Lina Lecaro2022 was a lot. Not as draining as 2020 or as weird as 2021, but nonetheless a precarious 12 months that flew by, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. A lot of us will be celebrating the year’s end by staying home and getting sloshed with Andy Cohen on CNN, but for those who want to get out, and still don’t know what to do, we got you. Here’s a list of the most promising New Year’s Eve 2023 nightlife happenings with live music, DJs, and libations, plus our top party picks for the soirees dripping with celebratory style. Have a blast and be safe out there!
Foxes Magazine and local Burlesque legend Rita D’Albert are throwing what they call “an actual fun NYE party” and it sure does look like it has the goods. Fire performances, burlesque and bands will keep the night bubbling with bump and grinds from Vanessa Burgundy, Lux LaCroix and Kristina Nekyia Cañizares. Mz. Neon Music (pictured above) will be performing live and Casper VonDj spins punk, goth, glam, Brit pop, 80s, 60s alongside Ian Svenonius who also emcees the event. Dress foxy for this one, obvi! At the Escondite, 410 Boyd St. Downtown. Tickets and info at restlessnites.com/events/actualfunnye31dec2022/
2022 LA Weekly cover stars Starcrawler never disappoint live, so they make a perfect choice for burning down the past and welcoming in a new year with audaciousness and attitude. Read the full feature on this smoldering rock band HERE. See them NYE at the Lodge Room, 104 N. Ave 56. Tickets and info lodgeroomhlp.com/shows/starcrawler/.
Starcrawler (Gilbert Trejo)
For a more old school rock vibe, head to the Sunset Strip for LA Guns’ annual New Year’s celebration at the Whisky. A slew of openers warm up the celebration including Brittneys Rage , Indiana Bradley, Member, Taz Taylor Band, Burning The Fields, and Vantablak. 8901 W. Sunset Blvd. Tickets and info at whiskyagogo.com/calendar/events/
Looking for a different kind of banger? Minimal Effort’s EDM dance party events are always raging and the promoters got a whole weekend of wicked ravey shindigs at 1720: Destructo and Matthew Dear with support by Baby J and TYRBYT on Friday, and Jimi Jules plus Doc Martin with support by Of The Moon and ARYA on Saturday, counting down til last beat of 2022 drops. They’ve also got a New year’s Day event if you have any energy left. 1720 E. 16th St. Downtown. Info and tickets to everything at linktr.ee/underratedpresents.
Hollywood Roosevelt (photo by Anne Wallentine)
The NYE party at The Hollywood Roosevelt is a solid classic at this point. The Old Hollywood glamour begins at the historic Blossom Ballroom, followed by a four-course meal, performances by The Satin Dollz, and countdown to midnight. The party then moves to the lobby with a live DJ. 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Tickets and info here.
The HWOOD Group has some of our favorite nightlife destinations in L.A. and on Saturday December 31st, all of them will be poppin’: Poppy, SHOREbar, Sant’olina, Bootsy Bellows, The Peppermint Club, and Harriet’s Rooftop are all throwing New Year’s Eve celebrations and the cover gets you a 5 hour premium open bar and live DJs. Click name links for more info. Two of HWood’s hottest spots, The Nice Guy and Delilah’s, are doing seatings and champagne packages as well (First seating: 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. Second seating: Anytime after 8:30 p.m.) Reservations at theniceguyla.com and delilahla.com.
(Courtesy Bar Lis)
More of our favorites for a glamorous NYE in Hollywood: Bar Lis’ “Midnight in The French Riviera” bash atop its gorgeous rooftop lounge will have a five-hour open bar and sounds by international DJ Awsumo plus a champagne toast at midnight. 1541 Wilcox Ave. Hollywood www.BarLisNYE.com. Stagecoach artist Nikki Lane with Johnny Travis Jr. plus Wade Crescent + special guests host NYE at Desert 5 Spot, with a mechanical bull and a midnight tequila toast amidst the sky roof deck’s 360-degree views. 6516 Selma Ave. Hollywood. www.DesertFiveSpotNYE.com. New Year’s Eve at The Chap (named after British-born Charlie Chaplin) offers pub go-ers a four-hour open bar and performance by Amy Winehouse tribute band, Dear Amy band. Champagne toast at midnight. 1607 Cahuenga, Hollywood. www.TheChapNYE.com
Since we’re sharing bar bashes, we’ll just state here that dives are often the best, more gritty than glam spaces to ring in the new year. We wrote a whole book about these joints so we know what we’re talking about. Inebriated revelry is sure to be had at the following (all in the book): Jumbo’s Clown Room, The Burgundy Room, The Frolic Room, The Short Stop, La Cita. Click linked names to find out what they’re up to!
(Courtesy Prohibition NYE)
Finally, our friends at the Los Angeles Tourism Board/Discover Los Angeles sent us a solid list of large gatherings to consider for NYE. Check out their recs below:
Prohibition NYE with KCRW at LA’s Union Station: The roaring twenties-inspired event will return to the LA landmark for the first time since 2019 with a headlining DJ set by pop music duo NEIL FRANCES, a live jazz ensemble, burlesque performances, and a 60-foot ball drop from Union Station’s glamorous art deco ceilings. Tickets from $165 available here.
Free Fireworks at Marina del Rey, America’s Largest Manmade Harbor: For those with little ones, the annual midnight fireworks show will be preceded by a 9:00 pm fireworks display that can be seen from various scenic vantage points throughout the 5,000-boat harbor. A family-friendly Glow Party will return to Burton Chace Park from 7 pm – 12 am. Full details available here.
Ring in New Year’s with The Roots at Walt Disney Concert Hall: Set in another LA landmark designed by celebrated architect Frank Gehry, this New Year’s Eve concert has two showings on December 31 at 7:00 pm and 10:30 pm, respectively. The Grammy-winning jazz and hip-hop group is one of the most versatile groups in hip-hop history. Tickets from $109 available here.
Attend the West Coast’s Largest Free New Year’s Eve Event – Grand Park’s NYELA: Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, this 12-acre civic park will be the backdrop of performances from Grammy-nominated Cuban funk artist Cimafunk, dance troupe Versa-Style Dance Company, and global bass DJ Gingee before the night’s culmination with a stunning 3D spectacle projected onto LA’s iconic City Hall. Full details available here.
Find more NYE events in our Food and Arts sections:
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