NEWSOK!'s Guide to New Year's Eve Parties
Dec. 29 2008, Published 3:28 p.m. ET
As 2008 draws to a close it's that time again for celebs around the world to congregate at their favorite clubs to say farewell to the year that was — and to ring in the year to come.
From Miami to Vegas to L.A. and back to NYC, here's OK!'s guide to the biggest and best celeb-filled parties for New Year's Eve!
MIAMI
Forget about freezing your butt off this New Year's. Say goodbye to 2008 in tropical south Florida with the stars!
At Miami hotspot Mansion, gal-pals and party co-hosts Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson are the star attractions at SoBe Lifewater’s New Year's Eve Bash. For the event, Mansion will be decked out as a real-life jungle with vines, flying lizard aerialists and SoBe Lifewater waterfalls.
Meanwhile, over at The Shore Club’s Skybar, celebs including Kristin Cavallari, Twilight's Kellan Lutz, and Robert Iler of The Sopranos will be ringing in the New Year in sunny Miami, at Shore Club's Skybar, where they'll see performances by Ron Browz & Pras.
At exclusive club Prive, guests for New Year's Eve will be entertained by the evening's host, soulful singer John Legend.
(poolside at the Fountainbleu)
Not to be outdone, Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel will be host to three — yes, three — separate parties. Go poolside to check out Maroon 5's Adam Levine as he performs live with a countdown by Molly Sims. Or head inside to enjoy the scene at Liv Nightclub and Blade, which will both be jumping with a party hosted by Diddy and where Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford is expected.
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
Partiers will be packed into the Gansevoort South Hotel in South Beach, where Chloë Sevigny is hosting along with superstar rapper T.I., who will be performing at the Heineken-sponsored event. Just so no one feels left out, they've even hired Wilhelmina models to mingle at the event while mini-burgers from famed restaurant STK are served in cabanas at the rooftop pool party where DJ Cassidy and Jus Ske will spin. In case you're thinking of going, the dress code is "Miami Vice Chic."
For info/tickets: (305) 604-6575
Still jonesing for the glory days of early '90s TV? Head over to the Catalina Hotel where 90210’s Ian Ziering & Melrose Place’s Grant Show will be celebrating an unprecedented, over-the-top Russian, Brazilian and Japanese themed parties. Each of the hotel's three buildings will be transformed into foreign, exotic destinations where guests are invited to partake in a fun-filled 11-hour event and experience how New Year's Eve is celebrated in each of these far-away locations.
And last but certainly not least, at The Delano Hotel, you've got the option of two hot performances to check out. First, The Roots will be performing in The Florida Room. And then over by the pool, you can hear the sounds of Janelle Monae performing live.
LAS VEGAS
Sin City may just be the place to be if you're betting on a happy new year!
First up, there's the party at club Lavo in the Palazzo Hotel, where Fergie serves as Mistress of Ceremonies with a special performance live in the Venetian ballroom at midnight. The singer and fiancé Josh Duhamel will be ringing in 2009 just a little over a week before their big wedding.
Over at The Venetian, the always-beautiful Carmen Electra will be hosting the festivities at Tao's New Year's party.
Denise Richards, Lance Bass and guest DJ, hip-hop icon DMC will be ushering in 2009 at Prive.
(inside at Prive Las Vegas)
Meanwhile, it will be a family affair at LAX, where Khloe, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian — along with Kim's beau Reggie Bush — will be saying farewell to 2008.
Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson will be celebrating the year that saw them get married and have a baby when they host the New Year's party at Pure.
Not-exactly newlyweds Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt will continue their reality TV lovefest by hosting the end-of-year bash at Christian Audigier: The Nightclub.
Are you ready to hang tough for the new year? Then head over to Jet Nightclub in the Mirage, where New Kids on the Block Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood will help you relive your childhood.
The phrase "ushering in the new year" is being taken quite literally by the folks at The Bank in The Bellagio, who have picked none other than Usher himself to be their marquee celebrity for New Year's.
LOS ANGELES:
They may be the last people in the lower 48 states to celebrate New Year's, but that's not spoiling the party for folks in L.A.
Hosted by Katy Perry, Gridlock New Year’s Eve at Paramount Studios promises to be Hollywood's version of Times Square with the most elaborate New Year's Eve celebration ever. Forget about dropping a ball — In Hollywood, a star will be raised to bring in 2009. Over 5,000 guests are expected to experience Paramount Studios lot.
NEW YORK CITY:
While nearly a million people attempt to crowd into Times Square to see the ball drop, those in the know are well aware that the real New Year's parties are further south on the island of Manhattan.
At the Gansevoort Hotel, hot actress Emmanuelle Chriqui will be playing host for the night. Meanwhile, at celeb favorite Marquee, the multitalented Mario Lopez is the man of the hour. Tickets for the event are available at joonbug.com
ASPEN:
For those who don't mind getting a little chilly on New Year's Eve, there's the party at Jason Binn’s Aspen Hotel in the Colorado resort town, where the lovely Ivana Trump will have the hosting duties.
