No way was LUXY going to give up the spotlight for its big New Year's party, having opened in Taipei late September as the city's first superclub.
While Ministry of Sound still struggles to get its act together in Neihu, LUXY has by-and-large been fulfilling management's expectations, with big crowds and a steady roster of big name DJs from abroad.
For the club's New Year's Eve party, London's LTJ Bukem, along with MC Conrad, will join the city's hottest DJs and see if they can bring down the house, with the help of free champagne, dancing girls, Elle Girl Model Troopers, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Elsewhere, there are several free parties over the festive period, a secret location for after-hours speculation and the usual countdown/binges around town, plus two government-organized affairs, with top-line local entertainment that traditionally attracts massive and good-humored crowds for fireworks and a countdown.
In the green corner, the DPP-led government is putting on what it calls a "New Eve Rally" (sic) in front of the Presidential Office (
In the blue corner in front of the Taipei 101 Building (
The Taipei Times party round-up for the festive period:
● Aliang and Friends, at 15, Alley 15, Ln 345, Sec 4, Renai Road. (
Enjoy an acoustic night of jazz and blues with Greg Jackett and Aigner on New Year's Eve. Tickets NT$150.
● Bacchus, B1, 12 Songshou Rd, Taipei (
NYE is NT$1,500 for free champagne and DJs. Think Saturday, Jan. 3, for a free party with a flyer, which you can pick up at Citizen Cain. DJ Em, one of Taipei's most visible playas, will join seven other DJs. 10pm to 5am.
● Blue Note, 4F, 171, Sec 3, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei (
● Brown Sugar, 101 Songren Rd, Taipei (
● Carnegie's, at 100 Anhe Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (
The upmarket meeting place is hosting what it calls "a big piss-up," where entry is free for members plus one guest, or NT$1,000 for non-members, including two drinks. There is a set dinner at NT$1,500 (no service charge) with free-flowing Champagne ("genuine French stuff from those chalky hillsides around Reims").
"I would recommend that people get here well before midnight on New Year's Eve, in order to avoid the inevitable rush and to avoid being left outside on the street as was the case in the past for those that thought our premises have the same capacity as Wembley," says Carnegie's General Manager Bob Marshall.
● Citizen Cain, 67 Dongfeng St, Taipei (台北市東豐街67號) 2706 2162.
DJs Stew and Plimmtastic will drop the beats, while the bar staff will give out free champagne at midnight. Admission is free.
● Fresh, 2F, 7, Sec 2, Jinshan S Rd, Taipei (
DJs, dancing and drink til dawn. Tickets NT$350.
● Huazhong Bridge
● Living Room, 3F, 8, Sec. 5, Nanjing E Rd, Taipei (
● LUXY, 5F, 201 Zhongxiao E Road, Sec 4, Taipei (
Drum and bass legend LTJ Bukem, along with local artists include: Coffey, MC Davi, DJ Steppa, James, J6, K Fancy, Michaelphonic, Noodle, Saucey, S.L., Trix, ?plus 1000 bottles of free champagne and more. Tickets NT$1,000 in advance at Amp (call 2721 6336 for address), or NT$1,500 at the door.
● Moshi Moshi, 108 Da'an Rd, Sec 1, Taipei. (
It could be the coolest place to be, with DJ Saucey, NT$1,000.
● Party Room, Core Pacific Mall, 12F, 138 Bade Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (
Party Room in association with Liquid Lifestyle is putting on E-Dragon, Analogue, E Turn, Sam, for NT$1,000, with two drinks.
● Plush, Core Pacific Mall, 12F, 138 Bade Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (
Tickets NT$1,200, with two drinks. Resident DJs Levi's, Chicon, Ricky and Sam.
● Riverside Music Cafe
Check out the J.E.G. Jazz Band and Friends on New Year's Eve. Shino Lin (
● Room 18, B1, 18 Songshou Rd, Taipei (
Dress delicious and enjoy a free buffet from 9pm to 11pm. This party should be glam, with house music all night long, featuring DJs Victor and Nina, with vocals from Eleanor. Also King Unique and DJ Mitch, with some hip hop and R 'n' B. DJs Vic, Alex36, Big Phat Eric and Big and Phat Apple will also be on board. Tickets NT$1,200 in advance, and NT$1,500 at the door, including two drinks.
● Roxy Vibe, B2, 155, Sec 2, Jinshan S Rd, Taipei (
Last-chance saloon, as ever.
● Roxy 99, B1, 218, Sec 2, Jinshan S Rd., Taipei (
NT$500 to get in, plus a drink.
● Roxy Wave 161, Jianguo S Rd, Sec 1 (
The latest in a long line of Roxy pubs.
● Saloon, 107-2, Sec 4, Xinyi Rd, Taipei (
● Siro is at B1, 70, Sec 2, Xinsheng N Rd, Taipei (
● Spin, B1, 91, Sec 1, Heping Rd, Taipei (
The Shida nightlife institution will hold its annual bash.
● TeXound Dance Club, B1, 217 Nanjing E Rd, Sec 3,Taipei (
New Year's Eve with famed remixer and party favorite Tom Stephan (aka Superchumbo). Tickets NT$1,200, or NT$800 before midnight.
● The Secret Place
This after-hours establishment, that requested we did not divulge its address, is disguised as an ordinary house in the central Taipei area. It doesn't get popular until about four or five in the morning and some people say you need a secret knock on the door to get in. But that wasn't our experience. DJs, full-strength shots, the joint is not expensive and is open well after the sun comes up.
● The Wall, B1, 200, Sec 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei (
Free tequila shots at midnight and performances by Sugar Lady, 88 Guava Seeds, Thedaymakers, Clippers. Tickets NT$600 (boys) NT$400 (girls).
● TU, B1, 249, Sec 1, Fuxing S Rd, Taipei (
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