Best Bets 12.20.13-1.9.14

SATURDAY, DEC. 28
A special Backstreet Reunion takes place tonight, 10 years after the iconic location closed its doors. Come relive the memories and see friends you might have seen on the Backstreet dance floor, Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

Slip into your leather pants, step into your chaps and buckle up your harnesses  – it’s Castro Leather Bar Night with guest DJ Nat at 10 p.m. at the Atlanta Eagle, www.atlantaeagle.com

 


TUESDAY, DEC. 31 – New Year’s Eve
Guyton Maurice and pianist David Reeb help bring in 2014 at Cafe Vena at Vinings. Five course prixe menu and champagne toast afor $75. Seating begins at 7 p.m. www.cafevenaatvinings.com

Ruby Redd’s Light District NYE Dinner Cabaret featuring Atlanta’s newest “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trinity K. Bonet. This is a seated 4-course dinner show complete with a champagne toast. The show will also feature the talents of Andre Reese Monroe, Celeste Holmes, Evah Destruction, Marcella Grrleen Redd, Extasy Grey, Myah Ross Monroe,River Song-Redd and Trashetta GaLore and, of course, will be hosted by the hilarious Ruby Redd. Tickets are $35. Seating is at 7:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. http://www.eventbrite.com/o/jungle-atlanta-3037248952?s=20798473

Spend New Year’s Eve with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin and tunes such as “I Got Rhythm,” vocalist Judy McLane and pianist Michael Chertock, as well as special guests vocalist Judy McLane and pianist Michael Chertock, 8 p.m., Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, www.aso.org
Party Like a Rockstar 8.0 is the yearly New Year’s Eve collaboration featuring International DJ/producer Manny Lehman. Proceeds from this night will benefit Joining Hearts. Doors open at 8 p.m., with $25 for regular admission and $45 for the VIP experience, Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

BJ Roosters hosts New Year’s Eve festivities at 8 p.m. with no cover, www.yelp.com/biz/bj-roosters-atlanta

Attack of the New Year’s Eve Party Monster. Come tear it up at the “queerest bar in town” with “French kissin’ in the streets of East Atlanta with all the boys in town.” DJ Bendito and DJ Sam Rothstein will be in the booth to ring in 2014. Free for everyone 21 and up. 9 p.m., Mary’s, www.marysatlanta.com

DJ Eddie Baez and an opening set by Mike Pope highlight the Heretic’s New Year’s Eve Genesis bash. Angelica D’Paige does the New Year’s countdown. Admission is  $10 and white attire is requested.  Doors open at 9 p.m., Heretic Atlanta, www.hereticatlanta.com
Michelle Malone plays a special New Year’s Eve party at Eddie’s Attic tonight, 9:30 p.m., www.eddiesattic.com

Girls in the Night hosts a series of NYE parties for women in three separate ballrooms — Heaven, Paradise and The Garden — at the Westin Atlanta Airport, 9 p.m. www.girlsinthenight.com

The fourth annual Glitter and Fur New Year’s Party is one of the evening’s premiere events, with hosts such as Mariah Balenciaga, Kryean Kalley, Barry Brandon and DJ King Atlas from the Haus of Glitz. Season Two of “Sing For Your Life” will also be announced.  9 p.m. – 3 a.m., Takorea, www.mytakorea.com

Traxx Girls with Blue Diamond Entertainment, Echilds Night Life and Twee Presents hosts the Red Carpet Affair VIII. Hosted by Cadillac Redd and Jersey Moulin. Complimentary cocktail toast at midnight. Doors open at 10 p.m. at 595 North near the corner of Northside Drive and North Avenue. www.nyredcarpetaffair2013.eventbrite.com

The Masquerade Ball is tonight at My Sister’s Room, with the best mask winning a $50 bar tab. Featuring the Lee family at 10:30 p.m, as well as DJ Liz Owen, champagne toast and breakfast buffet, www.mysistersroom.com

Swinging Richards hosts a New Year’s party unlike any other in town. A $55 charge gets you free entrance, an open bar all night, free 15 minute VIP rooms, afree champagne toast at midnight, giveaways and the hottest men in the country, all literally before your eyes, Swinging Richards, www.swingingrichards.com

New Year’s Eve Bash at Amsterdam Atlanta with beats by DJ Mark Tee. Dance floor opens at 10 p.m. No cover. www.amsterdamatlanta.com

The Atlanta Eagle hosts a busy New Year’s Eve night, with DJ Pat Scott at 10 p.m., as well as karaoke with Mikey, Robby and Jack, and a traditional New Year’s event with champage at midnight, with no cover, Atlanta Eagle, www.atlantaeagle.com

10th & Piedmont is the location of the Swank New Year’s party, with DJ Prism, lots of women and a champagne toast, $10 before 11 p.m. and $20 after, http://www.communitashospitality.com/10th-and-piedmont/

Shawna Brooks and Destiny Brooks hosts the Divas Cabaret show/New Year’s event with free champagne at midnight, LeBuzz, www.thenewlebuzz.com

Charlie Brown hosts the Masquerade Ball at Lips Atlanta, with drag performances, dancing, a three course dinner and a champagne toast, Lips Atlanta, from $35 to $75, www.lipsatl.com

WEDNEDAY, JAN. 1
New Year’s Day Morning Party starting at 6:30 a.m. at Heretic with DJ Twisted Dee. www.hereticatlanta.com

Hip Hop Karaoke Wednesdays with DJ M and Twee. Hosted by Jack Daddy and Missy. Over 20,000 songs to choose from. Drink specials all night. Doors open at 8 p.m. My Sisters Room, www.mysistersroom.com

Adult performer Charlie Harding hosts his Hard Bodies Party event at Blakes tonight, www.blakesontheparkatlanta.com

UPCOMING

FRIDAY, JAN. 3

Furry Disco Balls with DJ Headmaster and Cousin Oliver. Macho men and dancing diva looks are encouraged. 9 p.m., www.marysatlanta.com

SATURDAY, JAN. 4

PFLAG hosts the Parents of gender variant/trans children support group meeting today from 2 – 4 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, http://www.uuca.org/

The Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and The Atlanta Eagle bring you Jockstrap Sister Twister, featuring fun and all sorts of intertwined body parts, raising money for the Sisters grant program, 9 – 11 p.m., Atlanta Eagle, www.atlantaeagle.com

MONDAY, JAN. 6

The PFLAG Atlanta support group meets tonight on Monday in Atlanta, 7:30 – 9 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, www.uuca.org

THURSDAY, JAN. 9

Charis Books hosts “Braving the Fire and Writing the Tough Stuff,” a craft class on difficult memoir strategies with Jessica Handler, author of “Invisible Sisters: A Memoir” and “Braving the Fire: A Guide to Writing About Grief and Loss. ” This is a From Margin to Center Literary Event focusing on personal difficulty, such as loss, grief and trauma. The suggested donation is $5. 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., www.charisbooksandmore.com

“Sing For Your Life” kicks off its second season with an all new Top 12 of live music talent, beginning at 9 p.m., Jungle Atlanta, www.jungleatl.com

Topher Payne’s new “The Only Light in Reno” bows at Georgia Ensemble Theatre in Roswell, 8 p.m., www.get.org