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There were so many things to drink about this year, from the oil bleeding into the Gulf to the earthquake in Haiti. But, despite having every reason to booze up, you still don't have New Year's plans. A few weeks ago, we suggested ten ideas for your year-end revelry. Below, here are five more options to help you put a drunken end to the shittastic twentydime.

Christmas got you bankrupt? We've got two choices for free revelry: Atomic Cowboy's Livin' 'Leven Large bash features a triple bill of STL's finest knob-twiddling turntablists: DJ Mahf, Matt Leach and DEADasDISCO. The trio provides the tunes, while the Cowboy provides a free breakfast buffet and a shot toast at midnight. Early birds, show up before 9:30 and get a two-for-one drink ticket.

And everyone's favorite German Mexican restaurant and venue, El Leñador, hosts DJ Lil' Daddy Reba McEntire New Year's Dance Party. The event is totally free, and kicks off at 9 p.m. Check out the video flyer below, courtesy of Eric Hall:

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Once the stockings are turned inside out, you've drunk your weight in Bailey's-spiked hot cocoa, and all of this forced togetherness is finally starting to try your last nerve, well, there's only one thing left to salvage your Christmas night: heavy drinking with other STL scrooges. What bars are open to oblige your x?

*Head to The Royale on Christmas night for a hot toddy. Warm your frozen behind by the outdoor fire and listen to KDHX's Thomas Crone dominate the decks. They aren't open during the day on Christmas, so you'll have to stick with your family until 8 p.m. when they open for bar service.

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Hawthorne Headhunters is Black Spade, Coultrain and I, Ced.

​You've probably already heard about the awesome awesomeness that is and will be Fresh Paint II this Friday at 2720 Cherokee. The event's Facebook page already has more than 15,000 (!) invites.

But, if you aren't already in the know, here's the deal: Local indie rock darlings So Many Dynamos are collaborating with Hawthorne Headhunters (featuring the incomparable Black Spade) and hip-hoppers Illphonics for a very cool musical experiment.

The bands, according to event co-organizer Kaveh Razani, will each play three or four song mini-sets. Then they'll take turns on stage, playing songs that riff off of whatever came before. At the end of the night Headhunters, who are dropping a new album soon, will play a longer set all their own.

As if that's not enough, the Art Dimensions Gallery above the venue is hosting an exhibition of commerce-themed multimedia art in honor of Black Friday.
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Dear Santa,

Last night at the Pageant, you showed up again this year as the man of honor at A Very Ludo Christmas. But things were somewhat different for the local quintet as it celebrated its fourth annual holiday extravaganza. For starters, earlier in the year Ludo released You're Awful, I Love You, its major-label debut. That CD spawned a modern-rock hit ("Love Me Dead") and helped raise the band's national profile: Warped Tour, gigs with Relient K and the Presidents of the United States of America, appearances on late-night television and countless other promotions convinced those outside St. Louis of Ludo's talent.


Slide Show

What was apparent after the show last night - where you had the best vantage point, in a throne situated stage left - is that the band has earned this recognition because of its songs. Awful

tunes "Such As It Ends" and "Please" are stone-cold pop gems, with seamless construction, catchy hooks and original arrangements. Ludo's ability to skid between genres (always one of its big strengths) also impressed me last night, even moreso than it has in the past.

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MP3: Mariah Carey, "All I Want for Christmas Is You"

This song unites everyone, people. Everyone. Merry Christmas, if you celebrate that sort of stuff.

MP3: The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, "Fairytale of New York"

There really isn't a better Christmas Eve song than this duet between Irish rockers the Pogues and the late Kirsty MacColl. Taken from the Pogues' If I Should Fall from Grace with God, the song reminisces about the ghosts and regrets of holidays past. "Fairytale" is a perennial top ten December single in the U.K. But when released first in 1987, it didn't reach No. 1, thanks to the Pet Shop Boys' cover of "Always On My Mind."

Here's the 1987 TOTP version of the song.

MP3: The Ramones, "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)"

From 1989's Brain Drain. Another classic Joey Ramone tune.

MP3: Band Aid, "Do They Know It's Christmas Time? (Original 1984)"

I couldn't find the best version of this song, which is an extended mix with a totally earnest spoken-word bridge featuring the tune's participants. But here's the original version of 1984's seminal charity single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" The U.K. tune was recorded to raise money to help ease famine in Ethiopia, but it also spawned countless hilarious parodies and spoofs (and arguably kicked off the "all-star charity single" trend of the '80s).

Video below, which is a must. See Phil Collins in his bitching argyle vest keeping the beat strong! See George Michael's amazingly bleached/frosted blonde hairdo -- which is only rivaled by Simon LeBon's similar coif! Sting in a ridiculous scarf! Bono looking almost sedate!

MP3: Run DMC, "Christmas in Hollis"

From 1987's A Very Special Christmas. I'm also including the video below, because it's by far the best holiday-themed clip ever.

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From the album Laface Family Christmas. TLC, well, no intro necessary!