New Year's Eve party guide

Aria is going Miami gangster with its NYE affair. The North Loop event space is adopting a "Scarface" motif and encouraging guests to dress accordingly. Tickets to the cash bar event include hors d'oeuvres, coffee and music from local hip-hop duo Villa Rosa. (9 p.m. Mon. $50-$75. 105 N. 1st St., Mpls. 612-460-1051 or www.ariampls.com.)

International Market Square is being taken over by the Crystal Ball's Imagine gala, with an opening champagne reception from 8 to 9 p.m. and DJs Fresko, CXR and Chris Castle spinning everything from hip-hop to house and top 40. VIP options abound. (8 p.m. Mon. $35-$70. 275 Market St., Mpls. 612-703-7682 or www.nyeminneapolis.com.)

Spend "Midnight in Morocco" (well, really just Epic) with fiery performances from the Dragon Fire Theater, Ignite's live mannequin models and two rooms of music at the Warehouse District nightclub. (8 p.m. Mon. $30-$50, 110 N. 5th St., Mpls. www. epicmpls.com.)

The whimsical minds behind the BareBones Halloween show present a masquerade with burlesque, music from Black Audience and others, a Best Mask competition, food and drink and, of course, oversized puppets. (8 p.m. Mon. $12-$15. In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls. www.smokedtroutproductions.com.)

Prohibition-themed party in a four-story Victorian mansion, with live jazz, dancing, period drinks and apps, retro dance instruction, a murder mystery, champagne toast and gambling for charity. (7 p.m.-1 a.m. Mon. $50. The 3rd Floor at Dr. Chocolate's Chocolate Chateau, 579 Selby Av., St. Paul. www.drchocolate.com.)

First Ave's bash pairs the turnt-up rap bangers of the Get Cryphy crew with Too Much Love party-starter Sovietpanda's dance-music mélange. Ian Rans of "Drinking With Ian" plays incorrigible host and DJ Verb X and others take over the Record Room for the End of the Year Smoke Out. (8 p.m. Mon. $5-$20. 701 1st Av. N., Mpls. www.first-avenue.com.)

Twin Cities Dubstep is throwing its two-night blowout at the Skyway Theater on Sunday as well as Monday, with more than 60 acts gracing the four-stage fetes. British dubsteppers Feed Me and Zomboy headline on NYE proper. (7 p.m. Sun. and Mon. $25-$60. 711 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. www.skywaytheater.com.)

The whole Wants Vs. Needs crew will be together again for their New Year's Eve throwdown. Expect tracks sure to please hip-hop heads and club partiers alike. (9 p.m. Mon. $10. 21-plus. Clubhouse Jäger, 923 Washington Av. N., Mpls. clubjager.com.)

David Anderson suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease, but he uses vision-activated software to create electronic soundscapes -- the centerpiece of this multimedia party with aerialists, body painters, live painting, body balancers and interactive photography and projections by Playatta. (9 p.m.-3 a.m. Mon. Old Arizona, 2821 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls. 612-871-9099 or www.brownpapertickets.com.)

New Year's Eve always brings out open-bar arrangements that look alluring or overpriced, depending on your tolerance. Two of 2012's newest party spots are offering unlimited bar trips (pending your intoxication level) for flat fees. Hips and joysticks are sure to swivel at arcade/nightclub Insert Coin(s) Glo-Ball NYE party (9 p.m. Mon. $40-$80. 315 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-564-4016 or www. insertcoinsmpls.com).

Raucous revelry always seems to be on the agenda at Prohibition-themed party bar the Pourhouse, with a balloon drop and big-screen countdown planned at midnight. (10 p.m. Mon. $85-$100. 10 S. 5th St., Mpls. 612-843-2555 or www.thepourhousempls.com.)

The producers behind the Big Gay Party are transforming Lush into a spectacle of lights, fire, smoke and male go-go dancers. Hosted by drag queens Lucy Furr and Sara Tonin, the night also includes DJ Multidimensional Fortitude, a champagne toast and a mask-making station. (9 p.m. Mon. $15-$20. Lush, 990 Central Av. NE., Mpls. www.brownpapertickets.com.)

Northeast tiki pub Psycho Suzi's hosts its second annual Shangri-La Party. "Polynesian Passports" to the escapism-centered shindig include a dinner buffet, four drinks of your choosing and unlimited photo-booth buffoonery. We recommend enjoying them in that order. (5:30 p.m. Mon. $49. 1900 NE. Marshall St., Mpls. www.psychosuzis.com.)

Skirt the city limits with a suburban honky tonk at Toby Keith's, featuring live music and a "VIP barn," which includes an open bar from 7 to 9 p.m. (7 p.m., Mon. $35-$65. 1623 Park Place Blvd. www.countrybarmn.com.)

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Naughty New Year's Eve: Burlesque from Foxy Tann and Tomahawk Tassels, comedians, belly dancing and champagne toast. (9 p.m. Mon. $20-30. Two Stooges Sports Bar & Grill, 7178 University Av. NE., Fridley. www.vitalculture.com/twostooges.) Eagle Street Grill: 1920s speakeasy theme, red carpet entrance, casino lounge, hors d'oeuvres and SP Style DJs. (8 p.m. Mon. $20-$25. 174 W. 7th St., St. Paul. www.spstyle.com.) Elixir: Ice bar, fire show, champagne and $5 drinks. (9 p.m. Mon. $13-20. 322 N. 1st Av., Mpls. www.vitalculture.com/elixirmpls.) Myth: Balloon drop, champagne toast, three floors and multiple rooms of DJs. (9 p.m. Mon. $15. 18-plus. 3090 Southlawn Dr., Maplewood. 651-779-6984.) Marquee: Passed hors d'oeuvres, DJ Strangelove. VIP upgrades available. (9 p.m. Mon. $50. Union Rooftop at Marquee, 731 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. marqueempls.com) Seven Sushi: Four rooms of entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, DJs, party favors, champagne toast, live countdown and balloon drop. (9 p.m. Mon. Free. 700 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-238-7777.) Deseo: Complimentary apps and champagne before 11 p.m. DJs spinning R&B and hip-hop. (9 p.m. Mon. $10. Deseo, 408 3rd Av. N., Mpls. www.deseompls.com.)

Ground Zero: Hard EDM and techno with DJs Darksiderz and Robert Armani plus 15 other DJs in two rooms. (7 p.m. Mon. $15-$30. 18-plus. 15 NE. 4th St., Mpls. www.harddanceminnesota.com.) Bar Fly: Two rooms with eight DJs spinning electronic, hip-hop and party mixes plus champagne toast and party favors; VIP upgrades available. (8 p.m. Mon. $13-18. 18-plus. 711 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. www.skywaytheatre.com.) The Lounge: DJs Jack Trash, Tommy Page, Justin Styles and Areeb playing house, Top 40 and international, plus fire performers, tarot readers and sideshow acts. (8 p.m. Mon. $20 or $70 open bar. 411 2nd Av. N., Mpls. www.theloungempls.com.)