New Year S Eve

Angelenos had no shortage of options when it came to musical ways to ring in 2009. Snoop Dogg celebrated at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, and, just up the street, legendary reggae band the Wailers played the entirety of the landmark album "Exodus" for crowds at the Roxy. At the Wiltern, Travis Barker and DJ AM reunited their drum-and-DJ project TRV$DJ-AM for its first public performance since the duo survived a tragic plane crash in September.

Four years after a stroke, Dick Clark is relishing the prospect of another New Year's Eve celebration tonight, determined to appear for his 36th year in Times Square. Clark, who turned 79 last month and has been in front of the cameras for 61 years, said in a recent interview by e-mail that his appearance on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2009," diminished though it may be, is a labor of love and "not really a job."

The beat is slowing on the Sunset Strip, muffled by a less-than-festive economy. For the first time in years, clubs in this night-life mecca on Sunset Boulevard and nearby will be ringing in 2009 on Wednesday by slashing cover charges or offering special incentives, such as open bars and free hors d'oeuvres. A night out on New Year's Eve will still cost a premium, of course, but many club operators say they are purposely keeping a lid on prices even though they might be able to charge more.

Top Los Angeles law enforcement officials and leaders told residents Monday not to fire any weapons to celebrate the new year, warning revelers that they will make every effort to track down shooters. The appeal for safety has become an annual tradition. "We do this every year," Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said at a news conference in Lynwood attended by Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton and County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

This New Year's Eve, you can bid farewell to $200-a-ticket bashes and gauche table service and tip your top hat hello to economical cocktail parties, bar ragers with no cover and rambunctious street parties. Some of the best and lowest-cost happenings are taking place in Southern California's restaurants and un-Hollywood bars, with many offering discounts to draw in customers and give them a bigger bang for the buck.

Amid all the economic turmoil of 2008, there is at least one place where hope springs eternal: in the minds of New Year's Eve party promoters. In their planned scenarios, top-name musical talents will play into the early morning. Champagne will flow. And packed crowds will say goodbye to yesterday's troubles by tossing around hundreds of dollars like there's no tomorrow. But how will reality play out? So far, many New Year's Eve promoters have got the first two parts of the equation covered, with several events pulling out all the stops.

On New Year's Eve, the Las Vegas Strip will once again be transformed into a giant block party. About 300,000 people are expected. Revelers, however, will need to be strategically positioned to see the aerial display. Instead of being shot from the rooftops of various resorts the fireworks will be launched from atop parking garages. "These fireworks are going to be 300 feet closer to people on the Strip," says Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events.

On the list of people you feel sorry for, NBA players generally rank just ahead of auto company CEOs. But even the guy in charge of bankrupting Chrysler can enjoy a holiday on his private island. A select group of NBA players can't. The Orlando Magic is the only NBA team that will play on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. As if that weren't enough of a holiday downer, they also are scheduled to work on St. Patrick's Day, Groundhog Day and even America's highest holy day, Super Bowl Sunday.

This winter, New Year's Eve revelers will have a close-up view of Times Square's first environmentally friendly billboard powered entirely by wind and sun. Construction on the 35,000-pound sign that will advertise Ricoh Americas Corp. is to begin this month across from the building where the ball drops on New Year's Eve. Powered by 16 wind turbines and 64 solar panels, the sign is expected to save $12,000 to $15,000 per month in electricity costs. A lighting ceremony for the 126-foot wide, 47-foot tall sign is scheduled for Dec. 4.