BETHESDA NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENTS GUIDE - JUST ADDED: GRINGOS AND MARIACHIS!

Making last-minute New Year's Eve plans? Here is my guide to some of the more intriguing New Year's Eve events at Bethesda bars and restaurants this year. The biggest news is the last-minute entry of the highly-anticipated Gringos & Mariachis restaurant to the list of New Year's Eve options.

Gringos and Mariachis

This is the one people will be talking about around town, given that the restaurant hasn't opened to the public yet! For only $45, be one of the first to try the food here (which you'd expect to be outstanding, coming from the folks behind Bethesda's popular Olazzo restaurant). Choose one item from each course on the 4-course menu:

Course 1:

Pineapple guacamole, halibut ceviche, or duck nachos.

Course 2:

Kale Caesar, tortilla chicken soup, or roasted tomato soup.

Course 3:

Lamb mixiote, red snapper Vera Cruz, or pistachio-encrusted chicken.

Course 4:

Coconut flan or rice pudding.

Vegetarian options will also be available. Email olazzo [at] yahoo.com for reservations. Phone: 240-800-4266. 4928 Cordell Avenue.

Guardado's

Guardado's is offering an All-You-Can-Eat menu for only $50, including Champagne and noisemakers at midnight. 4918 Del Ray Avenue. 6:00 PM-midnight.

The Parva

Table service is already sold out in the upstairs lounge, but you can still enjoy two floors of music all night ($30) and add a 3-course dinner for $20 more. Ironically, one of the appetizers on the menu is Beef Empanadas, a New Year's Eve tradition for me.  Call 301-312-6488 to reserve your dinner seat now. 7904 Woodmont Avenue. Starts at 6:00 PM.

Positano Ristorante

Positano will be open for lunch and dinner New Year's Eve, and there is no fixed menu or price; you can order whatever you like from the menu. They are also open on New Year's Day, from noon to 9:00 PM. Once again, you can order your preference from the regular menu. You may want to verify what the closing time is on New Year's Eve when you make your reservation. To reserve a table, call 301-654-1717, or email reserve@epositano.com. 4948 Fairmont Avenue.

Redwood

Redwood has a 1920s Prohibition theme, and numerous packages for all price points. There's even back room "gambling." If you just want to get into the party for $56, whisper this password to the bouncer after 9:00 PM: "blind tiger." See all the packages, and order tickets on Redwood's special website. 7121 Bethesda Lane. Dinner: 6:30, Speakeasy Party starts at 9:00.

Union Jack's Bethesda

Union Jack's presents its 8th Annual British Invasion Ball, complete with heavy hors d'oeuvres from 8-10 PM, a live DJ and dancing until 2:30 AM, party favors, midnight champagne toast, early morning Continental breakfast, billiards and darts, and drink specials all night. Order tickets online, or for a higher price at the door. 4915 St. Elmo Avenue. 8:00 PM - 2:30 AM.