While the allure of crowded parties and midnight fireworks is strong, there’s a certain charm in embracing a cozy New Year’s Eve at home. It offers a chance to escape the noise and crowds, prioritize relaxation, and indulge in a more personalized and intimate celebration. Whether seeking tranquility, adventure, or simply a more budget-friendly option, staying home can be a surprisingly rewarding way to ring in the new year. Here are 10 great ways to spend NYE in Downtown LA, safe and snug at home.
Netflix and Chills Movie Marathon: Binge Netflix series or curate a list of feel-good movies and cozy up with a blanket to enjoy the cinematic magic. Don’t forget the snacks! Popcorn, hot chocolate, and all the movie treats needed to create the perfect home theater.
Cook up a Culinary Adventure: Cook a fancy meal from a cookbook or online recipe, leading to a tasty experiment with new cuisine. Spend New Year’s Eve savoring your creations and toasting to hand-baked desserts. Homemade cocktails are a must all year round, but especially delicious on New Year’s Eve.
At-Home Spa Night: Draw a relaxing bath with essential oils and candles. Indulge in a luxurious face mask and hair treatment. Give yourself a mini-massage with aromatherapy oils while listening to calming music and truly unwind. Don’t let anyone stop you.
Art or Hobby for Meditation and Creativity: Engage in a creative hobby like painting, drawing, writing, or playing a musical instrument. Start a new project or simply enjoy the process of creating something beautiful.
Cityscape Fireworks Viewing Party: If high-rise with a balcony or large windows, it wasn’t enough; NYE gives downtown loft dwellers a chance to transform their living rooms into prime fireworks viewing spots. Just add comfortable seating, snacks, and drinks, and voilà. Playing your own tunes enhances the joy of the dazzling displays of fireworks that take over the city skyline.
Game Night Extravaganza: Dust off your favorite board games or card games and get competitive with some board game challenges. If old-fashioned cardboard doesn’t make the cut, break out the PS5 or throw on those virtual reality goggles and whisk away to another dimension.
Dancing with the Neighbors: For those lucky enough to dwell within one of downtown’s luxury skyscrapers, most of which host gatherings for their tenants and reserve common areas especially for nighttime celebrations on New Year’s Eve. Creating a killer playlist, all the tenants can enjoy turning up the music, with light bites, conversation, and optional dance floors. High above the city, many have panoramic views of the fireworks above without having to deal with the hectic party scene on the ground below.
Relaxation Retreat: Unplug from the city and its noise with some quality quiet time. Plug those ears with state-of-the-art earplugs, read a good book, meditate, or simply enjoy the quiet moments, reflecting on the past year and setting intentions for the year ahead.
Break a Sweat: For a unique city-centric New Year’s Eve, kick things off with a pre-dawn gym session, ensuring a healthy start to the year by including at least one jumping jack.
Put in Work: Believe it or not, it’s dry January, and for many, with New Year’s resolutions finalized with deadlines written with permanent markers on the board. Work builds character, and NYE vacation is a fine time for finishing up a project before the year or preparing to take on a new year of projects on the horizon.
