Unless your idea of a good New Year’s Eve involves aimless bar-hopping when cabs are scarce and clubs are overcrowded, stop dragging your feet and make your plans already. The events below still had tickets available as of late last week, and folks continue to post New Year’s Eve updates to the comments section of this blog. Get to it, people. And happy 2008.

The Boundary: Expect an unpretentious party at this new neighborhood hang. Doors open at 8 p.m., and admission includes a top-shelf open bar (shots and martinis excluded), appetizers, and a Champagne toast at midnight for $125. Booth reservations are available; call for more info.

Trace: The Boundary’s owners offer a slightly more affordable option at their older spot in Lake View. Entry is $80 and includes a top-shelf open bar (excluding shots), a champagne toast at midnight, and free coat check (sorry, no food). Doors open at 8 p.m.

Connoisseur: Chicago’s newest boutique wine lounge gets into the spirit with a New Year’s Eve bash from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Buy tickets before Christmas for $60; on December 26th they go up to $75. Admission includes champagne, food, and an open bar. A DJ spins throughout the night.

Crimson Lounge: Dynamic Productions hosts an elaborate affair from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. inside the Hotel Sax Chicago, featuring premium open bar, passed apps, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Formal attire recommended; VIP tables are still available. General admission tickets are $125, or make a night of it and get two tickets plus a hotel room for $479.

Mannequin: This new late-night spot is offering six hours of premium open bar from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., plus appetizers, a Champagne toast, and party favors at $125 a head. Reserve a table and get complimentary bottle service; visit the website for details.

Enclave: DJ Scene spins in this club’s new state-of-the-art DJ booth (it changes colors). General admission tickets, $150, include a premium open bar from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., gourmet passed hors d’oeuvres and a buffet, and a Champagne toast at midnight. More info: Outfit Events. 

Manor: DJ Dante the Don spins; plus, there’s a premium open bar from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., gourmet passed hors d’oeuvres and a buffet, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Valet parking—not that you’ll be driving if you’re drinking—and coat check are available.  Tickets are $145. More info: Outfit Events. 

Stay: Manor’s ultra-exclusive upstairs VIP lounge opens on New Year’s Eve, but word on the street is it’s fully booked. Hey, who knows? Maybe you can sneak past the bouncers for a peek. VIP guests at Stay will have access to Manor, but not vice versa—unless invited up by a Stay VIP. Whew. Manor sure takes this VIP thing seriously.

RiNo: Keep the party going at this 4 a.m. club, which usually hits capacity on an average weekend, let alone NYE. L.A.’s DJ Gusto spins. General admission tickets, $125, include a premium open bar from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., gourmet passed apps and a buffet, and a midnight toast. After 2 a.m., expect a cash bar. More info: Outfit Events.

Stone Lotus: New York’s DJ Klutch is slated to spin at Chicago’s only “liquor spa.” General admission tickets, $145, include a premium open bar from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., gourmet passed apps and a buffet, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Valet parking and coat check available. The party continues until 4 a.m. with a cash bar, thanks to Stone Lotus’s new after-hours liquor license. More info: Outfit Events. 

Last Girl Standing will be back on the nightlife beat Thursday, January 3rd.