Queen Mary Fireworks, Prohibition NYE At Union Station & The Rose Bowl Effect
The first response from a local might be “well, not much!”
And that’s partly the truth. Thats’ because Los Angeles has no major free public event with fireworks and a couple hundred thousand people. Tho something like that would indeed be very cool at, say, the Santa Monica Pier.
Instead, what the vast city offers are countless promotor parties at private venues, hotels and a lot in the Hollywood clubs. Expect to pay $50-150, often plus your alcohol, for these events. Two places to go to check on NYE party events are Mr.OC’s website, which has a list of promoter and private parties throughout Orange County, and promoter Berry Bly’s NYE Portofino party on the waterfront in Redondo Beach.
Bars, too, have their own parties, often charging $25-75.
There are also parties at two of L.A’s landmark places, the Queen Mary – which is the only place that has a NYE fireworks show – and Union Station. Below are details and ticket prices on each.
PORTOFINO PARTY, REDONDO BEACH
The biggest NYE bash in LA’s singles-heavy South Bay takes place by the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach’s King Harbor. A patio overlooks the water, there are two rooms with DJs and a band and about a thousand people – mostly singles – looking to start the New Year in a ver good mood. Link: Portofino Party Tickets & Info
QUEEN MARY 2018 NYE PARTY
The historic cruise liner is docked permanently in Long Beach and features a country music band and DJs on different deck levels, rotating dancers and entertainers and “gambling” rooms. All on board the famous ship, which is in Long Beach.
At midnight, a huge fireworks show fills up the sky from off the stern.
Of course, if you’re not on board you can watch the fireworks for free – and thousands do just this – from all around Shoreline Village and even down toward Belmont Shore.
Price: $99 (does not include alcohol).
Link: www.queenmary.com/events/new-years-eve
DINNER, DRINKS, DJ & DANCING IN LONG BEACH FOR NYE
Looking for a fantastic dinner – for a good price – followed by dancing? The Federal, a former bank in downtown Long Beach, has a combo that includes a sit-down dinner followed by dancing with a DJ. PubClub sampled the menu and it’s great. The cost is $65, which is way better than you’ll get for food of this quality and most places. See our review below. Link: The Federal Bar NYE Long Beach
TIKI NO TIKI BAR & NO NYE COVER
Tiki drinks in a Polynesian setting with karaoke. And no cover! It’s at the Tiki No tiki bar in Hollywood. Link: Tiki No New Year’s Eve Party
PROHIBITION NYE PARTY AT UNION STATION
This is a high-end, really cool party in the Art Deco train station in downtown L.A.
It’s a Roarin’ 20s theme with girls dressed as flappers, guys at gangsters, a jazz band, saxapohist and, to be hip wit this day and age, DJs. It goes form 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Price: $165 and it includes an open bar.
Link: Prohibition NYE Review
GROUNDLINGS THEATER FOR NYE
For something more low key but that could also be a blast with a small group of fiends, the improv comedy venue The Groundlings is having a special NYE show. It includes a champagne toast at midnight. You’ll certainly laugh your way out of 2016 and into 2017!
Link: Groundlings NYE Tickets & Info
THE 2018 ROSE BOWL GAME & PARADE
The Rose Bowl game and parade is Monday, Jan 1. For many, the latter means thousands of people will be spending their New Year’s Day curled up in sleeping bags along the parade route to secure a good spot for when the rose-filled floats roll down the streets of Pasadena. If you plan to to this, know that is can get COLD at night. And it will be chilly at the game after the sun goes down (about 5 .m.).
The 5 1/2-mile Rose Parade route begins at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena, goes north on Orange Grove, then turns east onto Colorado Boulevard, where the majority of the parade viewing takes place. Near the end of the route, the parade turns north onto Sierra Madre Boulevard and ends at Villa Street.
This year’s game features Oklahoma and Georgia in the first of the day’s two College Football Playoffs games. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
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