Comments on: How Should L.A. Celebrate NYE?

By: Travis Koplow

Travis Koplow — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:40:55 +0000

I grew up in DC which has a total inferiority complex with NY about all things including, but not limited to, Times Square on NYE. DC determined to drop a giant stamp from the recently renovated Post Office. L-A-M-E. Though Madison, Wisconsin, where I lived next, had a big family celebration that climaxed at 10pm. All of which is by way of agreeing with the consensus here that NY can stay the reigning champions of New Years Eve. Standing haunch to paunch with liquored up tourists peeing themselves = not even a bit inticing.

By: Chal Pivik

Chal Pivik — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:30:19 +0000

I agree with Markland. In the 20+ years I lived in NYC, I went to Times Square once for NYE, early during my tenure there. And I never went again. It was during the horrifying late 70s when the city was broke and broken, but also a hell of a lot more fun than the consumer theme park it has become.

One of the things that made Times Square so exhilarating was the prospect that you might get robbed, beaten, killed or any combination of the three, especially if you went at night. But if you didn’t– Fun!

Still, I miss it.

By: David Markland

David Markland — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:10:39 +0000

New York will always have an edge simply because they get the New Years first – we’ll watch the repeat here in L.A.

But Los Angeles, unfortunately, doesn’t celebrate its masses like New York does. We don’t pride ourselves on our crowds. Between that and our lack on a city core or center, there’s no place for even locals, let alone tourists or suburbanites, to converge on.

More importantly, Times Square is what its all about. Nobody else could ever replicate it, no matter how hard they try.

All that said, having been in New York on New Years a few times – all for work – I can tell you that its a logistical nightmare. No alcohol is allowed in those crowds, nor ins and outs. People get liquored up ahead of time, then pee themselves while waiting for hours among the crowds of strangers. Fun? Your mileage will vary.

By: bromike666

bromike666 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:00:10 +0000

evan & bert green +1

Dude, get over the fucking LA Live thing already. IT SUCKS!

By: marshall

marshall — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:55:34 +0000

24 hours of unrestricted class warfare.

By: AArtVark

AArtVark — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:43:23 +0000

Other cities have their thing, Los Angeles has it’s own decentralized way and that’s what make it Los Angeles. We shouldn’t worry about doing things like other cities do. In it’s own way, Los Angeles does have a sense of community and it’s special because it isn’t like New York, San Francisco, Chicago or what not. I think this holds true for development, public transit, utilities, etc… We need to do what’s right for Los Angeles, not what’s done in other cities – I may be over generalizing, but it’s been my observation that those who covet the particulars of other cities are not natives or lifers here.

By: Bert Green

Bert Green — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:09:20 +0000

The Times Square NYE event is horrible. Nobody that I know in New York would ever go there, it’s filled with tourists and suburban dorks. Maybe it looks great on TV, but that an illusion.

By: queequeg

queequeg — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:12:48 +0000

There are a few things going on on NYE — Giant is having its thing downtown with Moby and I passed by the Sports Arena this weekend and there was an advert for something there. Not on the same caliber of the free-ness that is the NYC Times Square ball drop but really, that’s ok with me. I like LA because we DON’T have the insanity that is that event.

By: evan

evan — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:03:30 +0000

Please, nothing. The only thing more lame than LA’s New Year’s Eve celebrations is the impulse that we *have* to have some iconic New Year’s Eve celebration. It shows a real inferiority complex that LA too often suffers from. Why should we try to be like NYC? Besides, the traffic and the crowds…ugh. No thank you.

By: frazgo

frazgo — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:46:26 +0000

The where is irrelevant.
With whom is the most important.
For me its with friends and family celebrating the year we finished with complete inebriation with a lot of laughs and plotting to make the coming year just as exciting and successful.
Then again I tend to have problems with taking the rose colored glasses off and try to find something that will work to make things better.