Copyright 2002, The New York Post. All Rights Reserved)

Ultimately, New Year's Even is about one shared activity: getting buzzed on champagne. Fizz your way into 2003 at one of the city's coolest champagne haunts.

THE BUBBLE LOUNGE

For the true bubbly buff, you can't go wrong at TriBeCa's Bubble Lounge (228 W. Broadway, [212] 431-3433) which boasts 300 varieties of champagne and sparkling wine. All the servers are trained in the technique of "sabering" - the waiter cradles the bottle under his arm and slices off the top of the bottle with a giant saber. To usher in 2003, Bubble Lounge is hosting the Moet & Chandon High Society Gala featuring Moet Brut Imperial champagne, food, and live music by The Central Park Stompers. The $150-per person party goes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The cash bar will be open until 5 a.m., but complimentary breakfast treats will roll out earlier.

FLUTE

"It's the bubbliest night of the year," laughs Flute owner Herve Rousseu. "It's the perfect time to really indulge, drink champagne, and dance the night away." To that end, Flute will be throwing parties at its two locations. From 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the sleek but charming Flute Flatiron (40 E. 20th St.; [212] 529-7870), a $100 ticket will get you a limited open bar and plenty of hors d'oeuvres including Vietnamese spring rolls.

At Flute's uptown champagne bar (205 W. 54th St.; [212] 265- 5169), where velvet benches and swooping curtains create a romantic feel, the party goes from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. A steeper price gets you more food and booze: for $150, there is a full open bar for champagne by the glass, hors d'oeuvres and a buffet. Both parties will feature deejays, as well as Flute's selection of 100 champagnes, 20 of which are available by the glass.

PROSECCHERIA

For a change of pace, head to Proseccheria, the candle-lit, tile- covered bar that serves the Italian sparkling wine prosecco within Pasticcio restaurant (447 Third Ave; [212] 679-2551). Owner Nicola Maurello has seven different Italian sparklers, including a sweet, lightly bubbly frizzante, on the list. Two are available by the glass. For New Year's Eve, the restaurant will offer two seatings for dinner, one from 5:30 to 7 p.m., then another starting at 9:15. For $200, you'll can enjoy a three-course dinner for two, plus a bottle of prosecco. At 10:30, the tables will be pushed aside and the deejay will spin into the night. "We'll be partying until 3 in the morning," says Maurello.

INDUSTRY

Enjoy a complimentary glass of Perrier Jouet at the funky yet cozy Industry (509 E. Sixth St., [212] 777-5920) which comes with their $150 four-course prix fixe dinner. (There are two seatings - the first is from 7 to 9 p.m., and the second begins at 10. But if you're just looking to drink, go straight into partying mode at Industry's unique, wood ski chalet bar; there's a $50 entrance fee, with a minimum requirement of one bottle per four people. Champagnes available by the bottle are Paul Drouet, Spcial rserve Alain Ducasse, Jacquesson, Veuve Clicquot Magnum, Dom Perignon and Cristal. Bellafonte and Perrier Jouet are available by the glass.

SERAFINA

If Serafina's good enough for the fashion and film crowd (Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and a string of super models hang out here), it's good enough for the proles! This happening downtown restaurant-bar (393 Lafayette St.; [212] 995-9595) is set in what looks like a vast wine cellar, with exposed brick walls. The bar serves champagne of all sorts - Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame, Dom Perignon and Cristal.

The New Year's dinner package - champagne soup is on the menu - also includes acrobats, drummers, an Italian deejay and a midnight raffle. Tickets cost $125.

GUASTAVINO'S

Terence Conran's bar (409 E. 59th St.; [212] 980-2455) has played host to a string of celebs, including Steven Spielberg and Uma Thurman, and it's home to the flirtini cocktail of "Sex and the City" fame. But champagne will be order of the day on Dec. 31 - their party is partly sponsored by Perrier Jouet! Guastavino's is located among the enormous granite pillars of the Queensboro Bridge and is a truly impressive space, with vaulted ceilings, 40-foot- high windows and the obligatory stylish interior complete with Thomas Heatherwick sculpture. Admission is $175 for buffet dinner, with a premium top-shelf bar from 8 p.m. till 5 a.m. - and there's a complimentary bottle of bubbly on each table. There'll be a toast at midnight along with a live broadcast of the ball-drop on a projection screen. Music's by DJ BabyBlu - house, rock, hip-hip, Top 40 and the '80s. Call Joonberg Productions for tickets, (212) 255- 4223.

Champagne 101

If you're planning to drink some tiny bubbles at home, make sure you know which champagnes and sparkling wines to buy - and how to pop them without taking someone's eye out. Patrick Kortbus, sommelier of The Upstairs at '21,' has some advice for the novice.

When selecting a bottle of champagne, "shy away from the very large houses" like Veuve Clicquot, Dom Perignon, Taittinger and Laurent-Perrier, advises Kortbus. (They're pricey and there's really not that much difference between them and smaller brands.) For a good name that won't break the bank, try Pol Roget.

When you're ready to break open the bubbly, place your thumb over the cork and remove the foil. Remove the wire muzzle - and remember that as soon as you do, the cork is "live," so keep your thumb over it. Point the bottle away from guests and gently twist the cork out.

"The popping sound is impressive, but you should always release the cork slowly," cautions Kortbus. This will allow the liquid to retain as many bubbles as possible. If you have a celebratory pop, all the fizz will release in one charge, leaving you with champagne that's flatter than it should be. If you feel champagne is a bit of a clich and would like to experiment with sparkling wines, there are plenty to choose from - but one of the most highly recommended is prosecco, the sparkling wine from Italy. "Prosecco is a little bit drier," says Antonio Perez, sommelier of the Midtown Venetian restaurant Remi. "It's not as yeasty as champagne, and the bubbles have a finesse."

Also highly recommended: sparkling wines from the Loire Valley of France. Several are available at Chambers Street Wines, at 160 Chambers St.