Los Angeles New Year's Eve Parties

1. Bigfoot Lodge Atwater Village
One of the first bars to give irony-adoring hipsters a reason to cross the Glendale Freeway, this perennially rustic outpost will be ringing in the New Year with $5 sugar plum fairy shots and a complementary champagne toast at midnight. A DJ will be spinning a mix of Bigfoot Lodge favorites. No reservations, no VIP-hell, just quality time with woodland creatures by their famous faux fireplace. Get here early for a recession- appropriate cover charge ($5 from 9-10 p.m. or $10 from 10-11 p.m.). $20 after 11 p.m.


2. Hollywood Palladium Hollywood
After a $20 million dollar renovation, the historic Palladium is back in the spotlight and ready for a dance music debut. Along with dance music vets Avaland, this landmark venue will host a NYE bash with trance/rock headliner Infected Mushroom, as well as an opening set by electro masters Flosstradamus (along with indie-dance awesomeness via local hero Hyphy Crunk). Presales from $40-$50, and walkups will ramp- up from $65- $100 as the night progresses. Tickets and info at http://www.livenation.com/venue/hollywood-palladium-tickets.


3. The Abbey West Hollywood
Gay men rejoice, there is no cover for this famous bar's NYE party. Dance to tunes by DJ Morningstar, and watch their first-ever ball drop at midnight (really? first ever?) with laser lights, LED screens and a confetti cannon. VIP tickets are $100 until December 15th, which includes a premium open bar, appetizers and private VIP areas. Call for group packages and VIP extras, such as private go-go dancers. VIP price $100 till the 15th, $150 at the door Dec 31.


4. Whiskey Blue Westwood / West L.A.
In a quiet corner of Westwood Village you'll find the W Hotel's Whiskey Blue. The bar's red velvet ropes come out the 31st for a swanky NYE affair featuring DJ Still Will. Tickets are $65 in advance at wanttickets.com, or $75 at the door. Packages and bottle service available by calling 310-443-8232. Bonus: grab a room at the W and forget all about sobriety checkpoints!


5. Vanguard Hollywood
Get into a mega-club state of mind at the Vanguard with “Epic NYE." DJ David Rockwell will be slinging Hip Hop, old-school, house and electro in this club's expansive main room. General admission is $40.00 which includes 4 areas of entertainment and music. Claimjumpers is providing a full dinner buffet for $60, and VIP tix are $110, which includes an open bar all night long and 2 separate VIP lounges. Got an entourage? VIP bottle service packages range from $500- $2,000. Buy tickets at clubzone.com (prices subject to change).


6. Whist Santa Monica
San Francisco's Om Records hosts an evening of house music featuring some big names such as King Britt, Jason Bentley, J-Boogie, Garth Trinidad and more spinning electronica. Unlimited drinks throughout the evening (plus the ubiquitous midnight toast). Poolside cabanas with bottle service for an additional fee. $175 pre- sale tickets or $195 at the door (open bar).


7. Paramount
Chart-topping songstress Katy Perry is the belle of the ball at this event, which takes place behind Paramount's storied Melrose gate. An exercise in glorious NYE excess, four city “blocks" of the studio's back lot off of Melrose Ave. will be themed as different New York City experiences--featuring performances by Katy Perry, LMFAO, and a flurry of electro DJs such as Guns and Bombs and Pase Rock. General admission is $100.00, VIP starts $200.00 and includes open bar plus a private VIP area. And for the high roller studio execs among us, VIP group packages range from $1,000 to $10,000. Purchase tickets at www.gridlockla.com or at www.katyperrynye.com. This might just be the hottest ticket in town.


8. The Kress Hollywood
The Kress hosts a New Years Eve extravaganza, complete with 3 levels of dance music variety; Hip Hop, live music, Top 40 and more. Pre-sale tickets go for $125.00, which includes an open bar all night long and a champagne toast at midnight. VIP ticket packages are available for the restaurant, the rooftop and the nightclub. DJ Donald Glaude and others spin.


9. Walt Disney Concert Hall Downtown L.A.
Looking for something a little classier than a crowded nightclub this year on NYE? Consider checking out beloved lounge band Pink Martini at Disney Hall. Two shows December 31: one at 7 p.m. and another at 10:30 p.m. Tickets ranging from $65 to $195 are on sale now at laphil.com. A limited number of $10 “rush" tickets for seniors and students will be made available two hours prior to performance (UPDATE: both shows are near selling out and these rush tickets may not be available).


10. Avalon Hollywood
This cavernous theater/danceteria remains one of Los Angeles' prime destinations for dance music. Dec 31, the Avalon has tapped a fan favorite to ring in the New Year, Holland's Sander Kleinenberg. Trent Cantrelle, Droog and Kazell round out the DJ-centric event. $40 advance tickets, $80 at the door.


11. Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena & Coliseum West Adams
The largest party in town is “Together As One." Now in its 11th year, this massive rave style event boasts a better-than-normal lineup this year, with Holland's Armin Van Buuren, Deadmau5, Junior Sanchez, Pendulum and others ringing in 2009 on three stages. $70/$150 at the door. Party goes until 4 a.m. Full lineup and more info at http://newyearsevela.com/2009/index.html


12. Ivar Hollywood
Hollywood Blvd.'s Ivar brings in DJ Echo to play mashups,.Hip Hop and R&B in the main room while DJ Vandal hits the Platinum patio with electro house. Tickets are $50 general admission ($100 for VIP/open bar) and are at www.wantickets.com/ivar. Call 323- 465-4827 for table reservations and packages.


14. Knitting Factory Hollywood Hollywood
TV host/comedian Zane Lamprey of “Three Sheets" hosts an evening of drinking, dancing, games, prizes and a gourmet midnight buffet to soak up some of the open bar imbibery. Tickets go for $209, with VIP tickets available for $509 which includes an exclusive dinner with Zane beforehand, access to the VIP lounge, private open bar, and VIP giftbag. Go to http://www.zanelamprey.com/ for more info and links to purchase tickets.


15. Saint Rocke Hermosa Beach
Celtic rockers Young Dubliners headline NYE at Saint Rocke, Hermosa Beach's stylish live music venue/restaurant. A $100 ticket includes the live performance, cocktails for the evening, passed hors d'oeuvres and buffet station from 8-11. The first 50 to buy tix will receive an autographed poster and an exclusive meet-n-greet with the band. Call 310- 372-0035 for more info and reservations.




17. Sutra Lounge Costa Mesa
Looking for a mid-sized venue to ring in 2009 in the OC? Sutra looks like the spot this year, with a nice $100 package that includes a four-course dinner. Call 949-722- 7103 for dinner reservations, or just $50 to gain entrance to the club (KPWR's Eric D-Lux and Danny Love spin mostly hip-hop). From 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.


18. The Edison Downtown L.A.
Looking for a classy alternative to a club? Consider the Edison, where dressed-up revelers will get down to live music from Abney Park (and DJ Imagica). The vaudeville cirque act Lucent Dossier will also be giving festivities here a different vibe than other venues in town (think NYE 1938 over NYE 2008). $175 tickets available from the Edison's website.


22. The Roosevelt Hotel Hollywood
Hollywood's historic Roosevelt opens its doors to revelers with a DJ set by Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, Perry Farrell, Andy Klein, Mei Lwun and other VIPs TBA. Ticket price ($100) includes complimentary champagne toast and appetizers served from 8- 10pm. Call 323- 769-8898 for table and bottle service.


23. Shanghai Red's Marina del Rey
Celebrate in style at Marina del Rey's seafood mecca, Shanghai Red's, with two rooms of music featuring a live performance of funk, rock, Rn'B, and Latin by the Westside Crew, as well as DJs spinning disco, indie, hip hop and house. $35.00 admission includes the OCT (obligatory champagne toast), appetizers and a midnight fireworks display. For $105.00, a lavish buffet is included, with mouth-watering seafood, chicken, porkloin , prime rib, lamb, turkey, and much more. Call (310) 823-4522 or go to http://bravosocialcollective.com for required reservations.


24.Viper Room West Hollywood
Rock out with DJs LA Riots, Matie Safer (the Rapture DJs), CongoRock, Dances With White Girls, and Themjeans at the Viper Room. $100 gets you in the door and drinking all night long from the open bar.Go to www.viperroom.com to purchase tickets, as door prices are not guaranteed.


25. Ecco Hollywood
LA's new eco-friendly playground, Ecco, is ready for clubland primetime with their NYE blowout featuring DJ Lady Sha spinning hip hop and rock, while co- owner Danny B, Vamper and Jav-Rock provide electro beats on the patio. A general admission ticket ($50- 80) includes passed appetizers and champagne toast, while a VIP pass ($150-200) buys an open bar, private VIP hangout, and use of poker and blackjack tables. Go to www.wanttickets.com/ecco for tickets, or call 323-464-2065 for details on table packages.


29. Sharkeez Huntington Beach Huntington Beach
This chain Mexi-joint trades in it's casual frat-vibe for a more upscale evening this NYE with the Black and White Affair. Actually, this looks to be quite a good deal; $39.99 gets you a four course meal of Sharkeez's coastal Mexican cuisine, AND a bottle of champagne for your table. Cover charge may vary by location, so go to www.sharkeez.net for detailed information.


30. The Lot Los Angeles County
More of a warehouse-style special events space than a traditional music venue, The Lot will be the spot this NYE for Travis Barker and DJ AM, playing together for the first time since their near-fatal plane crash. Their innovative turntables- meets-live percussion set will be streamed live to 10 different cities across the country. $150 tickets include a 5 hour premium open bar, champagne reception, passed appetizers and food stations. Go to www.newyears.com for more info and online purchases.


31. Blue Velvet Downtown L.A. & adjacent
The Honey Collective has whipped up a little NYE affair at the Blue Velvet Lounge featuring Djs Rashida and EQue and complimentary Hennessey cocktails. Entry is $25 with RSVP to [email protected].


36. Akbar Silver Lake / Echo Park
Abkar, the “where every gay man knows your name" Eastside hangout is throwing a cozy little dance party with no cover. They'll provide the midnight champagne, and the dance music by DJ Mike Glass. Plus, those “horrible little noise makers and funny hats." You bring your best dance moves and fiercest friends. Game on.


44. The Roxy Theatre West Hollywood
Stalwart reggae band The Wailers can't bring back Bob, but even with only a few of the original members left, will nonetheless rock steady with a performance of “Exodus" in its entirety at the Roxy. Should be very “irie" indeed on the Sunset Strip Wednesday. 8 p.m. $76.50. (310) 278-9457


45. House of Blues West Hollywood
Snoop Doff, a.k.a. “The Doggfather," in the final installment of a surely raucous spate of year-end shows, will regale the crowd with gin-and-juice- soaked oldies, plus newer, more silky cuts that find the reality TV star in a Roger Troutman-inspired loverman mood, defined by an unprecedented concern for his lady's pleasure. 9 p.m. $115 (no open bar). (323) 848-5100.


46. Club Nokia Downtown L.A.
'90s grunge stars Stone Temple Pilots, led by mercurial frontman Scott Weiland, run through the classics for New Year's. 8:30 p.m. $75-$125. (213) 480- 3232.


48. The Garter Venice
If you live near Venice, you probably know this bar as the Red Garter. But in late 2007, new owners gave the dark nightspot a new name -- and a sexy makeover. The Garter is celebrating their one-year anniversary Wednesday, with an open bar from 7 to 10 p.m. Call the club for more details.


54. Whisky A Go Go West Hollywood
Has it been a long time since you've rocked and rolled? Then get thee to the Whisky Wednesday, where Led Zeppelin cover band Led Zepagain will bring down the house. Tickets available at the door for $25.
Continue for the complete list of venues. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!