the boston globe
PICK OF THE DAY
Arts Night The 36th edition of First Night Boston presents cultural events at locations all over town. The full line-up includes tap dance, anime, opera, Shakespeare, story slams, and international short films. Among the musical highlights are Suzanne Vega (Jordan Hall, 9 p.m.), Mavis Staples (Symphony Hall, 9 p.m.), and the Julian Lage Trio (Berklee Performance Center, 7:45 and 9:30 p.m.). The FedEx Family Festival provides continuous entertainment for all ages at the Hynes Convention Center. Some of the most beloved First Night events happen outdoors — the Grand Procession (leaving 5:30 p.m. from the Hynes Convention Center), midnight fireworks over the harbor, and amazing ice sculptures, including one (weather permitting) that you can walk through. Dec. 31, 1 p.m.-midnight. Outdoor events free, $18 button allows admittance to indoor events (under 4 free). 617-542-1399, www.firstnight.org
TODAY
Hogmanay wild The Scots call the last day of the year Hogmanay. Celebrate it with a three-course prix fixe menu (chestnut soup, baked oysters, duck breast, sticky toffee pudding), champagne toast, and a Scottish bagpiper. The evening ends with a fireball ceremony, a ritual from the town of Stonehaven. Dec. 31, 9 p.m. The Haven, 2 Perkins St., Jamaica Plain. $50. 617-524-2836, www.thehavenjp.com
Laugh in the new year Whether your 2011 was a good year or not, closing it out with a few belly laughs is a good way to let it go. Native son John Pinette gives you a chance to do it with two shows at the Wilbur. Dec. 31, 7 and 9:45 p.m. $37-$47. Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston. 800-745-3000, www.thewilbur.com
Party ’til it’s 2012 Decadent is the word of the evening for the Discoteque Burlesque New Year’s Eve 2012 Gala. Parisian-style burlesque dancers Calamity Chang and Stormy Leather entertain, Sinclair Jennings and the AB’s lay down the soul funk grooves, and chef Rebecca Newell keeps the buffet stocked all night long. Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. $75-$105. Beehive, 541 Tremont St., Boston. 617-423-0069, www.beehiveboston.com
TOMORROW
New year sail Get on board for 2012 with a Seafarer’s Island Holiday. After a short voyage to Spectacle Island, walk the trails and beaches on your own or with a guide. Pack a picnic and enjoy it (and the view) at the north drumlin, the highest point in Boston Harbor. Jan. 1, noon-4 p.m. $25, $22 seniors, $20 students/ages 3-12, under 3 free but require ticket. Massachusetts Bay Lines, 60 Rowes Wharf, Boston. 781-740-4290, www.fbhi.org
Take a hike Gather ’round the fire to enjoy soup, hot chocolate, and cookies then enjoy a brisk walk on one of the Friends of the Blue Hills First Day Hikes. Choose a scenic one to two hour trek to suit your ability level. Jan. 1, soup at noon, hikes at 1 p.m. Free. Meet at Houghton’s Pond Parking Lot, 840 Hillside St., Milton. 617-698-1802, www.friendsofthebluehills.org
Don’t stop believing Two decades is a long time to nurse a hangover, but if you still haven’t recovered from 1980s pop music, the ’80s Hangover with Love Canon and Ronald Reagan is for you. The latter bill themselves as “Boston’s Premier ’80s Pop Saxophone Duo’’ and interpret hits by Journey, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and others. Love Canon tackles similar repertoire as a string band. Jan. 1, 7 p.m. $15. Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge. 617-492-7679, www.clubpassim.org
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