Downtown Los Angeles Blog

and a happy new year: 12 options under $50.00 to bring in 2009

by Rich Alossi on December 31, 2008

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While 2008 was a major year for the progression of Downtown as a new residential, dining and cultural hub, the new year will bring in a number of challenges and opportunities for those living in the neighborhood.

So for those looking to bring it home in a boozy haze, I can’t blame you.

What I can do, however, is supply you with a list of bars and clubs offering fun, affordable events this New Year’s Eve!

Remember, Metro is getting into the NYE spirit with free bus and rail service until 2:00am on the 1st, and 24-hour service on the county’s five rail lines. Also, blogdowntown has compiled a nice list of events, even listing how to get around on the late-night DASH system.

As always, be safe out there.  But most importantly, have yourself a great time!

UPDATE: Added the Association, Remedy Lounge, Lucky Strike, Blue Velvet.

  • The Association - No cover or reservations required!  Open at 5:00pm.  213-627-7385; 110 E 6th St; angelenic write-up
  • Bar 107 - Dress to the 9’s masquerade party! Who would have guessed that Bar 107 would have a dress code?  Attendees are encouraged to wear a mask.  DJ Oldboy and DJ Ces Boogie all night long. 213-625-7382; 107 W 4th St; myspace.com/bar107
  • Blue Velvet - $25.00 entry at the door with RSVP to honeycollective@yahoo.com. Djs Rashida and EQue, plus complimentary Hennessey cocktails.  213-239-0061; 750 S Garland Ave; bluevelvetrestaurant.com
  • Broadway Bar - DJs start spinning at 9:00pm.  No cover charge or reservations required!  Complimentary hats.  213-614-9909; 830 S Broadway; broadwaybar.la
  • Casey’s Irish Bar & Grill - Live Irish music featuring Paddy’s Pig and a complimentary Guinness toast at midnight.  The kitchen is open until midnight, bar open until 2:00. No reservation or cover charge!  213-629-2353; 613 S Grand Ave; bigcaseys.com
  • Club 740 - This historic theatre has been turned into an ornate club.  The New Year’s Eve masquerade ball features party favors, finger foods, a balloon drop, a midnight show and champagne toast, and an after-hours party.  $27.00 presale tickets available online. 213-627-6277; 740 S Broadway; 740la.com
  • Cole’s French Dip - $1 late-night French dip sliders until 1:30am, bar open until 2:00am.  No cover charge or reservations required!  213-622-4090; 118 W 6th St; colesfrenchdip.com
  • Golden Gopher - Festivities start at 8:00pm.  No cover or reservations required! 213-614-8001; 417 W 8th St; goldengopher.la
  • Lucky Strike Lanes - Bowling on New Year’s Eve?  Sure, why not?  $40.00 entry to the party.  213-542-4880; 800 W Olympic Blvd; bowlluckystrike.com
  • Mountain Bar - A midnight countdown, champagne toast and balloon drop are featured at this must-visit Chinatown drinkery. Presale tickets are $20.00, or $25-$30 at the door.  213-625-7500; 425 Gin Ling Way (Chinatown); themountainbar.com
  • Redwood Bar & Grill - What could be better than a hillbilly NYE party?  If your answer is “lots of things,” then stay away from the Redwood!  Otherwise, check out Mike Stinson, Wayne Hancock, Bob Wayne and West of Texas live at this pirate-themed bar. $20.00 at the door. 213-680-2600; 316 W 2nd St; theredwoodbar.com
  • Remedy Lounge - $30.00 cover includes hors d’oeuvres and a live DJ. 213-489-1406; 800 Wilshire Blvd; remedylounge.com
  • Seven Grand - Live jazz (Bill Wysaske Trio) and DJ starting at 8:00pm.  $40.00 gets you a glass of LeTourment Absinthe, a “sparkling New Year’s toast” and hors d’oeuvres.  Call for reservations and information. 213-614-0736; 515 W 7th St; sevengrand.la
  • Suede Bar & Lounge - The sexy traveling set takes on Suede, in the ground floor of the Bonaventure Hotel.  No cover, bottle service, a midnight champagne toast and … *wink* room specials at the hotel can make for one helluva night.  213-489-3590; 404 S Figueroa (Lobby Level); myspace.com/suedebarla
  • Transistor at Grand Star Jazz Club - Featuring Latin dance party Automatico upstairs, Transistor is all about “feel-good dancing.”  $10.00 cover gets you free champagne at midnight.  213-626-2285; 943 N Broadway; myspace.com/clubtransistor
  • Vertigos - This is a place you don’t hear about that often.  Vertigos bills itself as Downtown’s only open bar all night long on New Year’s Eve, at a cost of only $50.00.  Limited number of pre-sale VIP tickets still available.  213-977-0888; 801 W Temple St (at Figueroa); vertigos.com

12 comments

1 Natasha { 12.31.08 at 8:45 am }

Also, Remedy Lounge is having a party with a $30 cover (DJ and passed hors d’oeuvres) and Lucky Strike is hosting a party with a $40 cover…

2 Anthony { 12.31.08 at 9:17 am }

I’ll see y’all at The Redwood!

3 JDRCRASH { 12.31.08 at 11:12 am }

Are there any specific ceremonies in the Nokia Plaza for today?

4 Vanzant { 12.31.08 at 12:52 pm }

Rich, might want to add Blue Velvet in city west, at the flat. says $30 on the net link but the flyer says 25. free champagne toast. http://theguide.latimes.com/downtown-la-neighborhoods/restaurants/blue-velvet-venue

5 Vanzant { 12.31.08 at 12:58 pm }

Wrong link: http://theguide.latimes.com/Guide-Staff/lists/173737/los-angeles-new-years-eve-parties

6 Rich Alossi { 12.31.08 at 1:02 pm }

Thanks! I’ve added Blue Velvet, Association, Lucky Strike and Remedy Lounge.

7 Happy2009 { 12.31.08 at 1:17 pm }

The Downtown Independent has the ball drop live on the big screen. FREE entry: http://www.downtownindependent.com/events/new-years-eve-celebration

8 LoftLa { 12.31.08 at 2:43 pm }

Why does remedy have a $30, it’s been empty every time I’ve walked in there (probably because it’s so new). Some special promoter? I’d rather go to library bar.

You could also add the Clipper game, it’ll be done by 9, but you can probably get great lower level seats for under $50.

9 Anthony { 12.31.08 at 3:18 pm }

“You could also add the Clipper game, it’ll be done by 9, but you can probably get great lower level seats for under $50.”

I don’t know if it was intentional, but that’s the funniest thing I’ve read all day.

10 Anonymous { 12.31.08 at 3:34 pm }

BANK RUN AT FARMERS AND MERCHANT BANK @ 4TH AND MAIN IS ONLY $20 AT THE DOOR. GREAT BANDS + GREAT SHOW
DETAILS AND FLYER AT http://www.littleradio.com/

11 benjamin { 12.31.08 at 4:41 pm }

lol clippers tickets are usually free if u look for it

12 Karin Liljegren { 01.02.09 at 7:51 pm }

Rich - THANK YOU for this list - it was REALLY helpful! Especially which ones had no cover. I was surprised how many places weren’t open earlier in the day. I was ready to drink at 5pm and not many options open yet and had alternate hours.

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