October 13, 2024 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Sobering New Year with the City of West Hollywood

Go out with a BOOM in West Hollywood this New Year’s Eve.

WeHo’s premier alcohol- and drug-free New Year’s Eve event theme is “House of #BOOM!” It is said to bring hundreds of people together for a “fabulous celebration, featuring DJ Eddie X, dancing, food, a photo booth, face and body painting and an alcohol-free midnight toast.” T here will be a costume contest for those wearing the most fabulous costume representing the theme of either Glamour; Lady Gaga vs. Madonna; Menage a Trio; Hot Mess; or Military.

#BOOM! will take place on the evening of Monday, December 31, 2018, starting at 8 p.m. and will run until 1 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard. #BOOM! is a free event. Attendees must be 18 or older to attend. Advance RSVP is encouraged, as #BOOM! has limited capacity. RSVP at www. boom2019.eventbrite.com.

“The holiday season can be a particularly challenging time for people with substance abuse or mental health issues,” a press release stated. “#BOOM! is a safe space for anyone who wants to celebrate the New Year without the presence of alcohol or drugs. The event is spearheaded by the West Hollywood Project, an initiative funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, to reduce alcohol and drug-related harms in West Hollywood.”

Substance use and addiction is often a significant problem in the LGBTQ+ community. People who identify as such are at a greater risk for substance use and mental health issues compared to those who identify as heterosexual. More than twice as many LGBTQ+ adults compared to heterosexual adults reported using drugs in the past year, according to a 2015 report. Those who identified as LGBTQ+ were also more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and binge drink, and nearly twice as likely to have had an alcohol or drug problem in the past year.

Limited parking for #BOOM! will be available in the adjacent West Hollywood Park five-story parking structure, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The PickUp, West Hollywood’s Free Weekend Ride, will run along Santa Monica Boulevard in a sixmile loop with 15 stops in each direction between Robertson Boulevard and La Brea Avenue from 8 p.m. on Monday, December 31, 2018 until 3 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. It arrives at stops approximately every 15 minutes to transport revelers safely to and from their destinations, while music mixes by DJ Derek Monteiro play on board.

The City of West Hollywood will also be running a special schedule of its free shuttle service, Cityline, departing its stop near Hollywood and Highland every hour from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with stops at La Brea Avenue, Fairfax Avenue, and N. San Vicente Boulevard. Return trips from the San Vicente stop will begin at 8 p.m. and run approximately every hour with the final departure to Hollywood and Highland at 1:15 a.m. on January 1, 2019.

#BOOM! is sponsored by the City of West Hollywood, the Institute for Public Strategies, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the West Hollywood Project, the Tweakers Project, and APLA Health. Admission is free but capacity is limited. For more information, please visit www. boom2019.eventbrite.com.

Related Posts

West Hollywood Valet in Critical Condition After Brutal Attack, Suspect Identified

September 17, 2024

September 17, 2024

Kindly Barney’s Beanery Valet Attacked; LASD Seeks Community Assistance A longtime valet at a popular West Hollywood restaurant is in...

Skin Laundry Laser Focuses On Rejuvenating Skin

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023

Facials don’t have to be invasive. That’s why Skin Laundry has taken a revolutionary approach to skincare technology, making the...

California Trans Child Molester Gets 2 Years In Juvenile Facility

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

A Los Angeles County judge ordered Hannah Tubbs, a transgender California woman, to serve two years in a juvenile facility...

Homeless Initiative Meeting In West Hollywood

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood’s Homeless Initiative works to address homelessness with a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, collaborative response. It’s estimated that...

WeHo Premieres the ‘Moving Image Media Art’ Exhibition Series

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood announces the premiere of the Moving Image Media Art (MIMA) program and the worldwide debut...

LA Street Will Potentially Be Named After Anti-LGBTQ Singer

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

A portion of Bailey Street may be renamed to the late Mexican Mariachi singer ” Vicente Fernandez Street’ – a...

WeHo Spreads Word About Free Covid Testing

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood is reminding residents that free COVID-19 testing is available for them.  Demand for COVID-19 testing...

Green Qween New Queer-Owned Cannabis Shop Will Open Downtown

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

Green Qween, a new queer-owned and queer-driven cannabis shop, will open in downtown on April 20th.  The shops owners, Andrés...

2022 ‘WeHo Reads’ Series Celebrates the ‘Road to Joy’

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood invites community members to celebrate literature and local authors with its 2022 WeHo Reads literary...

New CA Law Helps With Transgender Deadnames

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

A new California law requires public colleges to update diplomas and records for transgender students who have changed their names....

MJ Rodriguez, 1st Openly Transgender Actress to Win Golden Globe

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

Michaela Jae “MJ” Rodriguez has made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to win a Golden Globe.  The...

Animal Shelter Donations In Honor Of Betty White

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

Animal shelter donations have increased exponentially in honor of late actress gay icon and animal lover Betty White. Over the...

AIDS/LifeCycle 2022 Needs More Volunteers

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

AIDS LifeCycle is back with more than $4 million raised so far for the 2022 ride benefitting the HIV/AIDS-related services...

Long Beach Named One of the Best LGBTQ Cities

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

For the 10th year in a row Long Beach has been named one of the best cities in the nation...

Gay Wedding At Dodger Stadium

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

Eric Braverman and Jonathan Cottrell will exchange vows at Dodger Stadium. Showing the progress the LA Dodgers have made as...