Five Celebrations of NYE Weekend

Boot out 2022 and usher in 2023 with laughs, music, and a good walk


It's that liminal space – albeit an imagined, chronological liminal space – in which one year turns into another and hoi polloi cavort like eedjits in the thrall of some ludicrous god. Whether sober or drunk, better to enjoy yourself immensely and maintain a modicum of couth, we suggest, with any (or perhaps all) of these five diversions along the path toward humanity's ultimate fate.

La Follia: End the Year With Bach

Put some Johann in your favorite Sebastian this weekend and you'll take the glorious memory of a little Bach to the future, as Eric Taeyang Mun performs the maestro's Cello Suite No. 1; James Andrewes and Keith Womer perform Violin Sonata No. 4 in C minor, and Joan Carlson sings the secular cantata "Non sa che sia dolore."

Dec. 30-31. Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 3pm. Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2111 Alexander, 512/879-6404. $25-30. lafollia.org

Esther’s Follies: A Year in Review

It's a New Year's party like no other, filled with all the newsmakers, celebrities, events, and mayhem that made the previous 12 months memorable. The comedic cast of Esther's, right there in the heart (or is it the spleen?) of Downtown, will toast 2023 and roast 2022 with memorable sketches, songs, and magic by Ray Anderson. Party packs include favors and a champagne toast.

Sat., Dec. 31, 7 & 9pm. Esther's Follies, 525 E. Sixth, 512/320-0198. $55-65. esthersfollies.com

The Color Inside by James Turrell

The Mutt-Cracker (Sweet!)

Circus Chickendog brings a talented crew of canines (Mouse, Moose, Coyote, Squirrel, and Skeeter) and circus artists to the Vortex for an incredible show, with rescue dogs doing their thing, Darren Peterson's masterful juggling and unicycling, acrobats Balyssa Ball and James Kent bending and flipping, and an original score that samples Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite.

Sun., Jan. 1, 4:30pm. The Vortex, 2307 Manor Rd., 512/478-5282. $15-37. vortexrep.org

New Year’s Eve With Todd Glass

The renowned comedian is coming to the Creek and the Cave for New Year's Eve weekend to spin his wild yarns and jokes while the Todd Glass Band tickles your eardrums. Bonus: This antic revelry is accompanied by a complimentary champagne toast.

Sat., Dec. 31, 8 & 10pm. The Creek and the Cave, 611 E. Seventh, 737/222-0852. $50-75. creekandcave.com

Landmarks: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Get on out there into the local urban pathways as the new year comes in, citizen, and see the works of human fabrication placed hither and yon around Austin for your edification. Exercise that neglected shank's mare and use your ever-present smartphone to access self-guided tours of the outdoor public art installed by UT's award-winning Landmarks program. A little air, some sunshine – why, it's just like real life, isn't it?

landmarks.utexas.edu

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Five Things
Five Austin Studio Tour Shows
Five Austin Studio Tour Shows
So many artists, so big a city, almost too much beauty and fun

Wayne Alan Brenner, Nov. 3, 2023

Five Ingredients for a Perfect Halloween
Five Ingredients for a Perfect Halloween
Like the best bags of trick-or-treat candy, it’s all in the selection

Richard Whittaker, Oct. 20, 2023

More by Wayne Alan Brenner
Visual Art Review: Stuffed Animal Rescue Foundation’s “The Still Life”
Visual Art Review: Stuffed Animal Rescue Foundation’s “The Still Life”
This charming exhibit rehabilitates neglected stuffies, then puts them to work creating art

March 22, 2024

Spider Sculptures, Gore Feasts, and More Arts Events
Spider Sculptures, Gore Feasts, and More Arts Events
Feed your art habit with these recommended events for the week

March 22, 2024

KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY

Five Things, The Muttcracker (Sweet), La Follia, Circus Chickendog, Todd Glass, Esther's Follies, The Creek and the Cave, UT Landmarks Program

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle