Ring in the New Year Right
The best part about the holidays tend to be spending time away from work and with people you care about. It’s a pretty stressful season. With all the responsibilities, buying presents, spending time with relatives, cooking and planning gatherings . . . the anxiety and stress can get heavy. But fear not! New Year’s is all about embracing the new and exciting year ahead, so it’ll all be over soon. You can start fresh and finish big all at the same time! The Inland Empire is a great place for New Year’s celebrations across the board. We’ve got great clubs, and even better parties—the best part? It’s close by! Check out our favorite picks for New Year’s options and come party with the Weekly!
POMONA
New Years Eve Countdown to 2014
This year, celebrate the coming of 2014 with style. Located above the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, the Skyfox Lounge has become one of the Inland Empire’s most established nightspots. Bringing the Hollywood nightlife to the IE, Skyfox Lounge is fully equipped with three dance floors accompanied with DJs playing sets of hip-hop and EDM, a full bar and a variety of go-go dancers to get the crowd hyped. With its sleek and sophisticated interior, Skyfox Lounge encourages guests to look their best when ringing in the New Year at this event. VIP and bottle service reservations are available for exclusive group parties which are accommodated with lush seating for your comfort and enjoyment. If you’re not partying with a group of friends, worry not, simply enjoy the sleek design of this club. Not only will Skyfox Lounge’s interior feel like an ideal setting for a NYE celebration, the view from its rooftop balcony will make you feel like you’re partying with the whole town. Enjoy a fun and unique experience at Skyfox Lounge and dance the night away on its classy rooftop. The countdown starts seconds before midnight followed by a balloon drop, so have your drink in hand and toast in the New Year with some of the best.
Skyfox Lounge, 345 S. Garey Ave., Pomona, (909) 784-3671; www.skyfoxpomona.com.
CLAREMONT
2014 the Final Countdown
Looking for a fun and rowdy night of New Years Eve shenanigans? Look no further than Piano Piano: one of the Inland Empire’s most fun and provocative dueling piano shows. With improvised and requested songs performed by talented pianists this “raunchy” bar gives a new meaning to fun. Singing top 40 hits, with clever personal touches, the performers at Piano Piano will make darn sure that you participate in one of the best New Years celebrations the IE has to offer. Not only will you experience a fun and exciting show, but guests are encouraged to join in on the action by singing along and even singing on stage with the performers. Party favors will be available for guest as an added celebratory perk to keep the crowd riled up during this five-hour long performance, which finishes off with a delectable champagne toast. With reservations available for parties up to four, this is an ideal way to ring in the New Year with a few of your loved ones, while making some new and exciting friends at Piano Piano.
Piano Piano at Double Tree, 555 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, (909) 626-2411; www.doubletree3.hilton.com.
REDLANDS
Royal Falconer
It’s been another year full of hardships and memories, but you’ve finally made it to the end. You need a place to unwind and ring in the New Year, but maybe this year it’s time to stray away from the monotonous and traditional party at your friend’s house. Start a new tradition and come party at the famous Royal Falconer in Redlands. You can’t beat the laid-back atmosphere of the oldest pub in town, with its traditional British cuisine like Fish and Chips and Shepherd’s Pie. Not to mention the proud selection of over 20 draught beers on tap. The amazing food isn’t even the real reason why The Royal Falconer’s New Year’s celebration is the event to attend. Truly, the Kevin R. Blandford Memorial Pipe Band (the Inland Empire’s best bag pipe band) will be blowing guests away with its traditional and well-practiced Scottish bagpiping. Since half of the world celebrates New Years before it reaches midnight here in the U.S., plan accordingly because this shin-dig starts early—the Royal Falconer will be counting down the British New Year at 4pm. That means you can still choose to keep those “traditional” plans at midnight if you want . . . or you can just stay at the ole’ pub and bring in the new year twice! Your call.
Royal Falconer, 106 Orange St., Redlands, (909) 307-8913; www.theroyalfalconer.com.
PALM SPRINGS
Burger Records presents: New Year’s Eve 2014
The Christmas madness is over and now it’s time to find that perfect fun spot to spend the last night of the year. You can go to any old club, with its DJ and dancing, but why not rock out to a handful of live bands at the hottest spot in Palm Springs instead? The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs is known as a major hipster hot spot, which makes it the coolest place to be for that New Years kiss or Champagne toast at midnight. This New Year’s Eve, the Ace Hotel teams up with Burger Records to host the last indie rockin’ party of 2013. Burger Records has been “making rare to well-done records and tapes since 2007” Yeah that’s right. They still believe in making tapes. The first 250 ticket holders get a free compilation tape featuring all of the amazing bands playing that perform on this night. Featured in this amazing lineup for this rockin’ New Year’s Eve is the Allah-Las, Night Beats, The Pesos, Tara Fox and the Desert Sands, DJs and a special mystery guest. There’s no better party in the desert than here.
Tickets are $20, first come first serve. Ace Hotel, 701 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, (760) 325-9900; www.acehotel/palmsprings.
RIVERSIDE
Newe Years at The Menagerie
As the countdown begins to reign in a new year, where do you want to be? What soundtrack will represent the finale scene closing out your 2013? There is no greater disservice one can do than to devalue the importance of memories. Frankly, that’s a direct reflection that one must be okay with the subpar, the lack luster or the mundane—a definite no-no in the quest to live life to the fullest. So, for your sake, make sure what you are doing when the clock strikes 12 is actually how you want your night to be remembered. New Years at The Menagerie Night Club is one way to close this year’s chapter on a high note. The club, which just celebrated 30 years of housing some of the most monumental LGBT community bashes in any area code, will be hosting a dance party to rival all. Get there early for the party favors and stay late for a memorable champagne toast at midnight. The DJs will be equipped with songs for the sole purpose of dancing, maybe even to rejoice in your year’s successes and say good riddance to its faults. Either way, it will be a night to fondly remember.
Doors open at 7:00pm. The Menagerie, 3581 University Ave., Riverside, (951) 788-8000; www.clubmenagerie.com.
SAN BERNARDINO
New Years with the Joshua Paige Band
Every community needs a saloon; it’s only right. Without one, how else are big name acts like Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney or Jason Aldean supposed to find a reason to stop in ‘round these parts? Luckily, San Bernardino got the memo over 20 years ago when they opened the doors of The Brandin’ Iron, Southern California’s own “new generation country club.” This isn’t just any country hub though; this joint takes the country culture not to “the next level,” but to completely new heights. Combining the energy of the traditional club scene with the beloved country genre that so many of citizens of the IE adore, it’s made itself a one-stop-shop for good food, good brews, good tunes and good vibes all around. The Brandin’ Iron will be continuing these awesome vibes come New Years Eve with a line-up of live music, champagne toasts and some “high NRG” country tunes. If you’ve yet to be exposed to country music that you can get into, it’s probably because you haven’t looked hard enough. Take the Joshua Paige Band for example—kick-ass country from your own backyard. The Brandin’ Iron is notorious on the club circuit for a reason.
Event begins at 9pm with Joshua Paige Band at The Brandin’ Iron, 320 S. E. St., San Bernardino, (909) 888-7388; www.brandinironsaloon.com.