Madewell’s 10 Best: New Ways to Spend New Year’s Eve

Because you’ve popped Champagne every other year…

Ever heard that old adage that how you spend New Year’s Eve sets the tone for the rest of your year? While we don’t totally buy it, we’re all for a fresh beginning. From a psychic reading to a midnight stroll, 10 unexpected ways to kick off 2015.

1. Get perspective on the coming year with a visit to a psychic or palm reader. Prep to get the most out of your forecast, here.

2. Wind down at a spa and pick the right massage for ultimate relaxation. The main differences between the nine most common rubdowns, here.

3. Start 2015 with some good karma and volunteer at a soup kitchen or shelter for the evening. There are opportunities across the country, here.

4. Hit the slopes for an after-hours ski or sledding session; many regional ski areas offer nighttime lift tickets. Inspiration for your requisite Instagrams, here.

5. Slip into downward dog with a night of yoga. New York-based Jivamukti studio has a whole evening of activities, here.

6. Host a clothing swap and donate what’s left. Any unwanted jeans can be recycled in our stores—learn more here. Find a local drop-off site for everything else here.

7. Take a midnight stroll in your warmest coat with a thermos of hot chocolate (standard or spiked). A great cocoa recipe, here.

8. Write a secret resolution out in sparklers and take a photo. Tips for capturing it on an iPhone, here and here.

9. Borrow a New Year’s Eve tradition from another culture. In Spain, for example, people eat 12 grapes at midnight. In Belgium, children write letters to their parents. More ideas here.

10. Check into a hotel for the night—in your own city. Find last-minute vacancies at unheard-of prices here.

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