Nightlife

The Hot List

Partying on New Year's Eve

Safe to say 2008 was not a boring year. Of course, you usually prefer the debaucherous-midnight-toast excitement to, you know, the meltdown-y variety. So we thought you might appreciate some ideas on a fresh start for '09.

The Kress

The Kress

And by starting things off right, we mean four floors of open bars. There's also a midnight champagne toast, obviously.

10pm-2am, $125 and up, The Kress, 6608 Hollywood Blvd (entrance off Schrader), Hollywood, 323-785-5000

Gridlock

Gridlock

On the Paramount lot, you get a five-square-block bash with Katy Perry instead of Ryan Seacrest—and at midnight, a rising star instead of a dropping ball. Ah, Hollywood...

9pm-3am, $100 and up, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Ave (between Gower and Van Ness), 323-571-4000

New Year's Nation at The Lot

New Year's Nation at The Lot

But if you require Brent Bolthouse and DJ AM to feel assured you're in good hands, we can't really blame you. They're taking over another studio lot for the LA portion of a ten-city-wide blowout.

8:30pm-2am, $150 and up, 1041 N. Formosa Ave (at Santa Monica), West Hollywood, 310-861-5335

Giant Maximus

Giant Maximus

Of course, if you're thinking something more sophisticated, KCRW's presence adds class to this 10,000-capacity bash in the streets. (On this night, class is relative.)

7pm-4am, $65 and up, 835 Francisco St (8th and Figueroa), Downtown, 323-464-7373

The Edison

The Edison

And over at your favorite underground power plant-turned-bar, the limber Lucent Dossier troupe will bend over backwards, probably literally, to keep you entertained all night.

9pm-2am, $175, 108 W. 2nd St #101 (between Spring and Main), Downtown, 213-613-0000

The Bazaar by José Andrés

The Bazaar by José Andrés

Book early (aka now), and you'll get open access to the menu at Rojo y Blanca for $125—you won't have to order much for that to be a bargain—before the party spills over to Bar Centro, and the ballroom, and maybe a room upstairs...

$125 in advance, SLS Hotel, 465 S. La Cienega Blvd (S. of San Vicente), Beverly Hills, 310-246-5555

Ecco

Ecco

Really, though, you're turning over a new leaf in the new year—starting with a night of organic-paperless-recycled debauchery. It's all about drinking responsibly.

8pm-3am, $80 and up, 1640 N. Cahuenga Ave (between Hollywood and Selma), Hollywood, 323-464-2065

Elsewhere on the Daddy

More Nightlife in Los Angeles