You know that bar we wrote about before in Silverlake, owned by the guy who brought us all the lovely Bigfoot Lodge? It’s called Stinkers, and if you haven’t heard of it, it’s closing, so you missed your chance to check it out. Personally, I thought the backends of skunks hung on the wall, spraying the crowd with a foggy mist was kind of funny, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the whole trucker theme. Skunks + truckers. I don’t get it. Well, it doesn’t matter anymore, because it’s all up for auction on February 9th! Maybe you will be one of the lucky few to get your hands on a skunk butt, or a skunk painting. There are plenty of cool trucker gadgets like a real working radio and a 1970s Trans Am hood. The official closing party is also happening in a few weeks, so make sure to send them off right with lots of drinking and smelly skunks. Maybe you’ll be able to show off your cool new stuffed skunk drinking a Colt 45? If you’re sad the bar is closing down, don’t be! The owner says it will only be shut down for two weeks while they revamp the place with a new theme! Jersey Shore, anyone?
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WHAT: Stinkers Closing Party & Auction
WHEN: Tuesday, February 9th & Monday, February 15th
WHERE: Stinkers
$$$: up to you

If you like Avi Buffalo and the Soft Pack (which you should), you can see them this Saturday at a free house party in Venice. Now, instilling yourself in what will surely be a boozy afternoon amongst good friends may be awkward, but you’re invited, so why the hell not? Oh yeah, there is a reason for the house party- it is being presented by FMLY (who also have a fundraiser this Wednesday) and FYF.

WHAT: House Party featuring Avi Buffalo and the Soft Pack
WHEN: Sat. Jan. 30th 1pm
WHERE: 1210 Appleton Way, Venice, Ca 90291
$$$: free

We post about the boys of ishowmyself a lot and their resident dance club- Temporary Spaces, but they do throw a good dance party if you’re looking for one. This Saturday should be no different, at their weekly “BIG” Saturdays at their new TS2 (Temporary Spaces 2) location on Melrose. I have yet to try out the new location, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself a time or two at the old location on Fountain Ave. so I have no reason to believe this would be any different. In fact, the way @iSHOWMYSELF twitters about it I would think it would be even better. It’s always free entry and there’s usually a drink special: this week it’s $5 drinks until 11pm and cheap Mexican food all night. I.D.E.A., LeDISKO, and Sean Patrick are also responsible for these dance nights.  If you can’t make it out this weekend, try it the next. Last weekend was ’90s night and I sort of really wish I had come out. I hear one of the boys was wearing puka shells?

WHAT: BIG Saturdays at Temporary Spaces
WHEN: Saturday 10pm-2am; every Saturday
WHERE: 4658 Melrose Ave (at Ardmore)
$$$: free entry; $5 drinks before 11pm

There you are. Sitting at your computer or smart phone. Racking your brain for something to do tomorrow night. There’s that party that your friend from high school’s second cousin is throwing in their apartment complex that will no doubt get busted at 11:30, and since you’re not on the inner circle of friends, you’ll be thrown out into the cold to drink the can of PBR you stole on the way out while listening to the radio, possibly crying. That doesn’t sound fun at all. Take my advice, start the new decade with something adventurous and go do something on this list!

GOOD HARD TIMES ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Hear Gallery, Blow Up LA, and Automatico are teaming up with an absurdly crammed lineup of musicians, djs, artists, video installations, live art, catering, free giveaways from some of the sponsors, topped off with an open bar with admission from 8pm – 2am. There’s so much happening, I feel it’s wrong to highlight any one aspect. Just do yourself a favor and click that rsvp link (That one. Right there. Or the one just below this.) and look yourself.

WHAT: Good Hard Times NYE 2010
WHEN: 8pm – 5am
WHERE: Loft 265, 265 S. Main St. @ 3rd St.. 90012 (enter through back alley)
$$$: 21+: $25 8pm-2am, $15 8pm-11pm w/rsvp, $10 2am-5am
18+: $10 all night

THE STANDARD’S NEW YEAR’S EVE MASQUERADE PARTY

Poolside at The Standard Hollywood, ring in the new year with a performance from Fool’s Gold, an 11 piece eclectic Afro-pop band, DJs Prince Language, Asa Ransom, Valida, and DJ Pubes. Included in the $30 presale ticket price is a comlimentary champangne toast at midnight, with $5 Red Stripe specials all night. The perfect opportunity to bust out that unloved Mardi Gras mask from the back of your closet and go make out with strangers.

WHAT: New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party
WHEN: 7pm – 2am
WHERE: The Standard Hollywood, 8300 Sunset Blvd., 90069
$$$: $30 presale here, $40 day of

NYEROX ‘09

Dub Frequency and URB magazine are taking over The Roxy on Sunset, with a countdown (Hooray! Wait, isn’t everyone doing that?) and DJs like DJ Skee, Moke Posner, Dude Royal, and more. Sounds like a dance party! General admission tickets are $30, all you can drink well and beer tickets are $55, all you can drink premium tickets $100.

WHAT: NYEROX ‘09
WHEN: 9pm – 2am
WHERE: The Roxy, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
$$$: $30+

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE ROOSEVELT

If you’ve got the $140 for tickets, this sounds glamtamerous. A performance from Pharacyde, DJ Grandmaster Flash amongst others, and an erotic water ballet performance! The party is going to encompass the entire property, including the pool and all the rooms, with 4 separate stages set up, and a huge balloon drop at midnight. Entrance includes the open bar from 9pm -11pm. Be sure to get your tickets fast, they’re (allegedly) almost sold out.

WHAT: New Year’s Eve 2010
WHEN: 9pm – 3am
WHERE: The Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., 90028
$$$: $140

VENDETTA NEW YEAR’S EVE

Escape the new millenium and party like it’s 1920 with this prohibition era mobster themed party brought to you by LADEAD. With an eclectic mix of industrial, swing, electro, and jazz music coming from the DJs, this is sure to be the ultimate haunt for all you old school gangster types looking for a flapper to call your own. $20 for general entry at the door, $150 for VIP w/open bar and blackjack with suicidegirl dealers ($100 presale if you’re quick).

WHAT: Vendetta New Year’s Eve
WHEN: 9pm – 3am
WHERE: The Monte Cristo, 3100 Wilshire Blvd,  90005
$$$: $20 general admission/$150 vip

RED BULL NEW YEAR NO LIMITS

Then, of course if you’re not into all this club stuff and want to see someone possibly be maimed/dead by a crazy Evil Knievel stunt, Red Bull is sponsoring Travis Pastrana in his attempt to break the world record for longest jump over water down at the Pine Avenue Pier in Long Beach. The event’s free, but the parking may be a nightmare. Here’s a little assistance from Red Bull.

WHAT: Red Bull New Year No Limits
WHEN: 9pm is jump time
WHERE: Rainbow Harbor, Pine Avenue and Shoreline Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802
$$$: Free! $10 parking in most lots

Bon voyage, dear 2009! You were quite a kick in the pants. Should you feel like kicking your short term memory in the pants for the night, head on down to ye old Alvarado House in Echo Park tonight for an all night dance under sheets, stars, and low basement ceilings rager. Brought to you by the Hang The DJs crew, these parties do not disappoint. Outside is a tented backyard with video projections and Star Wars sheets, inside is a somewhat ramshackle house where you’d sooner assume to see haunted portraits of former owners rather than 100 club kids smarmily dancing and pounding on the ceiling.

This installment features DJs Ana Calderon, Knyfeprty, Aaron Castle amongst others, along with (more) free Colt 45 10 – midnight, cash bar the rest of the night. Be sure to bundle up with lots of layers since it’s primarily outdoors, however the indoor dance room does get pretty sweaty. And don’t plan on going to that early morning church service tomorrow. They look down on hangovers, so I hear.

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WHAT: HTDJs End Of Year Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 26th, 10pm – 4am
WHERE: The Alvarado House, 1027 N. Alvarado St., Echo Park 90026
$$$: $5

If you haven’t checked out an A&D wholesale vintage party, yet, you can still give it a try before the end of the year.  This Saturday, December 26th, roll down to East LA and roll up your sleeves to riffle through gigantic cardboard boxes overflowing with polyester, fringe, and pleather.  The kind folks of A&D provide all the hip kids who flock to the event with empty (and clean) garbage bags to stuff full of plaid t-shirts, multicolored high heels, belts, jewelery, and jeans.  The warehouse, or Boogy Den, has plenty of clothing for both guys and gals.

I’m sure there will be a DJ or a band to help you maintain the rhythms of consumerism.   All clothes and accessories are $1!  Drinks are free! They have hard A and beer.  Don’t forget to tip the bartender!  He’s the host’s (Deborah’s) husband, and he makes a mean tequila sunrise.  21 to drink, any age to get in.
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WHAT: A&D Vintage December Public Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 26th from 8pm – 2am
WHERE: Between Olympic and Washington
$$: $1 clothing, $10 cover (the invite doesn’t mention this $10, but i’m assuming it’s the same as in the past.  $10 = a very reasonable cover for such an event)

Wait, not literally. We are not holiday terrorists here. However, here’s a good reason to mix up a bad holiday sweater with some awesome sparkle shorts and dance dance dance those winter blues to a sweaty glint of a memory!

Saturday night, BlowUpLA rings in the spirit of the season with the aid of Jokers Of The Scene, Sleazemore, Goddollars, Dirty Dave, and more merry surprises to come! $5 before 11pm with an rsvp to www.blowuplaevents.com/holiday, $10 without, located downtown in some (most likely slightly creepy) warehouse where you have to enter through a back alley. How adventurous!

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WHAT: Blow Up LA – Holiday Edition
WHEN: Saturday December 19th, 10pm – 4am
WHERE: 263 S Main St. @ 3rd St., 90012
$$$: $5 w/RSVP, $10 without

So this isn’t technically the 12th day of Christmas, but it is in Ghettogloss land. Tonight is the final night of their holiday art show, and after 12 days of art work getting added to the list, this is the best night to attend! From 6pm-12am they will have a special closing party with Pullip dolls from Japan taking over. They are really creepy. Like, seriously, really freaking creepy. Look at those eyes! Imagine waking up next to one. Ok I will stop. Hopefully the art will distract you from said creepiness. Or maybe the Strawberry Shortcake Krispy Kreme & Egg Nogg reception? I vote yes.
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WHAT: Ghettogloss’s Twelve Days of Christmas
WHEN: Tuesday, December 15th @ 6pm-12am
WHERE: Ghettogloss
$$$: Free

Local female artisans gather their finest for a bash this Friday night. Presented by  Timmery of the 1981 Collection, the night will kick off with an exhibit featuring over 20 local underground artists and photographers, followed by a fashion show by several emerging fashion and accessory designers. All night long DJ Tessa Young will be spinning and at midnight CRAZE DOT COM will be putting on a performance.

Oh, but wait. The best part? There’s going to be a ton of booths by some of the participants. Not only do you get to support local artists, party, dance, but ALSO knock off some of that Christmas list! Legend has it that the event is sponsored by Honest Tea and Colt 45 (that colt sure does get around these days), so there will be quantities of both for free. Huzzah to shopping and malt liquor! Happy holidays indeed.

Located at Loft 4300, 4300 W. Jefferson Blvd, with a cover of $10 at the door or $7 presale through timmery@1981collection.com.

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WHAT: Sugar: A Feminine Look At Art
WHEN: Friday, December 11th, 8pm – 2am
WHERE: Loft 4300, 4300 W. Jefferson Blvd, 90016
$$$: $10, $7 presale

Remember last November, when Machine Project took over LACMA and made the already amazing museum about a billion times cooler? I do. And I remember that I was out of town and couldn’t go. And my friend won the scavenger hunt and got a free year-long membership to LACMA. And I was miserable. For those who missed out like me, and even for those who attended and want to relive it as much as possible, you are so in luck. Machine Project has created a book about that day called A Machine Project Field Guide to LACMA. It is filled with giant, colorful spreads of the 60+ projects that occurred during those ten hours of awesomeness. You can purchase the book here, (or download a free PDF of it), as well as attend the official book release party on Saturday at LACMA. The party will include performances by Fol Chen, J-Lep, The Douglas Lee, and a murder-mystery performance by Jessica Z. Hutchins and Dawn Kasper. Before the event starts, if you can get your free tickets from the box office at 6pm quick enough, check out a performance by Emily Lazy whose “Temples of the Mind” residency opens that same day. This is your last chance to relive that infamous day— until they do it again. (If anyone from Machine Project is reading this, PLEASE do it again!)

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WHAT: A Machine Project Field Guide to LACMA Book Release Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 5th @ 7pm-9pm
WHERE: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
$$$: Free

Celebrate Christmas (or whatever it is you celebrate) in indie style at L.A. Record’s annual party, held this year at Bedrock rehearsal space in Echo Park, which is, apparently, like Disneyland for musicians. The party is all ages, but there will be complimentary Jaguar Spirits tequila for those of age, in addition to an appearance by the Frysmith truck- aka LA’s version of poutine. But what the party’s really all about is the music, I guess, which includes performances by Abe Vigoda, the Soft Pack, and Leslie and the Badgers, in addition to numerous DJs and “pop-up” record stores. There will be an all-vinyl dance party (yessss), pictures with Santa, live screen-printing, and just about every other happening you can imagine at a hipster music collective. Plus free valet parking. RSVP now to get in free (with a donation of a child’s toy) and show up early because the Bedrock ain’t that big.

WHAT: L.A. Record Christmas Party
WHEN: Saturday Dec. 19th, 8pm
WHERE: Bedrock, 1623 Allesandro at Glendale/Alvarado
$$$: free with RSVP and toy donation

It’s finally here: easy, cheap access to East Los Angeles. I’m seriously ecstatic. To celebrate, Metro’s offering free rides and tons of events at several different stops. Little Tokyo/Arts District will feature live karaoke, a mini street fair with booths from neighboring restaurants and businesses, and plenty of family activities. Union Station will bring Christmas SUPER early (awkwardly so) with a visit from Santa and some carolers. Over at Mariachi Plaza Station, there will of course be live mariachi bands, tons of Latin live music, and Boyle Heights’ first ever block party and street fair. Included in the fair will be tons of delicious food, free giveaways, and local art exhibits.Finally, the East L.A. Civic Center Station will offer live Chicano rock, a farmer’s market, more food booths, family fun, cooking classes, and more. One can easily spend his or her day riding the Gold Line (for free, remember?) and checking out all these free activities highlighting L.A.’s diversity and it’s eagerness to change it’s transportation issues, one line extension at a time!

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WHAT: Metro Gold Line Extension Grand Opening
WHEN: Sunday, November 15th All Day
WHERE: East L.A.
$$$: Free

Those Hello Kitty Visa cards are pretty obnoxious, am I right? But imagine Hello Kitty in goth…not so bad? I for one would like to witness a gothic Hello Kitty Party, particularly because it’s being held at Royal/T cafe and I haven’t been yet and my curiosity is growing. I think the replacement of black for nauseating pink could work in favor of a cool party as well. As you know, because we’ve written about it, there has been a “Three Apples” Hello Kitty celebration at Royal/T for awhile now, marking her anniversary I believe. The exhibit is coming to a close and one of the final events is a free, 80’s themed Goth Party for “young adults.” We’re young adults, aren’t we? Guests to this party on Friday the 13th (ooh clever) can enjoy Hello Kitty shaped food (my wildest dream), craft works of art, and will be able to purchase products from the Sanrio Pop-Up shop. There will also be a Hello Kitty apartment decked out in Sanrio lifestyle products, a “best dressed” contest, meet and greet and photo-ops with Hello Kitty, and free gift bags to the first 100 guests. Check it out; it’s quite fortunate that we have a cosplay cafe that will cater to bizarre celebrations such as this.

WHAT: Hello Kitty’s Bats and Cats Masquerade
WHEN: Friday the 13th 8pm
WHERE: Royal/T cafe
$$$: free

Celebrate it again this Saturday in full costume for “Your Second Halloween” at the Ghostbuster Firehouse downtown. This is a USC-centric event since shuttles will be leaving from there for the drunken masses, but it’s Halloween again so who cares right? Just show up in costume and maybe receive some “mysterious perks” for it (sounds kind of creepy) but most of all show up for $5 pumpkin pie shots! As well as DJ Ziggy and the Grim Reaper Show and a large dance floor for plenty of Thriller wannabes. I seriously miss October and the Halloween build-up.

WHAT: Your Second Halloween
WHEN: Sat. Nov. 7th 10pm-3am
WHERE: Firestation No. 23 225 E. 5th St.
$$$: 10 cover, cash bar

The infamous Vice Magazine is busy celebrating their grand 15 year anniversary just as you’d expect a gritty counter culture magazine to do. Oodles of free music and another open bar for this weekend! Friday night at the Los Angeles Ukrainian Cultural Center, get ready to party like it’s 1994! There will be performances from Brother Reade and White Arrows, with Dj sets from Boom Bip, Bobby Evans, and  DJ compact disk. I’m guessing the open bar is going to be tequila. Because there’s that giant bottle on the flier. Just a guess. All with the awesome price of free with an RSVP!

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WHAT: Vice Magazine’s 15th Anniversary Party
WHEN: Friday, November 5th, 9pm – 2am
WHERE: Los Angeles Ukrainian Cultural Center, 4315 Melrose Ave, LA
$$$: Free. RSVP HERE.
Ages: 21+

Apartment 3 is bringing you a shopping party this Saturday night called Pop Shop. They’ll be featuring an art show from Phil Lumbang and David Browne,  with DJs Mia Moretti, Soft Touch, and Pony vs. Tiger, adding a sample sale featuring items from Obey, I Heart Juliet, Smoke and Mirrors to name just a few, AND THEN providing and open bar AND vegan hot dogs! Entrance is only $2. Apartment 3 specializes in providing quirky fun vintage clothing while throwing interesting events, so even if you’re not able to make it this weekend, be sure to check out their site and get on their mailing list for future shindigs.

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WHAT: Apartment 3 Pop Shop
WHEN: Saturday, November 7th, 7 – 11pm
WHERE: 7464 Santa Monica Blvd, 90046
$$$: $2, OPEN BAR!

Ok that title made absolutely no sense, but hopefully it got your attention. This Thursday, Dance Right is throwing a “Halloween Recovery Party”. Playing at the event will be Canadian electro rockers Crystal Castles and the up-and-coming Neon Indian. There will also be a DJ set by Destructo, who you may or may not have just seen (experienced?) at HARD this past weekend. The event is free on a first come first served basis if you RSVP, including complimentary drinks (woo!). It starts at 7:00PM, so get there early if you want to get in.

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WHAT: Halloween Recovery Party w/Crystal Castles and Neon Indian
WHEN: Thursday, November 5th @ 7:00PM
WHERE: Siren Studios in Hollywood
$$$: Free. RSVP HERE.
Ages: 21+

As I mentioned earlier this month, Royal/T is opening their new exhibit, Three Apples, with all things Hello Kitty. And of course they intend to bring you a kick ass opening party with the help of Flux. This isn’t your typical opening party, either. It is a brunch! Head to Culver City for a fabulous day with Hello Kitty themed waffles and pancakes, a live DJ set, special appearances by designers of Hello Kitty and Tokidoki, a jewelry making workshop, a sushi and bento workshop, a 21+ cocktail party, and finally to end the night: a Hello Kitty-oke dance party. This sounds too awesome to be true. Royal/T and Flux never let us down.
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WHAT: Three Apples Opening Party
WHEN: October 24th, 10AM-10PM
WHERE: Royal/T
$$$: Free

Over the next two days, The Sounds are playing a show at The Wiltern with Foxy Shazam and Moving Units tonight, Shiny Toy Guns and Semi Precious Weapons (which nearly sounds like two translations of the same phrase) tomorrow night. Oh, I’m sorry? That doesn’t provide you with enough opportunity to dance your little face off to new wave electro? Why not hit up the afterparty tomorrow night then? Oooh, coveted words! Afterparty…

Every Thursday at La Cita, Dance Right packs in a mish-mash of the dance, music, and drink starved. This week they host the official aforementioned concert’s afterparty, complete with DJ sets from The Sounds and Jeremy Dawson of Shiny Toy Guns, along with resident DJ Pubes (ugh. that name. at least it’s memorable). Usually there is some sort of Colt 45 promotion of tall cans for something around $3 or $4, but even if there’s not this time, La Cita is wonderfully inexpensive (well drinks are $5 I believe, but don’t quote me). There may be a cover at the door too, so make sure you RSVP and bring 10 dollars in cash with you. Hopefully it’s only $5, but it’s better to be safe than sorry you have to walk 1/2 a mile downtown at almost midnight in heels to an ATM that charges an obscene transaction fee, trust me. Dancing! = fun. Being “grubbed” (grabbed by a bum) = not fun.

BONUS! If you want to go to either concert, Live Nation does that cool little promotion of no service charge Wednesdays, so instead of tickets being 30-something dollars each, they’re only $20 today! Yes!!

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WHAT: Dance Right’s Official The Sounds Afterparty
WHEN: Thursday, October 22nd 10pm – 2am
WHERE: La Cita, 336 South Hill Street
$$$: $5 w/RSVP

Recently I have been addicted to design and food blogs and came across one called Oh Joy! The designer, Joy Deangdeelert Cho, is really into food and all things cute, and also creates her own stationary (among other things). She mentioned on her blog that she is having a launch party for her new stationary collection tonight over on Abbott Kinney at Urbanic Paper Boutique. If you’re in the area, I’d suggest stopping by. You’ll get to chat with Joy, check out her new stuff, and snack on cupcakes and champagne. There will also be a photo booth because what L.A. party is complete with out one these days? RSVP here for the free event!
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WHAT: Oh Joy! Launch Party
WHEN: Thursday, October 15th @ 7pm-10pm
WHERE: Urbanic Paper Boutique
$$$: Free