Best Party of NYE in LA from LALate.com

[lalate]

All that matters is that you had a great New Years, whether at home with friends, family, or pets.

But if you want to hear what we think was the finest party in LA for NYE, we'll be spilling the details right here later today. It was one of our 2nd Annual LALate Best of NYE Picks and it was just incredible for us and a mere (estimated) 20,000 other friends that showed up (yes 20,000).

Review coming later today.

Happy New Years Everyone!

LALate

[lalate]

Well, "Together as One", a music spectacular at the Sports Arena, for LALate, turned out to be arguably not just the best NYE LA party of 03 but perhaps one of the best NYE parties ever, hands down. This party blew us away.

Earlier that week, LALate named the party Winner in the LALate/TeenLate 2nd Annual Best of NYE Awards winning TeenLate Choice for Best NYE Overall Party (Los Angeles) receiving 4.5 stars out of a possible 5 stars in our preview. The event details going into the event were the following:

Time: 8 pm to 4 am

Ages: all ages

Price: $40 pre sale, 75 presale include free vodka drinks, separate entrance, access to the backstage VIP area, free VODKA drinkS , an exclusive BACKSTAGE wristband, and free giveaways

LALate showed up at the LA Sports Arena quite late at approximately 11:30 pm. Our $40 presale tickets were ready in 10 seconds, no line, at will call, and our 2 friends paid and got there $40 tickets just as fast as us. Into the Sports Arena we went.

In your life, you experience few visual sensory overloud experiences that are so overwhelming that you are left speechless by their grandness. Spectaular moments around the world. Stunning seascape panoramas. Well, after entering the Sports Arena, one such experience happened. We grab our drinks, reasonably priced, and walked up the stairs that brings you to the rafters of the Sports Arena looking down on the floor. We walked up the stairs into this darkness and suddenly there it was. The entire Sports Arena blanketed in darkness with people bouncing, lights bouncing, a sea of what seemed like arguably 15 to 20,000 people below you, all having fun. Above them, the dj booth, raised up high, with what seemed like a 40 foot x 40 foot tv screen, several moon-like shapes the size of SUVs hanging from the ceiling. Words can't explain the feeling you experienced. Un-be-lievable.

Suddenly, the dj shouted 2 minutes to midnight. Had we arrived that late? The tv screens had started the countdown. Bouncing people. Thumping music. Darkness. Colors. Then suddenly, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and in a heartbeat, a darkened arena was set illuminated with massive exploding white fireworks shooting into the sky, tails of several dozen powerful spray fireworks lighting up the entire arena.

Before you could think, people you didn't know came up to on the railing and started hugging you and saying, "Happy New Year, Here's to 2004". One person, another person, and third.

Suddenly the reality set in - we've only been here 15 minutes. And we only have four more hours? Four will never be enough to experience this spectacular. And it wasn't.

Unlike events across town where people now are complaining they received bad security problems on NYE, the sports arena had the nicest staff you could imagine. One of LALate's friends did a favor and before you knew it, we were in VIP lounge. Free VIP drinks galore, but very weak, access to be literally 10 feet from the stage, a private lounging room. But with only about 200 people out of 20,000 in the VIP area, it wasn't worth $70; we were smart to just get the general admission ticket of $40.

So out to the floor we went. So many happy people. Hot people. Some of the hottest people ever seen. All ages, from mid teens to early 40s. There is an old saying in nightlife -- being inclusive as opposed to exclusive makes a better large-scale party. We found ourselves become a rhythm of this heartbeat that was so wonderful.

Time to move and see more. Out the edges, underneath the rafters, in the halls, was this virtual village of sellers' booths. The booths made the vibe even stronger. "Buy this, buy that." And boy, did we buy. They had everything, T-shirts, hats, necklaces, great stuff, great prices.

Alright, enough shopping. Off to find these two other rooms. Needless to say, we never found one of them. (Wall maps were needed at the event. We defaulted to asked the nice security where everything was.) Into one room we went. What is this? A breakdancing dance-off? No way. One guy stayed on his head for what seemed at least 5 minutes stationary as his legs went from New York to LA and back again. Another DJ to our right? Yes. What's that necklace someone is wearing to my right? "You buy it in the hall." Off to buy something else.

Oooh, tacos, churros, for NYE, and cheap? Amazing. Time to dance more. And dance and dance. Oh, no, my left ear plug fell out. I have an extra one. (Ear plugs were only needed in one spot. Overall, sound levels were fine.)

Suddenly, it's 4 am. Time to leave. What? Private invitation to another after after party from the same organizers. Darn, does the party really have to stop?

Now, being several days later, have sorted through all the experiences that night, here's final thoughts.

Clubgoers - Doing an arena-size music/dance spectacular is the best bet. The vibe is so wonderful. Go with people like you that want to become part of the vibe and dance all night.

Tickets - Buy the cheapest ticket, and early. Imagine tickets for this event at one point were only $30.

Promoters - Listen up. Please, please consider doing a 2 or 3 day NYE spectacular like this. Start it on 12/31 and repeat it the next two nights. Have us come back the next day for round 2, then round 3. We wanted to dance so much more, listen so much more. But it was over, sadly.

Finally, good news. Do you like what you read? LALate in 2003 had more warehouse private parties like this, just smaller capacity, than you can imagine. In 2004 get ready for more warehouse parties and yes, full size arena parties. First one is just weeks away. You've read the review. Now experience it yourself, at one address: www.lalate.com