I had semi-promised an earlier poster that I would scare up some goings-on for the New Year weekend. Well, I'm lazy, so I just went to Timeout/Amsterdam and stole this stuff. The party at the Sugar Factory with the Hunter Thompson theme looks good: all I need is a Hawaiian shirt and shades and I can pass for the attorney Dr. Gonzo.

Have fun!

Oud & Nieuw Feest
Melkweg, Lijnbaansgracht 234a (+31 (0)20 531 8181/www.melkweg.nl). Tram 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10. 10pm. €40. Cash only. Date Dec 31.

The sprawling multimedia centre Melkweg is always a safe bet on New Year's Eve. And with the Amsterdam Klezmer Band among the performers you can truly rely on a party. They'll be filling the halls with their infectious brand of clarinet and horn-fuelled Jewish wedding music. And while they are ultimately respectful to the form, they are not afraid to mix in a bit of funk, jazz and even, on occasion, some Balkan gypsy brass band brashness. Be prepared to raise your hands over your head and shake to the beat. Other acts include surf aficionados The Phantom Four, and DJs Dab, Robin S, Tommi and Juan. And don't miss the Silent Disco!
Retrospective - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Foam, Keizersgracht 609 (+31 (0)20 551 6500/www.foam.nl). Tram 16, 24, 25. 10am-5pm Sat-Wed; 10am-9pm Thur-Fri. €6. Cash only. Date Dec 23-Apr 2.

An historically important figure, Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of the leading lights of 20th century photography, famed for constantly capturing the 'decisive moment' with his trusty Leica. Before founding the photography agency Magnum with Robert Capa in 1947, he covered wars and travelled throughout Mexico, Eastern Europe, India, Burma, China, Indonesia and Tibet. In 1954 he became the first Western photographer to be invited to the Soviet Union. Enjoy a glimpse of many decisive moments from history in this stunning exhibition.


Jill Magid
Stedelijk Bureau Amsterdam, Rozenstraat 59 (+31 (0)20 422 0471/www.smba.nl). Tram 10, 13, 14, 17. 11am-5pm Tue-Sun. Free. Cash only. Date Nov 13-Dec 31.

The Amsterdam-based American artist Jill Magid enjoys subverting the issues around public surveillance. She gained acclaim with 'glam-cams' where she transformed the symbols of an all-seeing Big Brother into shiny kitsch delights. For one of this exhibition's videos, she brought in crime scene detectives to investigate a moment of adultery she staged with two actors. In other work, she has edited together footage from Amsterdam surveillance cameras that she lurked in front of - and got mugged in the process. Paranoid yet?

Tangomagia 8
Various locations and times (+31 (0)20 663 9469/www.tangomagia.com). €25-30/night. Cash only. Date Dec 27-30.

Tangomagia is a four-day international Tango festival of workshops, balls and live music that is taking place at several different venues across town. As well as performances from some of the best dancing couples on the planet, including Sebastian Arce and Mariana Montes, Fabián Salas and Carolina del Rivero, and Esteban Moreno and Claudia Codega, there will be music from the impressive likes of Orquesta típica Silencio. The perfect time to fine-tune some moves.
Gregorian Vespers

St Nicolaaskerk, Prins Hendrikkade 73 (+31 (0)20 636 4873). A 2-minute walk from Central Station. 5pm. Free. Date Every Sunday.

Witness the ten-voiced Schola Cantorum Amsterdam do a convincing job - for a group of non-monks anyway - of Gregorian chanting the vespers every Sunday. For both the devoutly religious and the purely musically-minded, and in the undeniably glorious and evocative interior of the St Nicolaas Church near Central Station, it's one of the nicer ways of absorbing some old time religion. 'Tis the season after all.

Gonzo & Sugar Factory New Year's Eve Party
Sugar Factory, Lijnbaansgracht 238 (www.sugarfactory.nl). Tram 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10. 11pm-5am. €50 (includes champagne). Cash only. Date Dec 31.

A marriage made in heaven - Sugar Factory may be a theatre but it's also one of the city's hottest new clubs. And the roving club night Gonzo is rightfully hyped as one of the best parties in town. It's a fabulous Hunter S Thompson-inspired dress-up party, attracting fun-loving freaks grooving to happy bouncy tunes provided by a canny roster of local DJs. Costume compulsory. Get that ticket early.