NYE2011 : the details.

i've made new year's eve plans for the first time in years! i believe the past couple years, i've just sat on a couch and had champagne; last year's was my own couch and a bottle of veuve clicquot, so not bad, really. for about the same reasons i hate hollywood, i tend to hate new year's eve and the accompanying parties.

this year though, we stumbled upon something pretty cool - LACMA's the golden stag, a new year's eve in "roaring-20s style. for one night only in L.A.’s legendary park plaza hotel, return to the glamour, big bands, cocktails, dance, and utter charm of a bygone era." tickets were $50, and $150 for VIP; so we thought, why not, let's do this right, and got ourselves on the big daddies and leading ladies VIP list! i'm really looking forward to it - hopefully the head cold james has right now buggers off before tonight.

here is the information we were just sent about the evening with much more details than are available on the website. haven't decided yet if i should / if it's worth it to bring my camera, but if i do, i'll be sure to post.


The Golden Stag, presented by LACMA Muse and Sypher Art Studio

Where

Park Plaza, 607 South Park View, Los Angeles, CA 90057

When
9 pm - 2 am; last call at 1:30

Drink
Waiter service delivers complimentary drinks from the VIP menu (below), plus a midnight champagne toast. Drinks are not included at the Park Plaza bars.

_Beer & Wine
_Champagne
_Pisco Side Car
    2oz Pisco, 1oz Triple Sec, squeeze lemon juice;
    shaken and strained, garnish with lemon
_Speakeasy Martini
    2.5oz Vodka/Gin, splash Dry Vermouth;
    shaken and strained, garnish with olive
_Bootleg Manhattan
    2.5oz Bourbon, splash Sweet Vermouth;
    on rocks, garnish with cherry
_Old Fashioned
    2.5oz Bourbon, splash simple syrup;
    shaken with orange slice, and cherry, strained over rocks, garnish with orange and cherry
_Champagne Cocktail
    5oz Champagne, 1oz Pisco, splash simple syrup;
    shake and strain Pisco and simple syrup, add cherry garnish, top with Champagne
_Bee's Knees

    2.5oz Gin, pineapple juice, splash simple syrup;
    on rocks, garnish with lime
_Prohibition Coffee
    2.5oz Vodka, chilled coffee, cream, splash simple syrup;
    on rocks, no garnish
_New Orleans
    1.5oz Gin, .5oz Absinthe, splash Dry Vermouth, orange juice;
    shaken and strained, garnish with cherry


Eat
Fruit and cheese plates to share start the culinary adventure by chef Justin Bastian. Stuffed mushrooms are ready at 10 pm followed by waldorf salad to cleanse the palette and beignets for dessert. Thank you to Melissa's and The Co-Op for their generous donations.

Move
The Speakeasy is in the Bronze Room on the ground floor to the left of the staircase, just past the Gold Room.The Grand Ballroom is upstairs to the left. The Gold and Bronze Rooms both connect to the patio.

For Your Entertainment

Grand Ballroom
9-9:45: Music of the 20s
9:45-10:45: Elliot Deutsch Big Band with special guest Brent Canter
10:45-11:45: Interlude
11:15-11:30: The Lindy Hop Kings; performance followed by an interactive lesson
11:30-12:30: Elliot Deutsch Big Band with Brent Canter, featuring a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" at midnight
12:30-1:15: Modern club music
1:25: Grand Ballroom closes

Speakeasy (Bronze Room)
9-10: Big Daddies and Leading Ladies only
9-9:30: Alice Underground (Instrumental)
9:30-10: Duets with Alice plus solos by Sasha & Tasha
10-10:50: Series of short musical and dance performances, including Syphilrance, Astra Dance Company, Hollywood Hotshots, and The Josephina
10:50-11:20: Pianist Dennis Hamm
11:20-11:30: Diana Knight solo dance performance
11:30-11:50: Interlude
11:50-12: Countdown to Midnight
12-12:05: Hey Pachucho, performed by Sylphirance
12:05-12:35: Duets with Alice
12:35-Close: Music of the 20s

Patio/Grand Staircase
9 pm-Close: Rotating musical and dance performances