For those who wanted to party their way out of the sharp twists, sudden drops, and enjoyable peaks of a huge rollercoaster ride that was 2003 and make their way into the promises and uncertainties of 2004, major choices had to be made.
At S. Figueroa St. in downtown LA, events group Giant presented a 30-hour marathon bash to celebrate the New Year. Simultaneous parties were held in five different ballrooms of the Westin Bonaventure. They kicked off at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. World class DJs were part of the star-studded line up, topbilled by one of UK’s best, Paul Oakenfold, ranked third in the world according to thedjlist.com.
Not too many sound waves away was the "Coast 2 Coast" New Year’s Eve Party which was held at N. Vine St. in Hollywood. The idea was that accomplished musician Sasha and British DJ/producer John Digweed got "together in America for one incredible night." The former manned the fort in NYC, while the latter took care of LA. Live simulcasts of several hours of continuous revelry were shown on big screens in both venues – Avalon NY and Avalon Hollywood.
Entrance tickets to either of the two events were priced at $75.
It was a price that bordered on unreasonable and ridiculous but the justification was – it was a special night. It was New Year’s Eve. And so people did up their look, donned their best and flaunted their wares to start the year with the proverbial bang, but where to go?
The former was a chef who used to cook palatable dishes to nourish the body and who’s now a DJ/producer/remixer who cooks up beats to nourish the soul.
Experts say Oakenfold is most famous for his mix of house, soul, Italian disco and alternative music which was later dubbed as Balearic style. His most recent credits include scoring for the 2001 film Swordfish starring John Travolta, remixing the theme of Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes, and a stint at Moby’s Arena: One US tour.
Or the brother-like partnership of two world-class DJs known as the "Northern Exposure?"
Over the past years, Sasha and Digweed have had duets on the decks that reached up to five continents, and spilled over three "Northern Exposure" albums.
In the past three years, Giant’s New Year’s Eve celebrations have set the pace for innovative parties in unique and creative locations – on Hollywood Boulevard, LA Coliseum Gardens, and downtown’s Flower Street. This year’s setting was the "city within a city" – Westin Bonaventure.
The massive hotel occupies a full city block filled with beautiful ballrooms, breath-taking rooftop gardens, stylish bars, restaurants, luxury rooms, an all-suite-tower filled with lavish rooms, and a revolving lounge. This prime LA landmark is also one of the 10 most-photographed buildings in the world.
It was a hotel was its advantage over Avalon. After the party, people need not worry about going home, getting a ticket for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), or figuring in accidents that sadly characterize New Year’s Eve.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority gave free rides on Metro buses and the Metro Rail to avoid these as well as reduce traffic congestion. But couples and groups who wanted to start the year in style arranged for limousine pick-ups and drop-offs. Those who wanted to pamper themselves reserved a room at the posh hotel. For the night, a total of 1,250 rooms with prices ranging from $99.50 to $124.50 per night were booked. All 100 suites were occupied.
The other venue, however, capitalized on a different appeal.
1735 N. Vine Street has been a Hollywood, LA and music industry landmark for over 70 years now. The legendary theater opened as one of Los Angeles’ first and most lavish legitimate theaters on Jan. 24, 1927. Since then it has been home to entertainment history in the making.
From the artsy world of the theater, it ventured into hosting broadcast and music traditions. Renowned live performances, unforgettable radio broadcasts and star-spangled television spectaculars have all shared its stage through the years. All eras and music genres have been well-represented, as reflected in the ABCs of performers and artists who have graced its famed stage which include 10,000 Maniacs, Backstreet Boys, Barbra Streisand, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Dianna Ross and the Supremes, Elvis, Everything But The Girl, Frank Sinatra, Goo Goo Dolls, Guns N’ Roses, INXS, Limp Bizkit, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Moby, No Doubt, N*Sync, Oasis, Queen Latifah, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, REO Speedwagon, Ricky Martin, Shaggy, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonny and Cher, Stevie Wonder, Stone Temple Pilots, the Jackson Five, the Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Cure, the Police, the Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Third Eye Blind, and Tupak Shakur, among others.
Since it re-opened in 1982 as The Palace, after years of careful planning and painstaking restoration, featuring the largest light and sound system in LA, the spot has successfully sealed its historic status as an entertainment center. It was once considered as the west coast version of New York’s Studio 54, where people came dressed to impress, to see and be seen.
The combination of the ambitious "Coast 2 Coast" New Year’s event and the long-standing tradition of the venue was enough to attract the crowd that wanted to be a part of the glamorous past while embracing the future.
The parties took off to ring in 2004. Thousands filled the dancefloors in each part of both venues. Individuals got soaked and drenched in their own sweat. They were in California. By law, establishments were not allowed to serve alcohol after 2 a.m.
Parties were supposed to go on until Jan. 2, 2004 and so party people were subjected to the state-imposed after-two-(no-alcohol)-diet. Bars were resumed serving intoxicating drinks only after 6 a.m.
Before then, those who were still craving for kicks miserably searched for it in cans of Red Bull energy drink. By large, it was "Water or water?" Those were the last choices for the night . . . or day; although for some, it was the penultimate "Your place or mine?"
Overall, the experience may not have been as exhilarating as standing for hours out in the chilly air of 43rd and Broadway in Times Square, NYC, along with close to a million people waiting for the 1,070-pound Waterford-crystal-covered ball to drop and usher in the New Year. It may not have been as wild as the eccentricities that happen annually on the infamous strip of Las Vegas; nor as charming and warm as the Manila New Year’s Eve scene; but it was definitely another experience well-worth going through.