Party safely this year. The Metro is providing free rides from 9pm December 31st until 2am December 1st. There are a variety of themed events happening all over the city, from Black & White Balls to The Great Gatsby. How did the 1920s become the official decade of New Year’s Eve anyways?
LIVE MUSIC
CAFE NELA, the coolest dive bar in town, has a great bill lined up for their “No Frills” NYE. There will be a rare appearance by The Controllers. Also playing are Man-Wray, The Mormons and The Gypz. This beer and wine bar on the Eastside continues the tradition of old-school spots like Raji’s and Al’s Bar. 9pm. No Cover.
THE MINT, one of the oldest venues in LA, presents Dustbowl Revival, who sound kind of like the Preservation Jazz Band with a little bit of Country Bear Jamboree. Also on the bill are The Record Company and Roses & Cigarettes. 9pm. Entry, food, and an open bar will set you back $90. For $225 gets you a reserved booth for four. The $225 does not include entry.
THE WHISKY A GO GO on the Sunset Strip presents Pink Floyd cover band, “Which One’s Pink?” and Pearl Jam cover band, “Vitalogy.” Party like John Lennon but don’t get thrown out like he did. $40-$60.
BARS
LIQUID KITTY, consistent winner of “Best Martini in LA” will have a small but rauckus party in West LA starting at 5PM. “The mind-numbing intoxicants will be flowing and the music will be blaring. DJ Renato will be spinning old hip hop, Latin jazz, new wave, soul & funk. There will be complimentary noise makers and a countdown at midnight!”
No cover.
SEVEN GRAND, our favorite downtown whiskey bar will host a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party. Wear a mask and skip the line. “Champagne carts serving throughout the bar and a customary midnight toast!” BAR JACKALOPE, the hidden but not-so-secret bar within a bar at Seven Grand “Fiendish Finale to 2014″ for bottle owners. No cover.
SASSAFRAS will host a “Black & White Party” on NYE. Dress in black & white to enjoy this unusual bar on Vine. Wrought iron, aged wood, Spanish moss and classic fixtures are a nice backdrop for their signature “Build a Buck” cocktails.. Burlesque and live music from The Dixie Giants, A modern New Orleans Brass Band, will keep the party going. Also enjoy an open bar with specialty cocktails, passed NOLA inspired apps and a midnight toast. Hopefully those apps are created by Doomie’s. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Cash bar after midnight. Tickets at Eventbrite $85
ACME Hospitality Group’s downtown bars will be toasting every hour until 1 a.m. Choose between the White Trash party at King Eddy Saloon, Spring St. Bar and Beelman’s Pub, where they will be pouring Miller’s High Life in champagne flutes. Or make it classy with Sixth St. Tavern and Library Bar with glasses of Perrier Jouet. DJs, drink specials, and an after party. See website for specific times and locations. No cover.
EXTRAVAGANZAS
Grand Park invites the whole family to ring in the New Years with “3D projections covering 22 stories of City Hall, performances by local bands and DJs on three stages, free photo booths and a wide range of food vendors.” They are tripling the size this year, to 84 acres of fun. Bring a blanket and get cozy. No alcohol permitted. In fact, a lot of things aren’t permitted, so check out their rules before you go. 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No cover.
Cleopatra’s Ball at Egyptian Theatre celebrates its 6th year running with two dance floors and four DJs in the Egyptian Theater courtyard. Open bar all night, plus an LED countdown. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $90+.
DRAGULA NEW YEAR’S BALL at the Faultline, hosted by Milk of Rupaul’s Drag Race, and the Boulet Brothers, promises a “creepy-crazy-cool eve of champagne “XXXplosions” and monster drag shows.” DJs Barbeau and Dave Banjela with guest DJ Adrian Fox will be spinning. Milk, Lady Bear, Shawn Morales, Saint Peter Dvil, and Rudeness will perform. Also onstage expect the Leather Daddy Dancers and Filthy Fortunes with Miss Honey Bee. If you are up to the challenge, compete in the drag pageant yourself for a $200 prize. Tickets are $20-$25.
PARTIES and CLUBS
SYRUP LOFT, a community art collective and performance space presents “Slinky,” an all-night party. The loft describes itself as “a pirate ship sailing into unknown & eclectic oceans where art. music, dance, theater & community meet behind the veils of ordinary reality.” There will be DJs, including Ryan Origin. BYOB or purchase on site. Free champagne at midnight. $10 before midnight – $20 after.
Prohibition NYE is happening at the coolest venue in town. Ring in the new year at Union Station downtown. The theme is the Roaring Twenties. Expect passed oysters, hand rolled cigars, live jazz music, DJs (POSSO and Parker+Barrow), burlesque dancers, and a premium open bar. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $100/advance.
BOARDNERS NYE Bar Sinister, Blue Mondays and Moscow host “a dark and decadent night of flashbacks. DJs Bruce Perdew, Tommy, John C, and Mike Fix spin in two dance areas: ’80s, industrial and goth in the main room and ’90s old-school indie on the patio. Two live band play too: Vaniish and In Letter Form. Free champagne toast at midnight, party favors and balloon drops. Hosted by Kent Kaliber. 18 and over. Tickets ” $20-$25.
NOIRE’S EVE at Complex E is themed “In Darkness There Is Always A Light.” This one is for those of you humming “Bella Lugosi’s Dead.” DJ Blackeyed (Noize Faktory, Batcave), DJ Doomie (Violane), DJ Gheist (Chamber, Discord) and DJ Franck HBomb (Das Bunker, Noize Faktory, Batcave) will spin industrial, goth, and dark ’80s music. Complimentary glass of champagne at midnight,along with a vegan strawberry shortcake by Das Baker. In Glendale – spoooky. 9pm-2am. $10
PURE TRASH at Monty Bar Glam/Pop/Punk/Trash The debauchery starts at 9pm New Year’s Eve. Spinning real bad music for real bad people will be the LA Beat’s favorite DJ, Howie Pyro and Dirty Danny. Free giveaways! Special Surprise Guests! 21+ No Cover
RESTAURANTS
Acabar in West Hollywood will ring in 2015 with a “White Carnival.” The evening will feature an exclusive four-course prix-fixe menu, with two seatings that night (first seating, 6p.m.-7p.m., $65++ per person; second seating, 7:45p.m.-11p.m.). Menu choices from the brilliant Kevin Luzande include Kanpachi Ceviche, Normandy Butter Poached Lobster, and Braised Short Rib. Then the party is on at Acabar’s lounge with DJ Wiseacre with special guests “Cabrocha” Brazilian Samba Dancers and capoeira performances in a drum circle of percussionists. There will be an a la carte bar menu with oysters and caviars. $125 for everything but the booze (There will be a complimentary champagne or cocktail toast at midnite).
FAITH & FLOWER Downtown is the height of elegance. The first seating at 5:30 p.m. is for a 5-course menu for $95. The 9 p.m. seating offers 6 course for $125. Courses from Executive Chef Michael Hung include options like Warm Bone Marrow and American Sturgeon Caviar Toasts, Lobster “Water” Dumplings, and Roasted Piedmontese Ribeye. There will be a champagne toast at midnight. Drinks and carousing until 2am. When do you ever get invited to carouse? Try the signature English Milk Punch.
ABIGAILE in Hermosa Beach celebrates with a New Years Eve Buffet ($60 for dinner only; $120 includes both dinner and open bar). The buffet will feature charcuterie and artisanal cheeses, raw seafood such as oysters, shrimp, and king crab legs, sushi and sashimi, a carving station with roasted prime rib of beef or tandoori baked salmon, and assorted desserts. The buffet will be offered from 5pm-9pm (the last reservations will be taken at 9pm), and there will be a DJ spinning. If you are in the mood, walk down to the beach afterwards where there is a row of bars and some insane partying.
TOM BERGINS in the Fairfax district invites guests to celebrate New Year’s Eve (and its one year anniversary of re-opening) on December 31 from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. The theme is an ode to 1936. (Finally, we escape from the roaring 20s!) 1936 is the year Tom Bergin officially opened “Tom Bergin’s Old Horseshoe Tavern & Thoroughbred Club.” Revelers are strongly encouraged to “dress to the nines” in their 1930s-inspired attire. “In addition to the full menu, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. a $19.36 prix-fixe menu featuring West Coast Oysters with Champagne mignonette, Prime Rib with traditional horseradish crème and seasonal winter vegetables will be available.” The prix-fixe menu includes a glass of champagne. A DJ will be spinning a mix of throwback and contemporary tunes. End the night with their famous Irish Coffee. No cover.
