NYE 2012/13 Strip info

I'm booked at the Paris for NYE with my wife and another couple. We have reservations at STK for dinner and will be on the strip by 9:30 or 10PM. We plan on staying in that general vicinity. I have 2 questions. First, are there bars set up on the strip for cocktails? I am aware no bottles or cans are allowed.
Second, is there any free stage entertainment such as bands?
I know you need to get to wherever you plan on watching the roof top fireworks but, a bar might make that choice easier. Any help is appreciated.

3 or 4 years ago, I spent NYE at Paris. Then, no bars on the street. Strip will close for traffic sometime in the afternoon. They then place barricades to keep people out of the middle of the street. We went outside around 11:15 pm and worked our way to the barricades. Watched fireworks from there and waited for crowds behind us to disassemble before going back to the room. It was less crowded at barricades. Bellagio had 2 fountain shows after fireworks.

The only entrance open at Paris was one facing Bally's until way after the fireworks. They also put up a chain link fence in front of Paris. I don't know if the bar in front of Paris was open or not. I also don't recall any port of potty's out on the strip. Earlier that day, I was in Caesars. My favorite bartender gave me a wristband in case I wanted to return to Caesars that night.

Be aware it can be friggin' COLD out there! So if your wives (whatevers) are dressed in Party attire,
they may Not want to stay out there. I would be dressed for the Arctic. lol

IF you are invited to a Paris PARTY, Do That, and can easily watch fireworks from your room
where its Warm, than be outside with the unwashed masses.
Like Lisa said, it can be hard to get back inside, once you are out there.

We will be watching from faraway RR this year, and I'm looking forward to it.

If I were to be in Vegas NYE again (on the strip), I would head out shortly after 11 pm and work my way through the crowds to the barricades. Everyone around me was taking in the sites and seemed relatively sober. The congestion and craziness seemed to be behind me. It was way more crowded on the sidewalk in front of the hotels. Be prepared to let the crowds thin before going back inside Paris.

My room faced East toward Bally's and Flamingo Rd. When I got back to my room, I spent close to 30 minutes watching the traffic. Solid brake lights on all the open streets east of the strip.

Last year NYNY had an outside beer garden on the bridge.

Once you fight your way back to Paris,and I mean fight, from Cosmo I would not leave.
I have been on the Strip several times on NYE and it gets old real quick.
That area is a mass of humanity.Picture someones chest against your back and your chest against someone else's back.
My wife is adventurous and she was scared.
Drunk kids throwing beer cans and bottles,fights,vomit.
Happy New Year.Be Safe.

Thanks all, for the replies. It appears we will have an "experience". I'm not too worried about the temperature as we are from Chicago and 35-40 degrees is not that bad with a jacket.
I'm still not sure where everyone gets all of their booze, if there aren't outside bars.
Knock one off the bucket list.

clarkg1, enjoy. Wish I was there to celebrate with you.

FYI to all others interested, I just received an email from Paris regarding their NYE activities which include several Bar specials and several additional Bars set up such as the "promo desk bar". Also I checked into the same section in the Bally's website and found that they have two "Miller Beer Trucks". I assume they are out front of the hotel.