New Year's Eve in Baltimore: Bars staying open past 2 a.m.

Thanks to a wonderful general state assembly many, many years ago, Baltimore city bars don’t have to stop serving liquor at 2 a.m. New Year’s Day. In fact, they can stay open continuously from New Year’s Eve to 2 a.m. January 2.

 Some bars will keep normal hours Saturday, but other, awesomer bars, will extend their hours way past 2 a.m., basically, until people start ordering water.

Below you’ll find a pretty comprehensive – though not complete!* - list of those bars with extended hours.  Plan accordingly. The list will be updated through Saturday afternoon.

 Have fun, and play safe. If you need a free cab ride, Tipsy? Taxi! is available until 4 a.m. If you want early New Year’s Eve options, here’s our guide.

 Happy 2012!

 Baltimore bars staying open past 2 a.m. on New Year's Eve 2011:

 Ale Mary's will close at 4 a.m. 1939 Fleet St. 

Bad Decisions will stay open “until staff passes out,” or around 5 a.m., said owner John Reusing. Like last year, there’s free champagne at midnight. 1928 Fleet St. 

Baltimore Soundstage will close at 3 a.m. 124 Market Place.

Butt's and Betty's Tavern will be open 41 hours straight starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. 2200 Gough St. 

Cat's Eye Pub will close around 4 a.m. 1730 Thames St.

Club Charles – a critic’s pick! – will be open until 5 a.m.  1724 N. Charles St.

Club Hippo starts the night with a party featuring DJs, karaoke, and “hot dancers” and expects to close when “everybody feels like leaving,” a bartender said. Cover is $10 all night long. 1 W. Eager St. 

Dionysus, where some Sun staffers will spend the night, is planning on staying open until 6 a.m.. 8 E. Preston St. 

Don't Know Tavern won’t close until 6 a.m. 1453 Light St.

Down the Hatch is open “probably until ten in the morning,” said a bartender. 1157 Haubert St.

Golden West Cafe is staying open until 6 a.m. The Matrimonials are scheduled to play. No cover. 1105 W 36th St.

Grand Central’s “Resolution” party is open-ended and features two DJs. Cover is $15 after 11 p.m.  1001 N Charles St.

Idle Hour – a critic’s pick! - usually stays open until 4 a.m. on NYE. 201 East Fort Ave.

Kooper's Tavern, 1702 Thames Street, is closing at around 3 a.m.