Star Wars NYE Bashes: The Party Awakens

Excerpt from Ames Street Deli flyer

At the moment, there are two things we’re desperately hoping will be good: The new Star Wars, and the upcoming new year.

One thing we know won’t disappoint: “A New Year’s Hope” at Ames Street Deli—a Jedi-approved party from the same minds behind Space Nerds Cocktail Week, an annual tradition for May the Fourth (our favorite Star Wars high holy day).

After all, while there are plenty of First Night celebrations and special NYE dining events for you to choose from this year, only one has its own special sci-fi origin story, courtesy of Ames Street co-owner (and bartender extraordinaire) Sam Treadway:

It is a period of civil war. Rebel cocktails, shaken in a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Dark Side Car. During the battle, Rebel mixologists managed to download secret recipes onto R2-Bijou. The recipe is for the Empire’s original cocktail, the DEATH STAR old fashioned, a drink armored by an ice space station with enough power to destroy an entire human. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister Mai Tai Fighters, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen recipes that can save her people and restore partying to the galaxy….

Each ticket gets you two drinks off the Star Wars cocktail menu; purchase additional food and beverages off their a la carte menu. Costumes are encouraged—but if you want to win prizes (of course there will be prizes), make sure to step up your cosplay game. Rumpled Boba Fett hoodies are not going to cut it; start working on your full-body Chewbacca outfit now.

“A New Year’s Hope”: $25, December 31, 8 p.m., Ames Street Deli, 73 Ames St., Cambridge, 617-374-0701, amesstreetdeli.com. Get tickets at Eventbrite.

Abby Lane flyer

While the midichlorian-addled masses are piling into Loews Boston Common to see the new film, you could be a few blocks away at Abby Lane, starring in your own personal Star Wars—or at least a highly attention-grabbing selfie. For their “A New Year Awakens” event, chef Jason Santos’s Theater District spot transforms into Mos Eisley Cantina, complete with photo booth, Storm Trooper bartenders, and movie clips and highlights on their big screen.

$65 ($50 if purchased before December 23), December 31, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Abby Lane, 253 Tremont St., Boston, 617-451-2229, abbylaneboston.com. Get tickets at Eventbrite.