Copyright 2003, The New York Post. All Rights Reserved)

READY for New Year's 2004? Or still holding out for that oh-so- elusive "better offer"?

Don't wait too long. It's less than two weeks until the biggest party night of the year - and tickets are selling fast.

"People seem more willing to lay down $120, $150 or $200 in advance this year," says Shane Neman, party promoter for a company called Joonbug, which is handling tickets for several events.

"We actually started selling the first tickets in mid-November, whereas last year, although everything sold in the end, it was right down to the wire, which was pretty nerve-racking.

It seems New York really is the place where people want to be for New Year's Eve again."

And it's no surprise: The economy is surging once again, new venues are opening every weekend and the lean times following Sept. 11 are becoming a distant memory.

This year, New York has such a bewildering array of options that picking the right one can give you a headache worse than a Jan. 1 hangover.

To help make the task less of a trial, The Post has researched all the possibilities - and here, we present our pick of the top 20 spots. All the prices shown are for general admission, and are subject to change as the big day nears. Please call for VIP/table reservations.

BEST FOR SHOE FETISHISTS

40/40, 6 W. 25th St. at Broadway, (212) 989-0040

Black tie is optional at Jay-Z's swish lounge, one of the success stories of night life 2003, but we recommend you dress up. Open bar from 9 to 11 p.m. with food prepared by Jay's personal chef. The highlight of the evening will come shortly after midnight, when women in the crowd will be selected at random to try on a pair of six $400 Badgley Mishka shoes. If the shoes fit, you get to walk away in them. Very Cinderella.

$150 per person

BEST FOR MEETING MODELS

The Social Club, 14 E. 27th St. between Madison and Fifth Avenues, (212) 686-1400

This new split-level, Cuban-theme space, due to open to the public early next year, is hosting a ticket-only New Year's event with the theme "Midnight in Havana." The evening is being hosted by beauties from the modeling agencies Women's Modeling and Supreme. Doors open at 9 p.m., and there is an open bar until 2 a.m. with sushi platters for sustenance.

$150 per person

BEST GIMMICK

Cub Room, 131 Sullivan St. at Prince Street, (212) 677-4100

This SoHo stalwart will be decorated with 2,500 balloons netted to the ceiling during New Year's dinner. At midnight, they'll be dropping on the guests below - who are strongly advised to pop away at them furiously, as 10 of the balloons will be loaded with $100 bills. The Cub Room acquired new owners this summer after 10 years and has a new French/American trained chef, Benjamin Grossman, who has revitalized the reassuringly unfussy menu.

$150 per person for prix-fixe, four-course menu, including a half- bottle of Piper Heidsieck champagne

BEST VALUE HIPSTER HANG

Mother-----r at Downtime, 251 W. 30th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, (212) 695-2747

This infamous rock 'n' roll hipster party - thrown by a quartet of promoters, including the ever-visible Justine D - is always a wild, polysexual affair, beloved by NYC adventurers. The New Year's dress code specifies vintage Hollywood glamour, late '70s disco chic or "fur coats, high heels and lingerie."

$25 per person; advance tickets available at ticketweb.com

CALMEST NEW YEAR

The New Year's Eve Concert for Peace, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. at 112th Street, (212) 662-2133

The imposing gothic splendor of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the perfect space for contemplative New Yorkers to avoid the madness of the New Year's Eve and think about the past, present and future in serene surroundings. This year, the cathedral is hosting a special peace concert with John Pizzarelli on guitar, soprano Lauren Flanigan and various other vocalists. It starts at 7:30 p.m., but get there early to land a good spot.

$55 per person, reserved tickets; general admission is free

BEST FOR BUDGET GOURMANDS

BREADTribeca, 301 Church St. at Walker Street, (212) 334-8282

There is no shortage of venues for foodie New Yorkers to eat their way into 2004 (the wonderful Biltmore Room springs to mind), but the elegantly hip BREADTribeca looks to be one of the best options. The prix fixe for the night - masterminded by chef Icaopo Falai - includes the place's signature passion fruit martini and a four-course dinner with coffee. But be warned: BREADTribeca is not a big place, and the remaining few tables are likely to go fast.

$100 per person

BEST RICH TRADITION

Caf Carlyle, The Carlyle Hotel, 35 E. 76th St. at Madison Avenue, (212) 744-1600

It wouldn't be a New York New Year without legendary ivory tinkler Bobby Short working his cabaret magic for the 35th year at the Upper East Side society clubhouse Caf Carlyle. This year, the six-course dinner concert is $500 per head, with a 9 p.m. seating and 11:15 p.m. show. (And shhh: Short's also planning an extra surprise show at 1:15 a.m.) The food, from the Carlyle's highly rated Dumonet restaurant, will include such delights as caviar, foie gras, black truffles and Dover sole. For those who don'twant to make such a hefty financial commitment, Short will perform throughout the holiday season, Tuesday through Saturday. Shows begin at 8:45 p.m., for $75. Call for details. $500 per person

ORIGINAL MEATPACKING SOIREE

Lotus, 409 W. 14th St. between Ninth and 10th avenues, (212) 243- 4420

The fact that Lotus is celebrating its fourth New Year's - an eternity in clubland - tells you something about this place. It's still popular for a good reason - a heavy rotation of celebrity visitors. On New Year's Eve, Lotus will feature hors d'oeuvres served in Chinese takeout boxes filled with "urban Asian" cuisine by executive chef Tyson Ophaso. There's an open bar including signature cocktails such as the Big Apple martini, and champagne will be offered to toast the New Year. The party runs until 4 a.m.

$160 per person

BEST FAMILY PARTY

The Grand Army Plaza is the location for Brooklyn's major community New Year's celebration. For the 22nd year, Prospect Park will be filled with bands - expect everything from rock 'n' roll tributes to salsa - and there will be fireworks at midnight. Families are welcome, and you are advised to bring a hot drink. If you are driving, the best places to park are on Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Park West and on nearby side streets. There's room for everyone, and it's free!

GROOVIEST WILLIAMSBURG SCENE

North Six, 66 North Sixth St., Brooklyn, (718) 599-5103

If you live in Williamsburg, then of course you'll know that clubs are, like, so over. In this case, your New Year's will probably consist of scoring a few drinks on Bedford Avenue, then taking in a band at a current hot spot such as the Stinger or Warsaw. There's also bound to be a profusion of inside-out T-shirts at North Six, where carousel punk popster band Mates of State is playing along with the hometown heroes in Versus.

$17 per person at the door, $15 in advance

SWEATIEST 2004

APT, 419 W. 13th St. (between Ninth Avenue and Washington Street), (212) 414-4245

Proving that not all things French are beyond the pale in New York these days is DJ Cam, paying a visit to APT from Europe. He'll be spinning hip-hop upstairs, while downstairs you'll find DJ Spinna and Rich Medina, who'll be throwing a little bit of everything feel- good on the turntables. They have a devoted following of dancers, so it's bound to get hot in there. Your ticket buys you an open bar from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and food will be passed around all night to mop the alcohol up.

$125 per person

BROADWAY BASH

The Hudson Hotel, 356 W. 58th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues, (212) 554-6000

The cast of "Taboo" (assuming it still has one) will host New Year's Eve at Ian Schrager's gorgeous Midtown style temple, the Hudson. The entire second floor of the building is being turned over to the event - including the internal courtyard, which will be tented to provide respite from the elements. There's an open bar (which, oddly, does not include wine) and hors d'oeuvres will be passed through the crowd. Do expect to see Boy George playing a funked-up version of Auld Lang Syne on the turntables comemidnight. Don't expect to see The Post's Michael Riedel dancing along.

$195 per person

BEST FOR PROVOCATEURS

Bauhaus, 196 Orchard St., between Houston and Rivington streets, (212) 255-4223

If you fancy an outrageously glam, sexually charged New Year's, head for Bauhaus, the stylish Lower East Side club that is being turned over to an "Erotic Masquerade Party" to ring in 2004. Hip- hop and old-school upstairs, with a generous dusting of '80s electro, and house downstairs. Dress dirty. Open bar runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and there is also an enticing-sounding "Asian tapas" buffet.

$90 per person

LONGEST PARTY

Sessa, 208 W. 23rd St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, (212) 517-4065

So you think you're hard-core? Can you handle 14 hours of New Year's partying? Then set your course for Chelsea nightspot Sessa where the party starts at 8 p.m. and goes on to a head-spinning 10 a.m. the next day (on New Year's Eve, clubs can get a 24-hour liquor license). DJ Mateo (of Fun Loving Criminals fame) will be on deck and there's an open bar until midnight, when there is the obligatory champagne toast. $100 per person

BIGGEST PARTY

Crobar, 530 W. 28th St., between 10th and 11th avenues, (212) 629- 9000

Is Crobar the biggest venue in New York right now? At the opening party where thousands of New Yorkers thronged the mega-venue, it certainly seemed the most hectic. New Year's Eve should be a more orderly event, although we can't say the same for the featured entertainment: "Forbidden Pleasures of the Not-so-Innocent Burlesque." General admission does not include an alcohol ration.

$100 per person

BEST NOSTALGIA TRIP

Patti Smith, at the Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St. at Bowery, (212) 533-2111

The Greeks depicted the god of the New Year, Janus, as a two- headed fellow, looking both forward and back. Those with very good mental eyesight may just remember the first Patti Smith disc released a staggering 28 years ago. Children of the '70s will no doubt be clamoring to spend New Year's with the great songstress, but if you can't get tickets for the big night, she is also playing on the 29th and 30th, too. The show starts at 10 p.m.

$55 per person

BEST VIEW

TriBeCa Rooftop, 2 Desbrosses St. at Vestry Street, (212) 625- 2600

The main selling point of the 15,000-square-foot penthouse that is the TriBeCa Rooftop is the view, from the Hudson to the Empire State Building. Organizers promise "Vegas-style entertainment" from Burlesquers Ami Goodheart and the Coquettes (last seen at the Victoria's Secret after-show party) and a Gaultier fashion show. There's an open bar all night long, and sushi and sashimi.

$150 per person

BEST-DRESSED DOWNTOWNERS

TriBeCa Grand Hotel, 2 Sixth Ave., between White and Walker streets, (212) 519-6672

This one is aimed at the electro set, with music from Stretch Armstrong, DJ Pork Chop and hipster's hipster Paul Sevigny. Matt and Gabe from the Rapture will provide a more rockster soundtrack downstairs. The organizers promise a "big phat surprise act" at midnight as well. Open bar until 1 a.m., party till 4 a.m.

$125 per person

SEXIEST VENUE

Capitale, 130 Bowery between Grand and Broome streets, (212) 255- 4223

The 1,500-person-capacity Capitale - the old Bowery Savings Bank - is one of New York's landmark buildings, with cavernous 150-foot ceilings and an immaculately restored interior. This year, the space is being turned over to the JoonBug team, with music courtesy of New York fave Baby Blu (TriBeCa Grand, Lotus). The open bar runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., and expect throngs of 20-something partyers. Includes a buffet dinner.

$175 per person

BEST FOR GROWN-UPS

Town, Chambers Hotel, 15 W. 56th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, (212) 582-4445

If all these banging beats are giving you a headache, think about checking out Town, located in the luxe Chambers Hotel. Chef/owner Geoffrey Zakarian is planning a sophisticated affair culminating in a champagne toast at midnight. No noisemakers, no hats, just simple elegance, soaring double-height ceilings and chic dcor.

$150 per person for four-course, 6 p.m. seating; $195 per person for five-course, 9 p.m. seating