Ratplay is a community-obsessed newsletter about events, people, and clubs in Los Angeles.
Hello to the Mischief! Can’t tell you how excited I am to be back for a new year of scurrying, scheming, nibbling, frolicking, causing mayhem etc. etc. You know the fucking vibe!! I always love to start the year with intention-setting, manifesting, whatever you want to call it, and this year’s no exception. I’ve had a couple weeks to slow down and think about where I want my energy to go and what I want for you all, the Ratplayers.
Realistically, the answer is and has always been connection. I resent so many aspects of social media (call me original/sue me), but what stops me from deleting my social accounts is the realization that I’d be losing a main source of discovery for cool events, places, and people in my community. I don’t want that for any of you.
So–my goal here at Ratplay? To get you off your screen and into your community. To serve as your entertaining source for offline connection. The buy-in? Reading 2-3 minutes of deranged rat-themed musings, courtesy of yours truly.
So let’s get into it, shall we? Things are still a lil sleepy as LA picks back up from the holidays, but the rats are scrounging for NYE events so we’ll focus our efforts there. We’ll be back to regularly scheduled programming in two weeks!
p.s. As a little treat, I’ve included a 2024 RatPlay In/Out list at the end 💋
Most of the events we’re featuring for NYE are free and open to the public, so swipe through if you’re still looking for a spot to nest for the night 🐀
NYE: Shake That 2023 Off @ Club Teegee
Sunday, 12/31 @ 9:30PM (add to cal)
Club Teegee (Atwater)
Free 🐀
DJ: @yeafree
If 2023 wasn’t kind to you, TeeGee says they have the antidote. Head on over to Atwater Village to shake off the ghosts of 2023 and step into the New Year with FREE entry, FREE champagne, and DJ FREE (that’s not me being corny that’s his name 😤). With all this “free” talk”, it’s no wonder this event qualified as a “Rat Trap” (that was me being corny 😀).
…moving on.
Sunday, 12/31 @ nightime I guess
Lowboy (Echo Park)
Free 🐀
DJ: @eslisugich_
Laughing because Lowboy has given literally zero information about this Y2K-themed party beyond the fact that it’s Y2K themed. The effort is…minimal here but we’re throwing it in as an option because if you know me, you know my dying allegiance to Lowboy as an establishment–it never misses! This option requires a little more effort as you’ll need to scrounge up an outfit, but if we’re being honest, some of you are always looking for another excuse to wear a crop top and low rise jeans anyway 🤧
Sunday, 12/31 @ 9PM
Bar Flores (Echo Park)
Free 🐀
DJ: @djphatrick
And if you’ve seen one too many 2000 Brittany/JT costumes downstairs, head on upstairs to sister location Bar Flores for their 5th annual Boogie Paradise NYE party. They’re using the same photographer for both events, so for the aspiring actors amongst us I’d recommend bringing a costume change so you can get some free themed photos for your portfolio #rathack. Perfect for your next audition for the Britany/Diana Ross biopic 💋
Sunday, 12/31 @ 8PM-12:30AM
Grand Park (DTLA)
Free 🐀
DJs: @biancamaieli; @mangoandginger; @lindanuves; @ericalandia (+ more)
This one’s the most family friendly of the batch, but I really do love a city-run event, especially when KCRW’s involved. It’s just so….wholesome :,) If you want avoid any cramped rooms and be in bed before 1, this is your best best. They’ll have food trucks, art installations, and music from a very solid lineup of DJs like Bianca Maieli of No Nazar and Mango & Ginger.
Sunday, 12/31 (All Night Long)
Tabula Rasa (Hollywood)
Free 🐀 (+ free food)
DJ: @vinylrichieee
This one’s for the rats that won’t stfu about leaving the bar to get food from the moment they walk in (it’s me 👄). Ms Rats, don’t say I don’t do anything for you…Tabula Rasa is offering for FREE FOOD to go along with their drink specials so you have absolutely no excuse to leave before midnight. DJ seems a little rogue but maybe in a fun way? Update me after.
NYE @ Gold Line
Sunday, 12/31 (All Night Long)
Gold Line (Highland Park)
Free 🐀
DJs: 56???
Okay so I cannot figure out for the life of me if there will be 56 DJs here or if this is a group called 56 DJs…. please my rat brain is short-circuiting… If there are indeed 56 distinct DJs playing, this is the best event on this list hands down. The mastery! The persistence! The gall required to pull off such a feat! In the case that this is simply one to two DJs called “56 DJs” (why….), then this is a pretty standard night at Goldline in which case you can also go and enjoy their incredible vinyl collection and fantastic cocktails. Either way, you don’t really lose.
NYE @ El Prado
Sunday, 12/31 @ 9PM-2AM
El Prado (Hollywood)
Free 🐀
DJs: @braingobrrrrrrr; @lilprii; @midasmsl
I’ll be honest with y’all…I won’t go as far as to say Prado’s “dead” because a. we support small biz and b. Prado’s an OG rat hole, but TikTok’s led to a surge that’s made an enjoyable night …tough to find there recently :) That said, my friend (and one of my favorite DJs in LA) Gopi is playing there on NYE. If you’re looking for easy neighborhood vibes on NYE with some good rap/afrobeat/amapiano +, this could be your move (or at least a stop on the way home).
Discotchari presents: NYE 2024
Sunday, 12/31 @ 9PM-2AM
The Goldfish (Highland Park)
$17 (tickets here)
DJs: @r.ezzu; @kokopelli_am; surprise DJs from Armenia
Honestly of all the events, this one seems like the most lit to me. Y’all know that some of the best music is coming from our friends in the Middle East and Africa!! “Persian rare grooves”?? Say less AND more. One flag: Goldfish only serves wine, beer, and sake, so Do the Rat Thing™ and chug a bottle on the sidewalk sneak in a flask make sure to have a solid pregame!
Sunday, 12/31 @ 10PM-5:30AM
TBA (DTLA)
$54.70-$60 (tickets here)
DJs: @thecarrynation_nyc
Por Detroit has locked in The Carry Nation, the duo behind some of NYC’s largest queer parties, for their NYE celebration. The vibes are definitely giving house/techno/naked sweaty gay boys taking copious amounts of 💊 . If you want that, consider your plans set! If you don’t, this is me saving the queer women here from stumbling into a Dark Room while searching for your cis gay male friend who promised the party would be a “mixed crowd”.
I’ll leave you with the lyrics to the song that DJ Victor Rodriguez describes as “the vibe I want you to bring”:
“C*nty, c*ntier, the c*ntiest,
“P*ssy, p*ssier, the p*ssiest,
“I’m the c*ntiest, im the p*ssiest, im the c*ntiest, im the p*ssiest”
You get the vibe. Have fun 😍
As promised….presenting…the official 2024 RatPlay In/Out list! I’ll take feedback in the comment section for amusement purposes only 😌 You’ll also find the expected rat memes below, submitted by you all, the master cu(rat)ors 🫱🏽🫲🏾
That’s it for now! This rat is still fundraising for Cafe Tropical (and El Cochinito and Bolita) + it’s former employees–they still haven’t received their last month of pay and are being ghosted by their former employers, so please continue sharing this post and donating if you can! Thank you to all of you who’ve shown up for them already 🫶🏽
CK
