Lina Lecaro[Ed. note: This are NYE events from Dec. 31, 2014, but don't worry — we've got this year's best New Year's Eve parties covered, too.]
Whether you think it's the best night to party of the whole year, or a risky amateur night, there is something about New Year's Eve that feels special. It deserves more than some booze in front of the tube at home. We say take a chance and get out!
As in years past, we've strived to compile a diverse array of happenings to choose from, indicative of the wild and wonderful offerings we covered all year in L.A. From themed retro nights to mega-hotel bashes to DJ-driven dance-offs to offbeat bashes that could only happen here, in this great city, we think any of these would be a fine and festive way to kick off 2015.
All events listed are on Wed., Dec, 31 and are over 21 (unless otherwise specified), ending at 2 a.m.
Hotel Hullabaloos:
NYE AT SKYBAR: #FRANCOPHILIA2015
The Mondrian invites you to bid ‘au revior’ to 2014 and say ‘bonjour’ to 2015 with a '60s-era French fete. Black tie and high fashion are suggested, and the Skybar promises the luxe treatment: “sultry servers” at your beck and call with champagne, canapes and cocktails. Funky French jazz, premium open bar and DJs bring the sexy je ne sais quois all night.
8440 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Tickets and info at https://backofhouse.herokuapp.com/happenings/227
?NYE AT THE TROPICANA
Tear the roof off the sucker Hollywood-style at the Roosevelt, where DJs spin poolside including Capital Cities, Adam Auburn, David Bullock and more.
7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Tickets and info at https://www.facebook.com/events/613984458706329/
Giorgio's; Credit: John Tyler Curtis
GIORGIO'S BLACK & WHITE MASQUERADE BALL
New Years Eve is all about dressing up, and L.A.’s chic-est dance party is arguably Giorgio's at the Standard on the Sunset Strip. Expect plenty of high glamour, disco-style, for their end-of-the-year soiree. The club will have a special hostess too: NYC drag legend Joey Arais. Arias will perform and DJ Adam 12 will provide '70s dance perfection on the floor, as always. Open bar and tray passed hors d'ouerves included with ticket price. Table packages available.
8300 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Tickets and info at https://hwoodnye.nightout.com/
CASABLANCA
The Hotel Figueroa's exotic environment makes for a fitting backdrop for this oasis-like escape. Live entertainment and music by KCRW DJs.
939 S. Figueroa St., Downtown. Tickets and info at https://hotelfignye.eventbrite.com
NYE ARGYLE
More roaring '20s revelry at the Argyle with this Great Gatsby-themed stomper. Go-go girls dressed as flappers, 10-foot stilt walkers and more. DJ Savi and dancing to hip-hop, house, mash-ups, and Top 40. Subterranean craft cocktail bar, tray passed appetizers, craft cocktails, smoking patio.
1600 Argyle Ave., Hollywood. Ticket info at https://www.argylehollywood.com/event/nye/?instance_id=2677
Rhondapolis; Credit: Lina Lecaro
RHONDAPOLIS
The party monster extravaganza returns with 13 floors of mayhem and 4 thumping discotheques in one, all inside of the Standard, Downtown LA. From the lobby to the outdoor rooftop pool, expect the bash’s usual polysexual hedonism to be other-level. Music by Hot Chip, Derrick May, Etienne de Crecy, Omar-S, Jimmy Edgar, Peanut Butter Wolf, J Rocc, Moon Boots, Perseus, Martyn, Wolfram, Sonns, Leonardo Glovibes, Goddollars, Paradise, and James del Barco. Book a room for an even more hardcore experience. Guests gain entry for two to the entirety of the party (which goes all night) and have free access to the following day's hangover rooftop pool party.
550 Flower St., Downtown. Tickets and info at https://www.ticketfly.com/event/714415-rhondapolis-nye-2015-los-angeles/
Back to the Future:
PROHIBITION AT UNION STATION
Time travel seems to be very popular on New Year's Eve, and party people really love the speakeasy era. This Boardwalk Empire-era gathering hosted by RedLight Promotions will feature a DJ set by the sexy gals in Posso plus Travis Emmons, Parker + Barrow and a live jazz band. Open premium bar with entry. Formal attire required.
800 N. Alameda St., Downtown. Tickets and info at https://found.ee/ProhibitionNYE2014
Vendetta Host Jeffrey Damnit; Credit: Elektrocution
VENDETTA NEW YEAR'S EVE
LADEAD™ (Los Angeles Darkside) and Swingtronic invite you to go dark and dapper with their 6th Annual dance orgy at Club Monte Cristo, a Prohibition-era affair that promises “a murder,” though that just might be referencing the DJs who’ll kill the dancefloor. Jazz and cocktails early and champagne and naughty hi-jinks later. Midnight toast and balloon drop, Host Jeffrey Damnit and a “blackjack speakeasy” round out the retro raging. DJs Xian Vox (LADEAD™, Edwardian Ball, Ruin Hollywood) and Professor Watson (Swingtronic, Electro Swing Club) provide the swingin’ sounds. Dress “to die for”: flappers, mobsters, burlesque babes, or formal black and white attire recommended.
659 S. Westmoreland Ave., Koreatown. Info at https://www.facebook.com/events/1505362859728519/
BOARDNERS NYE
The historic Hollywood venue's three most popular and long-running club events — Bar Sinister, Blue Mondays and Moscow — join forces for 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.
1652 N. Cherokee, Hollywood. More info and tickets: https://www.facebook.com/events/1549059132007657/
143 AT LOS GLOBOS
Named after the popular '90s pager code for “I Love You,” 143 is a super-sweaty dance party for jamster crowd. R&B, slow jams, hip-hop, and '90s house on the decks from DJs Sosupersam, Them Jeans, Siik, Kronika, Dan Oh, Bobby Evans. Champagne toast and countdown. Open bar and table reservations also available.
3040 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. More info at https://www.clublosglobos.com/event/727251-new-years-eve-143-los-angeles/
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Bring it in with a Banger
Biggie EDM DJs are a solid option for New Years Eve and the mega-clubs around L.A. got 'em good. These three should rock.
DANNY TENAGLIA at SOUND
The New York techno wizard's mixes will probably destroy Hollywood. You may not survive to see 2015. Have fun.
1642 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood. Info and tickets at https://soundnightclub.com/event/dannynye/
JOHN DIGWEED at EXCHANGE
It doesn't get any bigger or ballsier when it comes to EDM. This guy will start off the year with some wicked wallops.
618 S. Spring St., Downtown. Info and tickets at https://www.flavorus.com/event/John-Digweed-and-Tchami/274555
BLASTERJAXX, D.O.D. at AVALON
This Dutch DJ duo's sick beats will make that hangover headache more intense, but also more worth it.
1735 Vine St., Hollywood. Info and tickets at https://avalonhollywood.com/event/avalon-presents-new-years-eve-with-blasterjaxx-d-o-d/
Surf Club glamour.; Credit: Rick Miller
Cahuenga Rocks
Cahuenga is one of our favorite clusterfucks and NYE is no exception. In fact, for bringing in the new year, it's the rule! Here are the best bashes on the boulevard:
SURF CLUB
The gallery next to the Burgundy Room will be swingin' with a free formal fete featuring drink specials from the Burg. Best dressed couple contest (photo session with curator Rick Miller is the prize) and Rat Pack themed activities are promised. 621 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Info at https://www.facebook.com/ surfclubartgallery
VELVET MARGARITA
It’s a rock & roll rager on their patio with dinner inside early, then a tequila-soaked dance party inside later, complete with balloon drop. DJs include Ricky Vodka and Big Daddy Carlos outside, and DJ Garron and DJ Lethal pumping the jams inside.
1612 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Info at https://www.facebook.com/vmchollywood
ST FELIX & THE POWDER ROOM
The lively eaterie and adjacent bar get taken over by promoter BoJesse Christopher, with DJs spinning house, hip-hop, pop, and dance mash-ups throughout. Confetti and balloon drop at midnight.
1602 N. Cahuenga Blvd. TIckets and more info at www.eventbrite.com
Dark & Light
DRAGULA (LA) NEW YEAR'S BALL
Scene queen Milk (Rupaul's Drag Race) hosts the Boulet Brothers’ creepy-crazy-cool eve of champagne “XXXplosions” and monster drag shows. Performers include Milk, Lady Bear, Shawn Morales, Saint Peter Dvil, Rudeness… and you (if you dare), during the club’s demonically decadent drag pageant ($200 prize). DJs Barbeau and Dave Banjela with guest DJ Adrian Fox whip up sickness.
At Faultline, 4216 Melrose Ave., Silver Lake. Tickets and info at https://dragulanye.brownpapertickets.com/
Dragula's Boulet Brothers.
MINIMAL EFFORT — A BLACK & WHITE NYE
With such a spectacular turnout at Minimal Effort's Halloween Supernature Showcase, it was only right to keep the momentum going with a Black & White New Year's Eve celebration. Lot 613 will be transformed into a black and white affair, with one room featuring special guests DJ T., Three, Fur Coat and Human Resources, while the second room will be a Desert Hearts takeover featuring Mikey Lion, Porkchop, Lee Reynolds, Deep Jesus and Marbs.
At Lot 613, 613 Imperial St., Downtown. Info at https://www.facebook.com/events/350338138472249/
NOIRE'S EVE
Did 2104 suck? Will 2015 will suck harder? It's easy to be a downer about the New Year, but you can be a gloomer and still be upbeat too. Dance yourself happy at this dark music bacchanal with hard beats and ghouly grooves. This one offers industrial, goth, dark '80s, new wave, shoegaze and ethereal sounds from DJ Blackeyed (Noize Faktory, Batcave), DJ Doomie (Violane), DJ Gheist (Chamber, Discord) and DJ Franck HBomb (Das Bunker, Noize Faktory, Batcave). Complimentary glass of champagne at midnight and shortcakes by Das Baker and goth vegan joint Doomie’s Home Cooking.
At Complex, 806 E. Colorado St. Glendale. More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/877977338888564/
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