Ring in 2009 with a bash around town

If you’re brave enough to fool with the snow (or fool enough to brave the snow), you’ve got plenty of options to gather with friends and ring in the New Year.

Champagne glasses will be clinging and clanging at your favorite bars and restaurants on New Year’s Eve, and nearly every watering hole and eatery has a drink or food special – and door prizes galore – while more than a few will be offering music to match the spirits.

The bulk of the biggest party options in the area are split between rock and DJ dance music. Here are your best bets for both:

•Made up of a group of musicians who double as rock celebrity impersonators, Spokane’s own Vegas-style show, Smash Hit Carnival, brings to life the sounds and sights of The Rolling Stones, Devo, Johnny Cash, Tina Turner and more.

The Carnies perform from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. at the New Year’s Eve party at The Coeur d’Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho. Other festivities include dueling pianos in the Nighthawk Lounge, and cash giveaways including a $2,009 prize.

•There’s sure to be a line out the door at Spokane’s popular new nightclub, The Casbah, 416 W. Sprague Ave., which will be rocked by DJ Fusion in the Main Ballroom while the Real Life Sound system rolls out the funky sounds in the Chill Room. Show up early, as there is no cover.

•Rock in the New Year at Coeur d’Alene’s premiere rock venue, The Grail, 4720 W. Seltice Way. It will have live bands on stage all night at a free party, headlined by CdA metal quintet Headbeyon. Music starts at 9 p.m.

•Dempsey’s Brass Rail, 909 W. First Ave., offers DJs and dancing all night, light appetizers until 10 p.m., and party favors for the first 200 heads through the door, plus a cabaret show that kicks off at 10:30. Cover is $25; no reservations.

•For the all-ages scene, The Cretin Hop, the DIY punk-rock venue at 317 N. Howard St., hosts Deadone’s USA, Reason For Existence and Sacrament of Seduction, among others. More bands and cover to be announced. Music starts at 7 p.m.

•The Blvd, 333 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., holds an early 18-and-older show with Auralust, Character Flaw and Burnt Offerings at 6 p.m., followed by a 21-and-older DJ dance party at 9. Cover is $5 for the early show, $10 for the late show.

•One of downtown’s most popular DJ’s, JD will be movin’ the crowd starting at 9 p.m. at a free New Year’s bash at Zola, 22 W. Main St.

•DJ Graffix works the house at The Knitting Factory’s 2009 Ballroom Drop party, which includes at $2,009 cash giveaway. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, through TicketsWest (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

•Check out classic rock at Working Class Heroes, 1914 N. Monroe St., with four-piece band Healthy Scratches. No cover.

•There’s more classic rock and pop action with Bluefire Down, which plays from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. at The Bigfoot, 9115 N. Division St. The pub and eatery stops serving alcohol at midnight, at which time it starts serving a breakfast buffet. No cover.

•The biggest little bar in town, The Baby Bar, 827 W. First Ave., will be packed for sure on New Year’s Eve when the local DJ with international reach, Stones Throw artist James Pants, plays his favorite local nightspot between stints back and forth to clubs in China and New York (seriously). DJ Supervillain is also on the bill. Cover to be announced.