New Year's Eve is the final opportunity to tie one on in 2002. This is where the party ends.

Photo: Chicano Allstars play Monterey Coast Brewing in Salinas.

Ever had Sex with an Alligator? It sounds pretty dangerous to us too, but at BRITANNIA ARMS, Sex With An Alligator is just a drink with Chambord, Midori Sour and Jagermeister. Not for the faint of heart, but probably not as deadly as its namesake activity. Yikes.

While you're getting amorous with reptiles, you can groove to the spinning of DJ JUNI, who'll be bringing '80s and '90s dance beats to you all evening long.

Also downtown, the MUCKY DUCK will offer comestibles for those with champagne taste and a beer budget: steak and lobster dinners, a live DJ and a midnight toast for ten bucks.

OCEAN THUNDER hosts a no-charge locals party with live music and free champagne. Did we mention the champagne? And that it's free? UNBALANCED will provide the tunes, the house'll provide the bubbly, you'll provide the ambience. All is good.

BULLWACKERS promises a reasonably priced lobster and steak dinner with champagne and all that jazz at their shindig. As of press time, no word on what exactly that reasonable price is. But hey, BRIAN DIAMOND is playing, it's an all-inclusive price for dinner and the party, and one would guess that the champagne supply is virtually unlimited. Score!

PLANET GEMINI is doing its thing with a Fiesta Celebration night of comedy featuring KERRY TALMAGE and RUBEN QUINTANA, of Que Locos fame. After comedy comes not one but four of our area's best DJ's spinning music that'll keep you so busy dancing you'll forget to check the clock. There's a midnight champagne toast, too (but where isn't there?) and this evening of fun is $30 for the general masses and $40 for those who want to reserve their spot.

VIVA will have both live acts and DJ's for an evening of dancing, rocking out, food, and cash prizes/giveaways. If you haven't been there since the renovation, you're missing out. It's morphed into a pretty classy place, and this New Year's Eve celebration is a great chance for you to check it out. Order a kamikaze (triple sec, vaaaaahdka and lime juice.) Those have always been my favorite.

If you're in the mood for curry and garlic naan, INDIAN SUMMER has a special dinner buffet from 5-9pm and DJ SCIENTIST OF SOUND from 9:30 until whenever. If you want to party nicely, this'll be the place to go. Try a Pimm's Cup. Or four.

The CARMEL MISSION INN offers the beef and lobster deal, as well as lobster ravioli, and David Conley making music for the masses.

If you feel like doing it up all the way, Pebble Beach is the place to go. ROY'S at the INN AT SPANISH BAY is holding a dinner with several options of entree, appetizer and dessert from 5:30-10:30. Your choices include duck, ribs and lobster for dinner, with bittersweet chocolate cake and wild honey as one of the options for dessert. All for $75.

THE LODGE AT PEBBLE BEACH is doing it even more upscale, with dinners at CLUB XIX ($195) and STILLWATER BAR AND GRILL ($95). All the while, WALLY'S SWING WORLD will be playing in the Terrace Lounge-free for Club XIX or Stillwater diners; $25 for the rest of us.

Or you could go to SLY MCFLY'S and bask in the usual party-party atmosphere. From 7-10 there's a buffet dinner featuring Baron of Beef, Salmon, pasta and more. RED BEANS AND RICE will crank it up on the dancefloor until the champagne toast at midnight. And of course, party favors. Dinner party tickets are $45, it's just $12 to join in the unfed revelry.

And then in Salinas we have MONTEREY COAST BREWING, where for $40 you get to attend the all night party with dinner, drinks and music by regulars the CHICANO ALL STARS. If the champagne doesn't hit the spot, I recommend the fairly girly Bailey's on ice. It tastes like dessert and it gets you nicely wasted.

For some sophisticated phun in oldtown, HULLABALOO hosts a "Hullabash" with the omnipresent champagne toast, short ribs and lobster. Down the block and around the corner, the PENNY FARTHING will have a DJ.

So if First Night isn't your thang, if you're looking for a slightly less family-oriented occasion, there are some suggestions. Party hard.