48849 Mon Nov 26 17:48:43 -0800 2001 12 2 Los Angeles Area 0 244183 Hi, I have a group of friends that are coming from Boston to LA for New Years Eve... They are a wild bunch and will need both atmosphere and great food! So far we are researching La Boheme, jirrafe, Moomba... etc. Question: I heard that West Hollywood isn't the hot spot anymore. Is that true? Any suggestions for a grand meal?? Mon Nov 26 17:48:43 -0800 2001 0 nicole 1 244185 How many in the group? Where are you staying (a consideration in terms of driving)? Do you want fine dining or a wild time? Music or not? If so, what sort? A disproportionate number of the finer restaurants in the area are in WEHO or adjacent (in Beverly Hills). Many of the trendier music venues are in WEHO or adjacent (in Hollywood). With the possible exception of Pasadena (site of the next day's BCS game), for sheer bedlam and utter chaos, it will be hard to exceed the Sunset Strip at midnight and after on such a night. Mon Nov 26 18:49:38 -0800 2001 244183 0 michael (mea culpa) 2 244186 Thanks for the reply... We (8 of us) are staying at the Ritz in Marina Del Rey... have a little sailing to do on New Years Eve day... But, we will have a driver to take us into LA and back... we want a good meal in SM, or WH/New Years party plus live music... R&B, swing maybe... cost is no problem- however Ginza is out!! We're wild but we're also in our late thirties so we can only take so much... a fine meal w/ a little wildness thrown in.... what do you think? N Mon Nov 26 19:34:01 -0800 2001 244185 0 Nicole 3 244197 The only problem on NY's eve is getting in and out of places, so you may have to commit yourself to one place after dinner. For your after dinner choices, I'd suggest The Derby if you wanna swing dance. Macy Gray is playing HOB on NY's eve, which should be good. Hollywood has a lot of good clubs going and you might want to further investigate as to what's going on. Check on Deep or La Palma if you want to dance and be around the beautiful people. Tue Nov 27 12:08:44 -0800 2001 244186 0 More of Everything... 4 244204 Thanks for the suggestions... does anyone have anymore? After calling a few place I've gotten bits of information about New Years pricing, menu etc... (some probably subject to change, so please confirm with restaurant) Josie's: $95-$120pp 2 seatings, menu not determined yet. Santa Monica 2424 Pico Blvd. (25th St.) Santa Monica, CA, 90405-1827 (310) 581-9888 Zagats review- "Hurray! - she finally opened" her own "beautiful place" in Santa Monica rejoice fans of Josie Le Balch who, after honing her skills at the Saddle Peakn Santa Monica rejoi Lodge, is now putting her "innovative" stamp on the hnica rejoiottest newbie in town; a "rising star" "destined" for fame, she "shines" with "fabulously creative", "inspired" New American cooking, brought to table by a "top-notch" staff in a setting that exudes "quiet eleganoking, broce"; by all counts, this is the "first really exciting restaurleganoking, broant" to come to LA "in a long time." ------------------------------------------------------- The Mondrian has a couple of packages. One is w/ a double Room + Skybar party (DJ Richie Rich and dancing, open bar from 9pm-2am,w/ Champagne toast) The dinner is at 9pm a 5 course meal at Asia de Cuba, you have your table for the entire evening- cost $965.00 per couple ---------------------------------------------------- For entertainment: House of Blues- W. Hollywood; Macy Gray is the performer for the evening. $125.00 just for concert. ----------------------------------------------------- La Boheme: (West Hollywood) Will have 2 seatings for dinner. One early--everyone out by 8:30pm. Late seating is from 9:00-9:30pm until after midnight. Would include a 5 course dinner, live Latin/R&B band, complimentary champagne at midnight and picture. Pricing $135.00 ------------------------------------------------- Le Dome: Dinner at 9pm. Will have DJ and dancing. $120/person ------------------------------------------------- Jiraffe: They have three seatings... still working on the menu....the chef rattled off poisson, scallops w/ porcini, foi gras flan, chestnut soup, Maine lobster, Prime Rib (four of these) w/ Vueve Cliquot all for only $85 pp ---------------------------------------------------- Melisse: 2 seating late and early- $185.00 pp for late seating ---------------------------------------------------- Chinois: No menu yet, Jazz band, 9pm seating $145.00 pp. Tue Nov 27 15:21:07 -0800 2001 244197 0 Nicole 5 244206 Josie's and Jiraffe seem like relative bargains. Maybe it's the early seatings. Macy Gray is also a deal, depending on how long she's on. Last year, HOB wanted 2-3 times that amount for Tom Jones! (And that's before you factor in the cost of lingerie.) Tue Nov 27 15:35:39 -0800 2001 244204 0 michael (mea culpa) 5 3180534 you might want to check out NYE ball at Renaissance hotel, les deux, prac, social hollywood, hyde etc. for sure me and my buds will be in those places, giant nice too if you into house music. click this link.. http://www.clubzone.com/events/event53843.html Tue Dec 04 21:09:33 -0800 2007 244204 101820 maidi0526 6 3180647 this post is 6 years old... and alas, some of the recs have closed by now! :-) Tue Dec 04 22:23:57 -0800 2007 3180534 15572 Emme 3 244201 Having a driver is an excellent move. The landscape in dining and entertainment changes for New Year's as I'm sure it does in most metro areas. The desire to make a buck, turn tables (2 seatings are typical, the later being more expensive), etc. So, in any kind of venue where there's entertainment, this means advance reservations. Elsewhere, Macy Gray at the House of Blues and the Conga Room are suggested (a funkier alternative to Conga would be La Floridita, located in a Hollywood strip mall). You would need to line up the places now. Don't know about food at the Conga, but it's nothing real special at HOB. If you want seating at HOB, you've got to be eating. If you like jazz, Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood is the place to go (generally, you don't have to eat there). For other sorts of swinging, the Derby suggestion is good. There are a lot of one time things that happen on New Year's and I'd suggest you look at the Sunday Calendar section of the L.A. Times and/or the LA Weekly for details as to who is appearing where. You might also check LATimes.com; at some point they will have a piece on New Year's possibilities in the area. I note you're at the Ritz in MDR. Just read somewhere that this has been remodeled to avoid the "stodgy" look of other Ritz properties; apparently a more casual atmosphere prevails--in keeping with MDR. You might check with Cicada downtown, (323)655-5559, which is in an elegant art deco building, serving good food, and has a small upstairs bar and dance floor. Could well have a combo and vocalist. In the city, the weather should be great, the air clear (presenting good views of the mountains), and a good time to be had by all. Tue Nov 27 13:22:33 -0800 2001 244186 0 michael (mea culpa) 1 244195 Hi Nicole, I hope whatever you all end up doing makes for a great and memorable NY's eve. That being said, if you want to try something totally different you might consider the Conga Room on Wishire Blvd. near, but not in, downtown LA. I linked their web site at the end of this post. Moomba would undoubtedly be a wild and crazy evening of fun, food and frolic too. And you can always choose to have a fine, and quiet, dining experience someplace like Josie or Melisse or Rockenwagner, and then go on to the crazy party action after the meal. Hopefully you will be getting some additional suggestions. Link: http://www.congaroom.com Tue Nov 27 10:24:51 -0800 2001 244183 0 Mike Kilgore 2 244255 The Conga Room is great fun. Great music and mojitos. But don't waste your money on dinner there. I went with a group of six for dinner and everyone agreed it was a lousy meal, and really lousy service. Eat somewhere else and then go to dance it off. Wed Nov 28 20:56:50 -0800 2001 244195 0 Sheryl 1 244579 Nicole, Here's some more New Year's suggestions. Ozomatli at the Knitting Factory--a steal at $30 (probably have to buy some beverages). Jane Monheit Quintet at Catalina Bar & Grill--dinner and show and champagne--$125.00. BTW, there's no free lunch. Chowhound needs your financial support now. Click on the homepage and contribute some good will. Spread the word on the Boston board! Thanks. Mon Dec 10 14:10:56 -0800 2001 244183 0 michael (mea culpa) 1 245586 So, Nicole, how about a report on your adventures? Thu Jan 10 16:20:29 -0800 2002 244183 0 michael (mea culpa)