Ringing in the New Year

Charlotte was buzzing all week as area bars and clubs decked their dance floors with balloons, noisemakers and party hats in preparation for New Year's Eve.

The family friendly First Night had people young and old countdown to midnight at the alcohol-free event, but farther up Tryon Street some major celebrations were happening despite the frigid temperatures.

At 9:30, lines were already forming outside the EpiCentre hotspots. My first stop -- by way of a blanket-equipped pedicab -- was Sponsor Parties' 12th Annual New Year's Eve Celebration at BlackFinn Saloon, where a young early 20s crowd was already getting into the festivities. I saw one girl with her shoes already off way too early in the night.

BlackFinn

Upstairs was packed, yet drinks were easy to come by thanks to the well-staffed (open) bar. A DJ played the usual crowd-pleasing singalong songs, but also threw in a surprise or two, such as Mariah Carey's infectious (at least to the women in the crowd) "Fantasy."

BlackFinn

Over at Mez, the black-tie party was a bit more mellow and drew an older mix of partygoers, probably 28-45. The restaurant had converted the upstairs loft into a lounge, roping off VIP tables for bottle service. Unintrusive house music allowed easy conversation, but the volume and energy of the crowd was on its way up as more people started arriving at 11.

Mez

The party of the night was probably at Suite, but I didn't stay long enough to find out -- to walk across the club involved peeling your way through bodies and within minutes I was sweating.

With minutes to spare before midnight, I cabbed it over to my last stop of the night: Rich & Bennett's New Year's Eve Bash at the new Common House in Plaza Midwood.

Common House

More than 1,000 people turned out to this sellout party that included open bar and a buffet from Hawthorne's Pizza. The restaurant had a giant heated tent outside where most of the partygoers stayed to dance and mingle. Inside the staff had given up the battle of trying to keep things relatively clean -- plastic cups and beer splattered floors made the whole thing seem like one big, but still fun, frat party. I was surprised though that it started to clear out as soon as midnight struck. It seemed as though everyone was making a beeline for their coats by 12:30.

Common House

Nearby at the Thirsty Beaver Saloon, my party spies tell me that those who didn't want to pay $100 at the Common House opted for the free entry to the Beaver, where staffers handed out mini bottles of Miller High Life -- the "champagne of beers" -- at midnight.

And the Avett Brothers had Belk Theater rocking as they closed out their two-night New Year's Eve show.

Overall, Charlotte had one heck of a New Year's. I found it to be a lot like Halloween, where every place you go you see friendly faces of people who are eager to have a good time and ring in the new year with total strangers. It was one of the rare nights that I felt a sense of community about our city.

But enough about my night -- I want to hear from you guys. Since I couldn't be everywhere at once, tell me how you spent NYE. Where was the best (or worst) party?

For more party pix from New Year's Eve, click here.