Ditching the ball on New Year's 2006

New Year’s Eve has always been one of the biggest
party nights of the year. And in case you didn’t know, there
are better ways to celebrate it than camping out in front of the TV
set watching a taping of Dick Clark counting down the time until
it’s 2006. Or, even worse, running down your street banging
on pots and pans with your sister. Even the Rose Parade has moved
to Jan. 2, so unless camping out by yourself for a couple of days
to ensure a really good spot at the parade is your idea of a fun
way to start off 2006, it’s clearly time to retire some of
the old New Year’s Eve traditions. We’ve scoured the
city for the best parties and events in the Los Angeles area to put
together a list that we hope will entice you to try something new
this year. So set aside the old party hats and noisemakers, leave
the TV and the family at home, and give your New Year’s Eve
festivities a makeover ““ just make sure you don’t throw
out the champagne bottle, too.

The Comedy & Magic Club, Hermosa Beach
Since the Groundling’s Comedy Club isn’t doing a New
Year’s Eve show, die-hard comedy fans will have to travel a
little farther to get some end-of-the-year laughs. For those who
want to get their dose of comedy and then hit up the Hermosa Beach
bar scene, get tickets to the early 7 p.m. show that wraps up in
time to celebrate the new year when it happens in New York. The
later show starts at 10 p.m. and rings in 2006 when it actually
happens on the West Coast. Guest comedians include Ralph Harris,
Loni Love, Steve Wilson and Ian Bagg. Tickets are $85, but the
early show includes dinner and drinks and the later show includes a
dessert platter in place of the meal. For more information, visit
www.comedyandmagicclub.com or call (310) 372-1193.

“˜Sea of Dreams’ at Los Angeles Theatre, Los
Angeles For those dying to have a more culturally rich New
Year’s (and no, singing “Auld Lang Syne” as the
Times Square crystal ball drops does not count), “Sea of
Dreams” may be right up your alley. Since its sold-out debut
in 2000, it has featured a combination of high-caliber theatrical
performances and unique art shows. This year, “Sea of
Dreams” will boast five hours of continuous theater
performances, an interactive art gallery, live music and even
circus acts. But don’t think you’ll be merely an
observer ““ attendees are encouraged to wear their own
costumes, ranging from vaudeville to burlesque. It will likely be
one of the most unique New Year’s events you’ll ever
experience, and it kicks off early at 9 p.m. Tickets are $60 before
Dec. 26, $70 after Dec. 26, and $80 at the door. For more
information, go to www.anonsalon.com/seaofdreams05/la.

“˜Sing Sholom Aleichem!’ at the Santa Monica
Playhouse, Santa Monica Want to get your food,
entertainment, champagne and noisemakers all in one stop? Try
checking out Santa Monica Playhouse’s annual New Year’s
Eve cabaret, featuring the most requested songs from
internationally acclaimed Jewish musicals. The event also provides
a buffet supper, champagne, sparkling cider and various celebratory
items as well. Think the subject matter sounds a bit limited?
Don’t worry ““ the Santa Monica Playhouse uses Jewish
musicals mainly as a launching point for their upbeat, humorous
show, and you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy it. The 6 p.m.
show will be $39.50, and the 9:30 p.m. show will be $49.50. For
more information, go to www.santamonicaplayhouse.com.

“˜The Ultimate ’80s New Year’s
Eve’ at 80’s Club Addiction, Los Angeles The
abundance of new-wave-influenced bands (The Faint and Stellastarr*,
to name a few), as well as their super-tight pants, can only mean
one thing: The ’80s are back in a big way. Experience an
’80s New Year’s Eve at 80’s Club Addiction, where
four neighboring clubs will unite to host four different dance
rooms playing the best of your favorite rock and new-wave songs,
including a special tribute to Depeche Mode and The
Smiths/Morrissey. Best of all, everyone over 18 is welcome, so you
won’t have to scrounge around for a fake ID. Plus, parking is
free, $1 tacos will be cooked in copious amounts for purchase, and
DJs will be giving away free stuff all night long after the party
kicks off at 8 p.m. You won’t find a better dance party for
the $20 door price. For more information, check out
www.clubviolator.com.

Giant Village, downtown Los Angeles “My
Humps” is arguably the worst song of the year, and the Black
Eyed Peas the worst group out there right now, but the fact that
Fergie and friends are headlining this event doesn’t keep it
from being one of the biggest parties to be at, come Dec. 31.
Artists will perform on five stages in six city blocks for over
15,000 people, smack in the middle of downtown Los Angeles on
Wilshire Boulevard. Tickets are steep at around $75, but part of
the proceeds will go to charity, and there will actually be a few
good artists performing, such as Z-Trip and The Flaming Lips. For
more information, go to www.giantvillage.com.

Universal CityWalk, Los Angeles Let’s be
honest. As cool as it looks on TV, it’s freezing in Times
Square on New Year’s Eve. For those of us who applied to UCLA
to avoid the East Coast’s snow and sub-zero temperatures,
standing in the bitter cold in a parka for six hours just to watch
a ball drop doesn’t sound like the ideal situation.
Thankfully, through the magic of Hollywood, Universal CityWalk is
bringing the ball to you. The Times Square ball drop will be
broadcast on a huge screen. And in the meantime, instead of getting
frostbite you can enjoy your choice of the New Year’s Eve
dinner packages at 33 different clubs and restaurants. If
that’s not enough, nerd rockers Rocket Science will be
ushering in the new year along with DJs spinning dance music for
the length of CityWalk, and ice skating will be available for those
truly craving a frozen feel. For 2007, you can resolve to make it
out to New York, but this year, do yourself a favor and stay warm.
Attendance at the event is free. For more information and
restaurant pricing, please visit www.citywalkhollywood.com.

“˜South Park New Year’s Rock-a-Thon’ on
Comedy Central New Year’s can cost a lot of money.
Illicit substances put a dent in the wallet for those wanting to
kill brain cells, as do tickets to the many comedy shows in Los
Angeles for those wanting a good laugh. Fortunately for the broke
college student, television is a much cheaper way of doing both.
Beginning at 10 p.m., Comedy Central is once again broadcasting six
episodes of its biting flagship program, “South Park,”
to celebrate the new year. Aside from the transparent attempt to
make the program edgier by calling it a “Rock-a-Thon,”
this is as good an option as any for those of us who can’t
afford to go out post-holiday shopping.

“˜New Year’s Eve Televised Special’ at
Century Club, Century City Want to be on TV? Then throw on
your best clothes and throw down $20 to party at the Century
Club’s New Year’s Eve Televised Special. Featuring four
dance floors and a sushi bar, the club is both spacious and
appetizing, and that doesn’t even include the complimentary 1
a.m. breakfast buffet. The spicy flavor extends to the music, which
will include live salsa and reggaeton. While you may not actually
be on a national broadcast ““ the club’s Web site is
very vague regarding the exact meaning of “televised
special” ““ you’ll probably show up on one of the
club’s 20 television monitors and 130-square-foot main
screen. The party starts at 8 p.m. For more information, visit
www.centuryclub.com.

Compiled and written by David Greenwald, Alfred Lee, Jess
Rodgers and Natalie Tate.