Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the United States, makes an exciting choice for a New Year's celebration. In keeping with the long-held tradition of gathering, drinking, and dancing to ring in the New Year (and necessitating a period of recovery on New Year's Day), Chicago has more than its fair share of fine restaurants and night spots, many of which already have their 2006 plans in place.

The largest Chicago New Years celebration is hosted at Navy Pier. In addition to an outstanding midnight fireworks display, entertainment is offered all evening. Note that some activities do carry an admission price, but people of all ages are welcome to gather and ring in the New Year.

To dine out on your Chicago New Years Eve, the North Pond restaurant offers a five course "tasting" meal prepared by Chef Bruce Sherman for $110 per diner. A midnight champagne toast is included. (Do note that in many New Years Eve package deals drinks are additional and since drinking is a major part of this annual celebration, it's advisable to do the liquid math in order to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of the evening.)

For a Chicago New Years that does not require formal evening attire, Piece offers all the pizza on thin crust their guests can eat and plentiful specialty beers to wash it all down. If all you want is the beer, visit Fitzers Pub, an upscale comfortable, drinking establishment with plenty of suds in bottles or on tap.

If partying on the river for your Chicago New Years celebration sounds like the way to go, be one of fifteen hundred guests at Fulton's on the River for steak, seafood, drinks, and entertainment. (Expect to pay from $175 to $300 for the evening.)

Put a Latin beat in your Chicago New Years at Nacional 27 with a spicy three-course meal. Before nine o'clock you will pay $45 per person, $65 afterwards. Latin cuisine can also be found in the sexy atmosphere of Mas.

At Narcisse a live DJ spins hip hop where, for $110, guest can partake of an open bar and appetizers until 3 o'clock in the morning. (The open bar option will certainly guarantee a need for a period of recovery on New Year's Day!)

Sheffield's Beer & Wine Garden offers the added attraction of a Resolution Raffle after a night of finger food and party favors. Groups of fifty or more people can secure an open bar for $80 per person. (Looking for group deals is a good way to spend the evening with your friends and save money.)

Celebrants at Four have an option of New Years packages ranging from $90 per person to $500 per couple. On the high end of the price scale you get a night at the Indigo Hotel and limousine service.

Living up to its hip, urban reputation, Chicago, Illinois offers a range of options for the traditional New Year's Eve celebrations involving eating, drinking, dancing and other forms of merriment. From the public celebrations and fireworks displays at Navy Pier to posh, catered meals, limousine rides, and a stay in one of the city's finest hotels, there's a Chicago New Years choice for all tastes and all pocketbooks.