Go-and-do this New Year’s

Celebrating the arriving new year means different things to different folks. While some are popping corks off of bottles of bubbly, others are looking for family-friendly fun. Singles might be hoping to mingle after all the jingle while some couples are hunting for the perfect romantic rendezvous.

Whatever your personal case may be, here are a variety of go-and-do options for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the not-so-distant future

NEW YEAR’S EVE

SINGLES

The Downtown Countdown at Hyatt Regency Atlanta

Imagine a New Year’s Eve party on growth hormone. Beginning at 8:30 p.m., a formally-dressed crowd — think loud, proud tuxes and sexy cocktail dresses — throw down at this multi-faceted shindig. Most revelers are in their mid 20s to late 30s, but guests must be 21 and older. The party takes up more than 87,000 square feet of hotel space. The massive Centennial Ballroom plays host to familiar live acts, regional rockers and a DJ wielding wax between sets. Athens-based pop rock outfit Modern Skirts kicks things off at 9 p.m. Cracker picks up the torch at 10:35 p.m. with its brand of ’90s alternative rock. The band takes a quick break for what organizers call Atlanta’s biggest balloon drop, which Dave FM radio personalities host at midnight. Cracker jams for another 15 minutes. Then Young MC, the one-hit wonder behind the 1989 hip-hop crossover hit “Bust a Move,” takes it home from 12:30-1:15 a.m.

Other ballrooms boast additional entertainment. A DJ spins contemporary and classic dance tunes in the Regency Ballrooms; a quartet of comedians juggle jokes in the Learning Center; and cover bands, including live rock karaoke purveyor Metalsome Inc., shake up the Hanover Ballrooms. Football fans can indulge in a special bowl game-watching room with big-screen TVs. The all-inclusive ticket offers buffet-style grub and a premium open bar pouring the duration. VIP tickets offer fancier food and drink options and additional elbow room. A special reduced-price ticket is a available for those who come late after attending the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the nearby Georgia Dome. It gives these guests party access from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. All tickets increase in price as the event draws closer.

$129-$169; VIP $200-$275; $75-$85 for those attending after Chick-fil-A-Bowl. 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Dec. 31. Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-577-1234, www.downtowncountdown.net.

FAMILIES

Noon Year’s Eve at Smyrna Community Center

Some parents prefer to keep their tinier ones away from the chaos that can be found on New Year’s Eve. But even whipper snappers want to ring in the new year in fun-loving fashion. The folks at Radio Disney and Smyrna Market Village serve up the best of both worlds. Kids get an early start on their year-end celebrating starting at 10:30 a.m. The Radio Disney crew hosts an age-appropriate dance party. Tunes from Hannah Montana and “High School Musical” are sure to be part of a soundtrack to help tykes shake their stuff. Games and contests with prizes help build the anticipation. And moms and dads won’t have to worry about keeping the kids up until midnight. A balloon drop and cider toast take place at noon.

Free. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna. 770-434-6600, www.smyrnacity.com, www.radiodisney.com/atlanta.

COUPLES

The Punchline

A good dose of laughter can often be the best party favor of them all. The Punchline, Atlanta’s comedy mecca, offers three opportunities to crack up on New Year’s Eve before the calendar flips. The Punchline stage has and continues to grace some of the greatest stand-up names of the past 26 years, Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Pryor and Jay Leno among them. On New Year’s Eve, a pair of contemporary comics grab the spotlight. Quick-fire funny man Johnny Millwater dubs himself “the one-man freak show.” One minute he’s jabbing the audience with jokes, the next he’s eating fire. Guitar-toting jokester Rob Paravonian blends music and comedy. He’s best known for his rant on the classical piece Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” which he skewers by incorporating bits of familiar pop and rock songs. And since there are three separate shows in one night, couples can grab an early or late dinner, snuggle up in the intimate showroom and chuckle their way into 2009 .

$25-$50. 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 31. The Punchline, 280 Hilderbrand Drive N.E., Atlanta. 404-252-5233, www.punchline.com.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

SINGLES

Industry New Year Party at Peachtree Tavern

This celebration is a shout out to bartenders, waitstaffs, musicians, DJs and others who rang in the new year making sure everyone else had a good time. But average Joes and Janes who want to keep the party rolling can come, too. Peachtree Tavern, a cozy Buckhead bar known for live tunes and karaoke, bypasses a cover charge, another gift to service industry pros just off of their respective tours of duty. DJ Tubbystyle helms the decks with an arsenal of dance tracks. And don’t be surprised if you see a Brave or a Thrasher bellying up to the bar as Peachtree Tavern is a known watering hole for local sports personalities.

Free. 9 p.m. Jan. 1. Peachtree Tavern, 3179 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-842-1700, www.peachtreetavern.com.

COUPLES

Ice skating at Olde Town Conyers Pavilion

Seasonal romanticism comes in many forms, from mistletoe smooches to a clock-strikes-12 embrace. Lovebirds can add to the options by gliding hand-in-hand across an ice skating rink. The frosty enterpreneurs of Have an Ice Day Productions are back at it again with its outdoor ice skating rink tucked underneath the Olde Town Conyers Pavilion in downtown Conyers. The rink operates through February 8, but special New Year’s Day hours give ice lovers an alternative to couch potato recovery. Skating begins at 2 p.m., and visitors can skate as long as they want until close. Those seeking blades of glory can rent skates, or save a little money and bring your own. But leave the credit cards at home. This ice skating experience is cash only. Call or check Web site for regular hours.

$6; $2 skate rental. 2-11 p.m. Jan. 1. Olde Town Conyers Pavilion, 949 S. Main St., Conyers. 770-602-2606, www.icedays.com.

FAMILIES

Polar Bear Swim at Lake Lanier Olympic Center

An extreme way to knock out the cobwebs after a New Year’s Eve festivity is taking a dip in an ice-cold lake. That’s what some participants at the 12th annual Polar Bear Swim may have on their minds. This fundraiser for the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club finds the brave, bold and brain frozen donning bathing suits and splashing into Lake Lanier at the finish tower at Lake Lanier Olympic Center. In past years, some have hit the frigid waters in wacky costumes, so don’t be surprised if you see Superman diving head first into the drink. Jumpers range from young kids to seniors. Photographers gather around the swimmers snapping shots of their daring feats. It’s free to watch the honorary polar bears flip and flop into the water but jumpers pay a fee. Each jumper gets a T-shirt, a warm bowl of soup, a hot drink and a dessert.

Free for spectators; $25 per jumper; $50 per family. 2 p.m. Jan. 1. Lake Lanier Olympic Center, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville. 770-287-7888, www.lckc.org.

THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE WEEK

SINGLES

Gwinnett Gladiators at The Arena at Gwinnett Center

Pull together a gaggle of guys or girls for an evening of hockey action and a possible free gift to boot. The current season for the Gwinnett Gladiators, the ECHL AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers, launched in October and is in full swing. The team’s new year plans include taking on the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday, January 3. It’s adult T-shirt giveaway night, too. This means the first 1,500 adults through the doors score a complimentary Gladiators top. Serious fans may want to arrive early, and doors open at 6:05 p.m. The players hit the ice an hour later. Then it’s time to watch Gladiators like Brad Schell and Jordan Fox pound some puck.

$10-$30. 7:05 p.m. Jan. 3. Arena at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com, www.gwinnettgladiators.com.

FAMILIES

Animal Encounter at Chattahoochee Nature Center

Try pulling the kids away from those newly-acquired video games and stoke their noggins with nature. Visitors to the Chattahoochee Nature Center can get a rare look at one of its permanent residents with this 30-minute live animal presentation. You never know what animals you might be rubbing fur, feathers or scales with. A wildlife biologist or docent presents a specific animal including birds of prey, amphibians and snakes. A beaver or maybe even an American bald eagle might be the star of the show. Other events happen throughout the weekend from guided hikes and raptor encounters to learning about nature through song. Additional animal encounters happen twice each week at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

$5 ages 13 and older; $4 seniors; $2 ages 3-12; free for children 2 and younger. 4 p.m. Jan. 2. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055, www.chattnaturecenter.org.

COUPLES

Tango lessons at Academy Ballroom

Learning the seductively fancy footwork of the tango is an activity that might bring a couple closer together. And newbies have a chance to jump in line with a beginner’s series that’s now forming. The organizers of Tango Evolution are launching an introductory class at the Academy Ballroom in Buckhead. Each six-week series covers different aspects of tango 101.Instructors, including Tango Evolution founding member Clint Rauscher, share their mastery teaching new dancers to walk and turn, get a grasp on musicality and rhythm, and more. Partners aren’t required, and instructors move partners around to allow more dance opportunities for the uninitiated. Other more advanced classes are available, too. And don’t forget those closed-toe shoes with leather bottoms.

$60 per series; $50 for students with valid ID. 8 p.m. Jan. 8. Academy Ballroom, 800 Miami Circle, Suite 140, Atlanta. 404-931-2455, www.tangoevolution.com.