After Christmas' cocooning with family, New Year's Eve can be a welcome night on the town, a more decadent yang to Christmas' warm and fuzzy yin. So here's some New Year's Eve stuff happening in and around Salt Lake City (not counting the city's First Night festivities, which we'll preview next week).

Instead of an all-inclusive list, we offer these suggestions for almost every taste. Keep in mind that tickets are required for most of these events, and some will sell out sooner rather than later.

Get a room: If you want to party until the wee hours without worrying about driving home or trying to find a taxi, then Little America's "Viva Las Vegas" party may be for you. The hotel says its ballroom will be transformed into a "lavish, intimate dinner party" with casino décor, live disco and funk music, party favors and a buffet spread that includes sushi, fresh seafood, a carving station, an ice cream bar and a chocolate fountain.

The bash runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and costs $99 per person or $295 per couple if you book a room. (Prices don't include cocktails, available at a cash bar.) Reservations are requested; call 801-596-5966.

Music that sucks in a good way: New Year's most promising live-music gig is the Supersuckers show at Club Suede near Park City. Veteran fans know the band's "Big Show" as half country, half rock and all great. The band bills its "New Year's Eve Rockin' Ball" as "The Biggest Show on Earth," so Lord knows what the Tucson natives have in store for the hillbilly hellcats and hot-rod honeys sure to make the scene. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. at 1612 Ute Blvd., Kimball Junction. Tickets are $25, available from SmithsTIX outlets, Orion's Music and The Heavy Metal Shop.

Dance, dance, dance: Harry O's in Park City, arguably Utah's most happening nightclub, is throwing its second annual Black and White Masquerade Ball with music by Craig "DJ Homicide" Bullock, a California-based turntable artist from pop band Sugar Ray. The club promises "a journey through the sounds of '80s classics, hip-hop and the club hits of today." We're not sure if the "black and white" refers to the costume dress code. Tickets are $50 and are available at Smiths- TIX outlets. Harry O's is at 427 Main St.; to reserve a VIP booth, call 435-414-0245.

If you prefer not to navigate Parleys Canyon (or shell out $50), consider the "Time Tunnel" party being thrown at the Depot, 400 W. South Temple at Salt Lake City's Gateway. Utah DJs Nick James and Jesse Walker will spin house music to video projections by Chris Howard and a midnight show by the Dance-o-Lettes, whoever they are. Doors open at 9 p.m., and admission is $5. As a bonus, TRAX runs from the Depot's front door 'til 2 a.m.

Hey, nineteen: If you're around college age, don't drink and don't mind ringing in the New Year with several thousand of your closest friends, check out "New Year's Royale 007," a massive all-night bash at UVSC's McKay Events Center. The alcohol-free party has a loose James Bond theme and includes a "Casino Royale" costume contest. It also features something for everyone: themed dance music (hip-hop, '80s, Latin and country) on four floors, eight live bands, comedy shows, an inflatable room(!), a dunk tank (no, not "drunk tank") and a VIP room. The shindig runs from 10:30 p.m. 'til sunrise and includes a free breakfast in the wee hours. Tickets are $15 through www. tickets.com. For more info, visit www.newyearsroyale.com.

Cops, cowboys and comedy: Want some laughs with your New Year's? Wiseguys Comedy Cafe in West Valley City is hosting two shows by Shawn Paulsen, a cop-turned-comedian whose act combines hypnosis, music and audience participation. "Doing comedy and hypnosis is a whole lot cheaper than therapy," he says. Paulsen will perform at 8 and 10 p.m., with a New Year's countdown after the late show. Admission is $10. Wiseguys is at 3500 S. 2200 West (801-463-2909).

If you prefer your comedy with a cowboy flair, saddle up for Kip Attaway at Club 90 in Sandy. The Wyoming-based Attaway bills himself as "America's premier cowboy musical comedian," and unless Kenny Chesney is telling jokes onstage these days, he may be right. Tickets are $15 and $10, available from Club 90, 9065 Monroe St. (801-566-3254).

Dine in style: A handful of Utah restaurants are offering special New Year's Eve menus. They range from the moderate (a four-course Italian dinner at Lug`no, 801-412-9994, is $48 per person) to the splurgalicious (the Metropolitan, 801-364-3472, is serving a six-course feast, including foie gras, oysters and Kobe beef, for $90). Oh yes, wine is extra.

Make it a movie night: Sometimes you just don't feel like fighting the cold, the crowds and the inflated New Year's Eve prices. Why not stay home instead, warm up your TV and have your own film festival? Among the not-so-many New Year's-related movies on DVD are 1972's "The Poseidon Adventure" and its recent remake, in which an ocean liner capsizes after being struck by a huge wave on New Year's Eve; the romance-comedy classic "When Harry Met Sally," which climaxes at a New Year's Eve party; and "Peter's Friends," a 1992 comedy about a New Year's weekend at an English country estate whose cast features a young, pre-"House" Hugh Laurie.

Burn, baby, burn: Hoping for a quieter, more reflective holiday? The Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living is offering two New Year's Eve events. The first is a World Healing Meditation at 4:30 a.m. (no, that's not a typo) to join people around the world in praying for peace. Over coffee, we hope. The second event, which starts at the more civilized hour of 7 p.m., is a Burning Bowl Ceremony at which participants are encouraged to purge themselves of their old, limiting beliefs and replace them with more enlightened ones. The public is welcome at both services at 870 E. North Union Ave. in Midvale. For more information, visit www. spirituallyfree.org.

We asked some prominent Utahns about their plans for New Year's Eve. Here's what they said:

Jared Gold, fashion designer and owner of the Black Chandelier boutique: "I stay home and throw an 'over the top' dinner party every year for six to eight friends."

Doug Fabrizio, host of "Radio West" on KUER: "No actual plans yet. Like most people, I have grand illusions about bringing in the New Year. What usually happens is we forget to plan and I drop off at around 10:45 on the sofa."

Dana Williams, Park City mayor: "I'm gigging [as a guitarist in my Motherlode Canyon Band] at the Spur in Park City. We were offered a job at a private party that paid three times what we usually get, but we turned it down to play for our friends."

Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz forward: "My aunt and brother and cousin are coming [from Russia] for holidays, so we will throw party for family. Not really party, just whole family together at home."

Babs DeLay, real-estate agent, KRCL radio host and general about-town bon vivant: "I'm going to a naughty, costumed New Year's Eve party. If I gave you the names of who was going to be there, I'd be killed. I haven't picked my outfit yet, but I need to go shopping at Blue Boutique. There will be the finest bustiers in town at this party, and they all may be off in the New Year."