With Las Vegas expecting record crowds this New Year’s weekend, Sin City must make room for its revelers. Cue: Hyde Bellagio.

Every culture has its own way to welcome in the new year. Here in the United States, we have a rich tradition of drinking heavily and dropping things (and people) from great heights. However, the fetish for watching giant objects fall from the sky is not shared worldwide. For example, in Spain and the Philippines, it's customary to eat 12 grapes as the clock announces midnight, one for each stroke of the clock. In Finland, it's tradition to drop molten tin into water, then divine meaning from the shape it takes. Panamanians burn effigies of famous people as a means to drive off evil spirits for the New Year, while Danes will ring in 2009 by jumping off of chairs to symbolize a "leap" into the New Year. In Estonia, the big day is actually January 1, where it's considered good luck to eat seven meals in the same day. Fancy panties are de rigueur for folks in Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela; red underpants are supposed to bode well for love in the new year, while yellow knickers indicate dreams of money. To see photos and more funky traditions, click here.

Rounding out the New Year's Eve recommendations from our Mixology site -- brought to you by BlackBook and Grey Goose -- is a bonus from our series featuring the hottest bartenders of New York and Los Angeles. In the capper, check out Tatsuya from NYC's Larry Lawrence as he demonstrates the fine art of the Sweet Lawrence. Have a happy.

We tried for a top 10, but settled for 5. After all, we are in recession, people. If Cup O' Noodle and sparkling cider is on your New Year’s Eve menu, may we suggest rolling out a blanket on Ocean Drive and 8th Street for some free-of-charge fireworks viewing. If, however you wanna be a baller, consider the following. 1. The Mondrian Miami hotel is teaming up with Tommy Pooch and Alan Roth to ring in "Recessison," a.k.a. NYE 2009. Two hundred bucks will buy you an entry into the Sunset Lounge, where a 20-piece orchestra will mix with tunes spun by DJ Tavin. Resident eatery Asia de Cuba offers a range of packages depending on your wallet and/or appetite. 2. If you're a reality TV junky, head on up to the Shore Club, where Kristin Cavallari is set to make an appearance. Organized by Skybar and New York’s Tenjune, live performances will include Busta Rhymes, Ron Brownz, and Pras. Mos Def spins while you pay -- $275 to be exact.

Time for your early tipple. Over on the Mixology joint venture from BlackBook and Grey Goose, bartenders at the top of their game in New York and Los Angeles demonstrate top-shelf cocktails appropriate for your New Year's Eve celebrating. Today we'll have two choices to round out the selections; the first is Nick at LA's Saints N' Sinners showing you the secrets of the L'Orange. Check back later today for the finale.

Oh my. It's New Year's again. Time is out somewhere huddled in a corner, cigarette ash at length, feeling sorry for itself. You know the feeling surely. What is it about New Year's that leaves us rushing for our lover, before the Times Square Ball begins to chase down the silvery pole on TV and disco is forever burned into our hearts each year this way (does ABBA receive royalty from this?) and all of a sudden everyone I know is in When Harry Met Sally. God I love that movie. Anyway, this New Year's, I did the impossible. I quit smoking (gross). I always read this thing, this "Quitting Smoking" thing on so many New Years resolution lists, but it seems most don't make it. So I hid under the blankets already and did the harrowing three-day OMFG slumber before New Year's. Why? Because I wanted to be through the worst of it before I went to some parties? Nope.

On occasion, I get a deeply atavistic jones for champagne. New Year's Eve is really no different than any other day except that I will likely consume more of it than normal. For some reason -- recession-related, a glimmer of good times in the darkness of bad? -- there's a lot of chatter about bubbly, more so than I can remember from the recent past. The New York Times alone did three stories on bubbly, and a host of others publications have run their usual seasonal champagne primers. Here's something to get you started.

Five ways to ring in the New Year in Tinseltown.

Our experts take you to school

We've almost made it to New Year's Eve, and the Mixology site brought to you by BlackBook and Grey Goose keeps rolling out the hits. Today's choice beverage from the prime party venues of New York and Los Angeles is the Hudson Pear, courtesy of "Dr. Mixologist" at NYC's Hudson Bar. Check out what the other Pros are cooking too.