What more fitting way to conclude 2016, a year full of surprise horrors and tragedies, than by getting scammed out of $100 or more for admission to a New Year's Eve benefit concert that isn't actually happening and will not, as advertised, feature special guests including '90s hitmakers K-Ci & JoJo and Color Me Badd.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office issued a "Fraud Alert" yesterday regarding the concert in question, which is advertised online as “I Love the 90’s Music Fest” and "New Years Eve 90’s Music Fest” to be held in Berkeley at a vague, undisclosed location with references to “harbor lights yacht," Berkeley's Sproul Hall, and "4 party rooms, 3, dance floors, and 7 bars."

General admission tickets to the non-event also promise a "HUGE Champagne Ball countdown," and VIP tickets are said to include a "hot and cold seafood buffet with champagne and desserts" plus a "late night Breakfast Bar." I'm sorry to tell you this, but there will be no seafood, hot or cold, and there is also no champagne. The late night breakfast bar is also a fabrication.

Crueler still: the Alameda County Food Bank is cited as a beneficiary of the evening in the advertising materials. That was news to Food Bank spokesperson Micheal Altfest according to the East Bay Times, who also learned from Color Me Badd's agent, Seth Cohen, that he had been recently made aware of the event... via a scam alert posted to a K-Ci & JoJo social media page

A working phone number for the purported promoter, AFAA Sports, is listed on the website for the fraudulent concert, and SFist spoke to an operator who had "limited knowledge" in "her department" of the supposed NYE event. We'll update this further if we hear back for more, as promised.

The Alameda County DA says that if you've unwittingly bought into the scam or have any further information about it, you should call its Consumer Protection Division at (510) 383-8600. Want to give the Food Bank a boost? Altfest tells the East Bay Times that “If people want to make straight donations, that’s a safer way to give." And if all of this leaves a hole in your New Year's Eve plans, consider that Justice will be doing a DJ Set at the Armory. That's just one of many more actual, concrete events being held in the Bay Area that evening.

Related: The 10 Best New Year's Eve Shows You Can Still Make Plans To See

Lets you think that San Francisco's War on Fun is a 21st Century invention, a look at the New Year's Eve rules and rituals of SF in 1913 are here to prove you wrong. Yes, the city was wild and wooly in the early 1900s, but they also had plenty of "nanny-state" bans, even back then.

Hoodline took a look at the archives of local old-school newspaper the San Francisco Call, and what they found was a mix of familiar and unfamiliar regulations: Though booze sales were to end at 2 a.m., NYE dancing was to be allowed "in all the restaurants and cafes 'that maintain floors for the purpose'" until 6 a.m.

One area of the city was left out of the dancing fun, however, as downtown's Barbary Coast area was "specifically excluded from participating in the all-night dancing," the Call reports, nor would women be allowed in area saloons.

There was one NYE ban that would have caused big trouble for, say, certain sloppy startups. According to the Call, the then police chief called for a confetti crackdown, saying that it "will not be permitted" and that officers will "arrest violators of this order." Tough talk!

San Francisco Call, Volume 115, Number 158, 31 December 1913 — FUN GODDESS TO REIGN IN ALL CAFES [ARTICLE] Image: CNDC

Here's the full article from the December 31, 1913 Call. Oh, for the good old days of lady-less saloons and confetti arrests!

Related: Startup Showers Dolores Park With Confetti To Celebrate Acquisition

Do you still not have your New Year's Eve figured out? Have you still not secured your “If it sucks” Plan B or second-party scenario? For those of you not currently holding advance tickets to anything, we've handmade this artisan list of the best New Year's Eve 2015 parties in San Francisco with a smattering of East Bay action also deserving honorable mention. Whether you’re an Amateur’s Night amateur, a glam party professional, or a mortified blackout-er, here is your full inventory of the best Bay Area New Year’s Eve 2016 parties, raves, live music shows, drag shows, burlesque shows, free shows, stand-up comedy shows and shit shows (Yes, one of them is actually called “Shit Show”).

SERIOUSLY: Don't drink and drive! You may encounter surge pricing on Uber and Lyft, but Muni is free. BART is running ‘til 3 a.m. AC Transit is running a Sunday schedule for their all-night bus routes across the Bay. The Transit511 app is very drunk-friendly and will easily plot you a trip home if you need it

New Bohemia NYE at The Armory
Your larger-than-life, big-name DJ massive, possibly-mingling-with-porn-stars option is New Bohemia NYE at the Kink.com Armory. Deep bass maestros the Stanton Warriors “top” a line-up also featuring Scumfrog, Ben Coda and Bay Area legend Syd Gris in a party that offers humongous illuminated art, crazy performances and that special magic of “Whoa, we’re at the Kink.com Armory”.
The Armory, 1800 Mission (at 14th St.)

FREE Fireworks Gala at Pier 14
You can totally watch the fireworks for free at Pier 14 (or adjacent areas), but get there early because nearly a quarter million people will show up. Pricier and exponentially more awesome boat tour experiences are offered through the Speakeasy New Year’s Cruise, New Years Rock on the Yacht and New Year’s Eve Fireworks Gala Cruise.
Pier 14 or wherever, depending on whether you paid or you’re just showing up

Flaming Lips, Ratatat Tat, Tycho & more at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
I have heard of exactly one of these artists. But that one is good enough to guarantee a worthwhile New Year’s Eve concert show, where the The Flaming Lips are joined by Ratatat Tat, Tycho, Gramatika, Geographer and nearly a dozen other maybe-good acts with whom I’m not familiar for an epic NYE show.
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. (at Polk St.)

Image: Bootie SF

BOOTIE SF: NYE Shit Show at DNA Lounge
Mashup club Bootie SF goes full New Year’s with the 2016 NYE Shit Show, a mashup dance party featuring resident founders A+D, DJ Tripp and DJ Jimi G mixing the crappy-ass hits of yesteryear with the crappy-ass hits of today plus free "Best of Bootie 2015" CDs to the first 500 people through the door.
DNA Lounge, 375 11 St. (at Harrison St.)

Hubba Hubba Revue at The Uptown’s Grand Reopening
The Uptown is reopening, people! The now-defunct bar gets refunct with a Grand Re-Opening Burlesque Bash show featuring the Hubba Hubba Revue hosting Lee Presson & The Nails, Szandora LaVey, Jet Noir, Mynx d'Meanor, and more. “The Uptown has been freshly painted, polished and looks fantastic” Hubba Hubba emcee Kingfish told SFist.”We did over 400 shows in 7 years at this beautiful treasure of Oakland nightlife, and we are overjoyed to be back for it's Grand Reopening on New Year's Eve!" NOTE: Presale tickets are sold out, They are holding 100 tickets at the box office for walk-up sales. Box office (and doors) opens at 9 p.m. on 12/31.
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Ave. (at 19th St., Oakland)

A New Year’s Eve with Seth MacFarlane
This asshole? Yes, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane does a rare stand-up set and performs showtunes with the San Francisco Symphony in what promises to be a spectacular New Year’s show for those of you who enjoyed MacFarlane’s career-ruining 2013 Oscar-hosting performance.
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 South Van Ness (at Hayes St.)

Image: SF Oasis

NYE at The Oasis
It’s The Oasis’ 1-year anniversary! They celebrate it with New Year’s Eve! featuring drag superstars Heklina, D’Arcy Drollinger, and many others.
Oasis, 298 Folsom (at 11th St.)

House of MORE! at The Stud
Juanita MORE dishes up MORE fantastic NYE drag shenanigans with Glamamore, Go BANG!, and The Broni Mitchell Show at The Stud.
The Stud, 399 Ninth St, (at Harrison St)

EndUp in Wonderland
The EndUp turns into a Las Vegas/Monte Carlo gambling scene for New Year’s Eve, because why not. They will also have Cirque (“inspired”) performers and bars both indoor and out.
The Endup, 401 Sixth St. (at Harrison St.)

Image: Mezzanine SF

Chet Faker at Mezzanine
Big deal electronica star Chet Faker graces the stage at Mezzanine for a very glam and classy affair that will be pricey but probably really fantastic.
Mezzanine, 444 Jessie St. (at Mint Plaza)

Club Gossip feat. Daniel Ash at Cat Club
Yes, that’s the Daniel Ash from Bauhaus and Love & Rockets showing you how to stay goth past 50 in a very special edition of Club Gossip that also offers live sets from resident DJs Randy, Damon and Dangerous Dan.
Cat Club, 1190 Folsom St. (at 8th St.)

LOVE + PROPAGANDA NYE 2016
The former Vessel has reopened as Love + Propaganda, with a newly revamped sound system and French house music superstar Zimmer among many other New Year’s treats.
Love + Propaganda, 85 Campton Place (off Stockton between Post and Sutter)

Image: Eye Heart SF

Girl Talk, Too $hort and Amp Live at Fort Mason Center
A diverse musical bouillabaisse of pop stars rocks this megaparty on the water’s edge, featuring Girl Talk, Too $hort, Amp Live and the curious boast of the “#1 Bartender-to-guest ratio of any competing party in the USA”.
Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Boulevard (at Laguna St.)

Maceo Parker at SFJazz Center
The funky sax of legendary Maceo Parker is embellished with a full 8-piece band, a Midnight balloon drop and complimentary sparkling wine that may or may not be actual booze.
SFJazz Center, 201 Franklin St. (at Fell St.)

Lil B and Kreayshawn at The Regency
East Bay fantasticos Lil B and Kreayshawn whoop it up at the Regency Ballroom with Kool John, “Stunnaman” of the Pack, Ashley All Day, DJ Slowpoke, Neto and So What.
Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness (at Sutter St.)

Photo from a past Breakfast of Champoins: Finsthwait

Breakfast of Champions at The Midway
It’s a new venue called The Midway for the 16th annual Space Cowboys Breakfast of Champions 6 a.m. afterparty, but with the same still-awake-partying clientele and outdoor block party arrangements. “You bet your bitcoin we'll have a big street party surrounding our new home,” Space Cowboys managing producer Andrea Lundquist told SFist. “The street party will consist of dozens of tents, outside bars and seating, food trucks, a pig roast, art cars, our dynamite SF Food Bank volunteers gigging for other folks' breakfast and one giant 100' long tent with a KNOW:AUDIO soundsystem.” The truly hardcore will continue on to Supper of Survivors at Public Works (4 p.m.) and then possibly to the Emergency Room.
The Midway, 900 Marin St. (at Illinois St, Pier 80)

New Year's Eve may be known as "amateur night," but the professionals at Muni are also on the clock that evening — and they're giving it up for free.

"We wish all San Francisco residents and visitors a happy and safe New Year," redundantly-titled San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin said in a statement.

"During the celebrations enjoy yourself, but don't drink and drive. Muni will be available for free to get you around the city and back on New Year's Eve," he says.

This is the 16th year in a row that Muni's offered free NYE rides, they say, this year from 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, to 5 a.m. on Friday, January 1.

Though last year the transit agency was able to do this with the financial support of Comcast Spotlight and 76, this year, the MTA says, 76 is on their own in bankrolling your free ride.

Here's how it works: Don't tap your Clipper Card, and don't try to give the driver money. Don't buy a Muni Mobile pass, you don't need it. And if you're catching Muni Metro at a station, all fare gates will be set to fare-free, so you can just walk in like you own the place. (Basically, you will be riding like all those people you bitch about the other 364 days of the year.)

Oh, and speaking of Muni Metro, the construction project that closed the system's evening subway service will be suspended on NYE, so you can ride the system as you did in the good old days, underground through downtown.

Other Muni changes for NYE, according to their site:

• Muni Metro service between West Portal and Embarcadero stations will be extended to 4 a.m. and until 2:15 a.m. to 4th and King streets
• Service on the F Market historic streetcar line will be provided by buses after 4 p.m.
• Service on the Cable Cars will be provided by buses after approximately 8 p.m.
• The 5 Fulton, 14 Mission, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 38 Geary, 90 and 91 Owl and the L and N Owl bus routes will run Extra Owl service from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• There will be extra 1-California service between Drumm Street and Presidio Avenue from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

One thing to be aware of if you're taking transit around the city that night is SF's city-sponsored fireworks show from a barge just off the Embarcadero and south of the Ferry Building. The rockets are set to go off at midnight, so the MTA warns that delays in the area are expected from approximately 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

If you're trying to take transit somewhere Muni doesn't go, other agencies are extending their service hours, too. Caltrain will also be free from 8 p.m. on, and will run four post-midnight trains, departing San Francisco at 12:45 a.m., 1:15 a.m., 1:45 a.m. and 2:15 a.m., or when full.

SamTrans will also be free from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., and will run its "regular non-school day service" on New Year's Eve.

BART won't be free, but as previously reported, will run until 3 a.m. on January 1. Just remember that they're running on a "skip-stop" schedule, during which certain trains will skip either the Embarcadero or Montgomery BART stops.

Related: Prepare To Get Turnt: BART To Run Until 3 AM New Year's Day

It’s hard to write a 15-year anniversary article on the Breakfast of Champions party because no one ever remembers what happened at the Breakfast of Champions party. The 6 a.m.-6 p.m. New Year’s Day afterparty celebrates its 15th year at Mighty this January 1, so SFist spoke with Breakfast of Champions organizers the Space Cowboys about the history of their annual party, known all over as mecca to 5,000 sleep-deprived New Year’s ravers too cracked-out to face reality and just go home.

Turns out the Space Cowboys’ original SF New Year’s parties were not on New Year’s Day and were not called ‘Breakfast of Champions’. From 1997-2001, the Space Cowboys spun at the San Francisco Motorcycle Club New Year’s Eve Party, a fairly standard New Year’s Eve affair that went from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. But those parties lacked that special Space Cowboys magic, that magic that comes from a combination of performers unwinding after big-money NYE gigs and fourth-pill stragglers refusing to accept that the party might be over.

“Starting a party at 6 a.m. New Year’s Day made sure it was only for the hardcore,” said DJ Sol, a longtime Space Cowboy who’ll spin this year at 10 a.m. on the Main Stage. “That's why it's Breakfast of Champions and has the taglines ‘only the strong survive’ and ‘until you cry uncle’.”

2001: The First Breakfast of Champions (Pier 23)

The first Breakfast of Champions was at Pier 23 on New Year’s Day in 2001, and was meant as an intimate get-together for DJs who’d performed the night before. The name ‘Breakfast of Champions’ was not applied until just before the event.

“I was working on the flyers and the party didn’t have a name.” said DJ 8Ball, who’s been spinning at Breakfast of Champions since its inception. “I just came up with ‘Breakfast of Champions’ because it sounded good. I was working on an MFA in writing at the time, so I probably was thinking about Vonnegut or something.  It seemed like the appropriate name for an afterparty that was really kind of an endurance race.”

“It was not necessarily a Space Cowboys event,” Space Cowboys managing producer Andrea Lundquist told SFist. “However all the DJs that played were Space Cowboys, and all the people there were Space Cowboys. But it was just billed as ‘Breakfast of Champions’.”

To this day, there remains an angry 1-star Breakfast of Champions review on Yelp from an out-of-towner furious that a breakfast course was not actually served at this event called Breakfast of Champions. So I guess I should explicitly state that the terms ‘Breakfast’ and ‘Champions’ are being used ironically, not literally.

2002 - 2009:  Breakfast of Champions Grows and Grows (Potrero Brewing Co. / Whisper)

The party moved to the now-defunct Potrero Brewing Company in 2002, for no better reason than the Pier 23 bartender who’d scored the previous year’s venue now worked at Potrero Brewing Company. The venue had no idea what they were in for. “From what I remember, we had completely sold the bar out both upstairs and downstairs,” Chip "DJ Mancub" Corwin told SFist, recalling mad New Year’s Day scrambles to liquor stores just to keep up with attendee demand for booze.

The Potrero Brewing Company folded, but Breakfast of Champions was still held there as the venue became Whisper. (Nowadays that venue is a chocolate shop). Word of mouth about the party continued to spread, and the venue continued having problems stocking enough booze to keep the crusty revelers happy.

2010: Shit Gets Real (Kelly’s Mission Rock)

What we now call ‘the Great Recession’ turned into what we now call ‘the tech boom’ in late 2009. This resulted in scores of Google, Twitter and other various startup bros and sisses partying through New Year’s Eve with their newfound wealth and descending en masse onto Breakfast of Champions. This totally overwhelmed the new 2010 venue, Kelly’s Mission Rock.

“I loved that spot. It brought us back to that nice view of the bay that we had the first time,” DJ 8Ball told SFist. “But unfortunately, Kelly’s, as beautiful as the spot was, was too small. We destroyed their sewage line.”

Yep, there were so many ravers on hand that raver-poop was flowing out of Kelly’s Mission Rock and onto Terry Francois Boulevard. Mind you, there were still people standing in line two hours deep on Terry Francois Boulevard. ”They had to get somebody from the Sanitation Department down there on New Year’s Day, in the middle if the day, to see what we’d broke,” 8Ball laughed.

Kelly’s Mission Rock is now thoroughly refurbished as Mission Rock Resort. And the Space Cowboys have invested in large fleet of porta-potties to ensure they do not have another shitshow.

2011 - Present: BoC Becomes a Block Party  and Teams Up with The SF Food Bank (Mighty)

The party is now a massive block party operation that hosts nearly 5,000 morning-after revelers at Mighty and on the streets of Potrero Hill. “You get to iterate on a party 15 times, each year you see a different problem and you try to address it,” 8Ball said.

Last year Rob Garza from Thievery Corporation did a surprise set, and the Cowboys have some surprises in store for this year as well. But they’d rather promote their vibe instead of their big names. “A lot of other parties are centered around headline DJs and whatever’s current,” 8Ball said. “This is a friends and family event. It doesn’t feel like a completely new event each year. It feels like a reunion.”

Space Cowboy DJ shOOey stepped up to make the event a benefit for the SF-Marin Food Bank. She encouraged attendees to bring food donations, but that didn’t work because high people cannot remember to bring canned or dry foods. The Cowboys did receive cash donations though, and now they generously match all cash donations. Breakfast of Champions attendees donated an impressive $10,000 at last year’s event, and the Space Cowboys matched that $10,000 in full. (Both cash and food donations will be accepted this year).

“It’s a magical day. There’s nothing like it at any party anywhere else in the world,” Ms. Lundquist said. “It’s a mixed bunch. You’ve got your Burners, you’ve got your homos, you’ve got your whoever-wants-to-dance, your househeads, your breakbeats, your drum-n-bass, there’s a DJ for everyone. It’s a friendly day where all these different groups come together. I can’t walk down the street without getting at least 20 hugs.”

Breakfast of Champions 2015 kicks off at 6 a.m. on January 1, 2015 at Mighty. Cash and food donations will be accepted for the SF-Marin Food Bank. There will be outdoor tents in case of rain, though the weather is expected to be chilly but dry!

As the proverbial ball begins to drop on this New Year's Eve, there's plenty to eat, do, and drink, as we've underscored in this guide to the best fetes in town. While getting home is no party, everyone in the transportation game wants a piece of the action, from Uber to Lyft to Flywheel to, yes, Muni. So take a look to see what each has planned, and most importantly, stay safe.

Uber:
For starters, you can keep an eye on the undisputed surge price king with this handy price tracker, Uber Forecast. It comes straight out of the Mission district and uses Uber's own API against them, but it's admittedly been spotty on occasion. Uber has issued their own blog post/disclaimer, stating that they expect the night to be their busiest on record: "This New Year’s Eve we expect to deliver more than 2 million rides in just 24 hours." Caveat emptor, everybody.

Lyft:
Lyft will be upping their prices, too, and are along with Uber joining forces with MADD, offering a $1-per-ride donation to the advocacy group from NYE rides. Lyft is also already guaranteeing its drivers 50% or more "Prime Time" from 7:00-10:00 p.m. and from 1:00-3:00 a.m., so you can count on that fare hike already.

Cabs:
Taxis: they're like Rideshare but yellow and regulated, meaning prices can't surge. As a result, cabbies are hoping they can get a chunk of your business this holiday with a public relations offensive. For example, Flywheel's hail a cab app for will offer a flat $10 rate for San Francisco from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday. It's an expensive promotion for them, but it might pay off for you, so perhaps download the app if you don't already have it.

Additionally, a select few cabs will be provided gratis rides are gratis. Kudos to Berg Injury Lawyers for picking up the tab on this one, which could be a literal lifesaver. It's called the Safe and Sober Program, but would-be riders take note: you have to call Luxor Cabs in advance and take the ride home, not to the next party or bar.

Muni:
Don't tag your clipper card on Muni Wednesday night/Thursday morning, since Muni is entering its 15th year of free NYE service. Here's the information about service running from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with extra Owl service added.

Caltrain:
For New Year’s reveler taking Caltrain back out of town, service will be free starting at 8 p.m.. Also scheduled are extra southbound trains after midnight for those headed back down the Peninsula. Take note: open containers are prohibited, and trains past San Jose will not operate.

BART:
We covered the coming BART madness here, but the headline is that BART runs till 3 a.m. and that the skip-stop shell game continues this year.

Be safe and have fun on NYE. Should old acquaintance be forgot... as in should you completely lose your friends, it's probably best to take that free cab home.

Two parties. One night. Both perfect for you and your dilated pupils. First up, we have Go Bang! at Deco Lounge in the Tenderloin. The regular club night snorts things into high gear with a most festive end-of-2011 bash. But don't take our word for it. Hell no. Here's what SF Bay Guardian's delicious Marke B had to say about Go Bang!: "This awesome, mixed-crowd monthly disco party has zero attitude but all the glamour. It's like a Studio 54 you can actually get into. Atlanta's DJ Osmose will bring his scratching turntable technique to bear on some rare disco tracks this NYE, along with Doc Sleep, Eddie House, and hosts Sergio and Steve Fabus. Good times!"

Go Bang!: 9 p.m.-blackout, Deco Lounge (510 Larkin), $10, don't be a drunk asshole.

Our second selection is the big fat party going on at Public Works, the Sunset and Honey Soundsystem party. Promising "quality music without the drama," the night will boast aural pleasure from DJs Solar, J-Bird and Galen from Sunset, and DJs Jason Kendig, Kenvulsion, Robot Justle, Derek Bobus and P-Play from Honey Soundsystem. Someone named KiNK will also man the decks for the swooning masses on the dance floor. Delightful.

Sunset and Honey Soundsystem: 9 p.m.-5 a.m., Public Works (160 Erie), $20-$25, don't puke in the sinks.

Although we brought this up earlier in the week, here's a friendly reminder: Dublin/Fremont-bound trains will stop at Embarcadero, but not at Montgomery; however, Richmond/Pittsburg-bound trains will stop at Montgomery, but not Embarcadero. They will, however, stop at every other stop throughout the system. This is all in an effort to decrease foot traffic into Embarcadero Station after midnight on New Year's Eve. You've been warned. Again. Please visit Bart.gov for more details.

Our final image of 2009 comes to you from Generik11.

So, it's the eleventh hour and you've decided against crushing up a couple of Ambiens into a mug of fume blanc and calling it a year. Instead, you've turned that frown upside down, choosing to see what's happening tonight on New Year's Eve 2008. Good for you. And to help you out, here are some last-minute events for each neighborhood in the San Francisco. Just follow links for more info; they will provide you with more in-depth details.

And remember, we care about you guys, so remember to drink plenty and drink often tonight.

• Haight: Club Deluxe NYE Comedy Extravaganza (Stand up comedy while betting buzzed off of gin martinis.)
• Fisherman's Wharf: New Year's Eve Peace Party at the Wax Museum (NYE at the Wharf? Why not.)
• Bayview-Hunter's Point: Cyclecide Bike Rodeo New Year’s Eve Show at Ace Auto Junkyard (Dear God, run for your life-- um, we mean, this will be a most festive, cyclist-friendly bash.)
• Downtown/Rincon Hill: Diplo (DJ/genius spins at Temple)
• Fillmore-Pacific Heights: Count Basie Orchestra with Ledisi (We love us some Ledisi. And she sings for the imbibed masses at Yoshi's SF.)
• Tenderloin: Bearracuda New Years' Eve (Party in cracktown for large and/or enthusiastically hairy homosexual men.)

Mayor Gavin Newsom says that one of his "top priorities is to ensure that every San Franciscan has a safe and happy New Year. Riding Muni is a smart and green way to ring in the new year." (Thanks, Gavin!) And with a firm flick of his wrist, this New Year's Eve, starting at 8 p.m., Muni will be free all night, which is about what it's worth. The free rides come to a screeching halt at 6 a.m., Tuesday, January 1.

Plus, they will have added service:

• Special Metro service from 7 p.m. to about 4 a.m., between the Caltrain depot at 4th & King Streets and West Portal Station
• Extra service on Muni Owl bus routes (1 a.m. - 5 a.m. service): 5 Fulton, 14 Mission, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 38 Geary, 90 Owl, 91 Owl, and L and N Metro Owl motor coach service
• F Line Market & Wharves service provided by motor coaches beginning in the late afternoon, and rerouted between 3rd & Market and Fisherman's Wharf from about 7:30 p.m. to end of service

And, if necessary, a few pesky reroutes:

• Lower Market and Mission between 4th Street and The Embarcadero beginning at about 10 p.m.
• In the Castro area on the 24 Divisadero and 35 Eureka bus routes
• In North Beach on the 9X San Bruno Express route
• On Union Street on the 45 Union-Stockton route
• From Market Street and to the Embarcadero on the F-Line

If the mood should strike, read the SFMTA NYE press release in all of its glory after the jump.

And in unrelated Bay Area news, two unfortunate yet critical items:

• Benazir Bhutto was murdered in a suicide attack today. [SJ Merc, via AP]
• Mischa Barton arrested on La Cienega for drunk driving. [Examiner]

Image unabashedly stolen from Curbed.

Do you guys have to be at full staff for big events? And is part of your job to be tour guides?

At major events - yes. (i.e., New Years Eve, Halloween in the Castro, etc.) We try to get as many there. On the last NYE, the union balked at having people "ordered" to work / having their days-off cancelled. So, we schedule the available shifts and posted up OT slots for the events..

tour guides? A byproduct of the job and what management wants us to do -- "be nice to the tourists."

How will you handle the All-Star Game and all the increased traffic for it?

Most of us are out at 2nd / King Streets, watching the crosswalk and tracks. At this location, we may be out along 3rd and King, too. Some of us are out at Embarcadero / Powell Streets to help point the out of towners toward the right direction (AT&T Park). We have been told to not cite the out of towners...

There is not much fare enforcement going on now....

Wait -- a program for operator training only just started in the last few months???

Our involvement? Yes - we've attended training classes for about one half up to one (1) hour to educate the new operators on fare inspectors, the POP program. This came about after we asked to be a part of the training and management thought it would be a good idea (duh). Prior to this, new operators didn't know about us until they got to the subway.