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.

Leon's is open all night. 870 Park Ave. 

The Laughing Pint will be open “as long as I can stand,” a bartender said, typically 8 or 9 a.m. 3531 Gough St.

Looney's will close at 4 a.m. 2900 ODonnell St. 

Mahaffey's is staying open until at least 3 a.m. 2706 Dillon St. 

Max's will probably close around 4 a.m. 735 S. Broadway.

Midtown BBQ & Brew  is “absolutely” staying open late, said owner Nathan Beveridge, probably until 6 a.m. 15 E. Centre St.

Mt. Royal Tavern is staying open all night. 1204 W Mount Royal Ave.

Nevin’s – a critic’s pick! – is staying open as long as there’s business. Last year, it was 5 a.m., a bartender said. 31-33 East Cross St.

No Idea is pulling an all nighter too.  1649 S. Hanover St.

One Eyed Mike's ditto. 708 S. Bond St.

The Ottobar Owner Craig Boarman is spinning from 8 p.m. through midnight and Taxlo’s Simon Phoenix is on until 4 a.m. A $30 advance ticket includes a three-hour open bar starting at 8:30 p.m. 2549 N. Howard St. 

The Paradox is throwing an all-night rave that is scheduled to end at 6 a.m. Though normally dry, the bar will have a liquor license just for the night. 1310 Russell St.

Red House Tavern is serving its breakfast at 1:30 a.m. It’ll start the night with a steak dinner. $25 covers both. 2239 Essex St.

The Rowan Tree, the gay friendly bar in South Baltimore, is open all night. 1633 South Charles St.

Rye is tentatively planning last call at 3:15. 807 South Broadway.

Slainte Irish Pub is open "until the sun shines," said a bartender. 1700 Thames Street.

Tony's Diner A manager here didn’t know about the 2 a.m. law, but when it was pointed out that the bar stayed open until 4 a.m. last year, he said, “I guess we’ll be doing that again then.” 8 Park Avenue. 

*Know of other bars pulling all-nighters? Post in the comments or shoot me an email.