p.m. Dec. 31, $9 per child, 7700 York Av. S., Edina, 952-833-9540, www.edinboroughpark.com

"I want to LOL on NYE."

Comic Lizz Winstead, "The Daily Show" co-creator and Minnesota native, does two nights of her annual year-in-review shot at the Cedar Cultural Center.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 and Dec. 31, $40-$65, all ages, 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., 612-338-2674, www.thecedar.org

Louie Anderson, another comic with local roots, makes his yearly NYE return, to the Ames Center.

7 p.m. Dec. 31, $33-$103, 12600 Nicollet Av. S., Burnsville, 952-895-4685, www.ames-center.com

"If I don't see a ball/balloon drop, I'm going to be bummed."

First Avenue and Get Cryphy bang in the new year with a ball drop and booming hip-hop beats, plus other disparate DJs in the main room and Turnt-ada — the Turnt Up! crew with DJ Espada — in the Record Room. Ian Rans hosts.

8 p.m. Dec. 31, 18-plus, $5-$20, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., 612-332-1775, first-avenue.com

Following the "Happiest Craziest New Year" show, the Brass Messengers and DJs play Bedlam Theatre's masquerade party. Catch a ball drop with free champagne at midnight.

10 p.m. Dec. 31, $10-$15 ($5 Lowertown residents), 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-209-0597, www.bedlamtheatre.org

"Bass drops are more my thing."

The Loft at Bar Fly hosts the annual Infrasound NYE party — a two-nighter with bass duo Love and Light headlining night No. 1 and Vibesquad closing NYE proper.

9 p.m. Dec. 30-31, 18-plus, $10-$25, 711 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-333-6100, www.skyway theater.com

Dubstep bigshot Datsik blasts dirty beats for the 18-25 demo in the adjoined Skyway Theater with Terravita and many more on four stages.

7 p.m. Dec. 31, 18-plus, $35, 711 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-333-6100, www.skywaytheater.com

"I want something a little bit different."

The Flying Poodle's "New Year's Eve Spectacular" is an '80s- and '90s-themed cabaret show with comedy and burlesque. The first 50 guests get free "Top Gun"-style aviators.

10 p.m. Dec. 31, 21-plus, $12-$120, Amsterdam Bar and Hall, 6 W. 6th St., 612-285-3112, www.amsterdambarandhall.com

Michael Rietmulder writes about beer, cocktails and nightlife.