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Is Downtown Ready for All-Star Weekend Parties?

By Eric Richardson
Published: Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at 11:10AM

blogdowntown

Collage of fliers for 2011 All-Star Weekend parties happening in Downtown L.A.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The basketball universe will descend on Downtown Los Angeles this weekend, with the action spreading far beyond Staples Center and L.A. Live.

The four-day span from Thursday to Sunday should be a good test for how well Downtown's residents and nightlife are prepared to co-exist. Most Downtown residents live in buildings that opened since L.A. last hosted the All-Star Game in 2004.

Here's an attempt to round up what will be happening where over All-Star Weekend:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17

THE 5TH QUARTER at Exchange LA: 9pm to 3am, with a portion of the proceeds going to After School All-Stars. Pre-sale tickets start at $35 and a 10-person VIP table on the dance floor will run you $3000. 618 S. Spring —Tickets

BIG HUTCH BLACK OUT at Cicada: Shawna Pat performs, and 20 girls compete in bikinis to be the "Top Black Out Girl." Tickets start at $30. 617 S. Olive —Tickets

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18

PLIES LIVE at Club 740: Rapper Plies headlines a party hosted by models Jae Michelle and Cashmere. 9pm to 3am. 753 S. Spring —Tickets

NICKI MENAJ & RICK ROSS at Exchange LA: Nicki Menaj and Rick Ross headline for "The Players Ball." Tickets start at $100, and the "Playa's Suite"—including 30 tickets, ten bottles of Moet and five bottles of Ciroc—will run a cool $20k. 618 S. Spring —Tickets

PURP AND YELLOW at J Lounge: Lakers' forward Matt Barnes hosts "The Official Purp & Yellow All Star Party" presented by Shiekh and Adidas. 1119 S. Olive —Info

J.R. SMITH at Vertigo's: Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith hosts an All-Star kickoff at Vertigo's, a bar tucked into the northwest corner of Downtown at Figueroa and Temple. Music by dj mike smoove and dj ktone. 801 W. Temple —Info

PLAYERS BALL AFTER HOURS at Union Station: Hustle Gurl Entertainment and Hip Hop Weekly Magazine put on the Players Ball after-party at Union Station, advertised as running from midnight to 7am. 800 N. Alameda —Tickets

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19

1000 BOTTLES, 1000 MODELS at The Palm: Former UCLA guard Russell Westbrook is scheduled to make a special guest appearance. Guests receive a bottle of Moet on paid admission. Tickets start at $75. 1100 S. Flower —Tickets

GRIND ALL-STAR JAM at Bonaventure Brewing Co: Toronto Raptors' guard Demar Derozan—a local product and former USC player—is scheduled to make an appearance at the event, which benefits The Grind Youth Basketball Summer Camp in Compton. 404 S. Figueroa —Tickets

CITY OF ANGELS VIP at L.A. Athletic Club: Lakers' forward Matt Barnes joins co-hosts model Claudia Jordan and 102.3 KJLH's Nautica De La Cruz. 431 W. 7th —Tickets

AFTER HOURS at Union Station: Trina performs at an event that runs from midnight to 7am. Tickets start at $100. 800 N. Alameda —Tickets

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20

HONEYS & HOOPS at Bonaventure Brewing Co: Celeste Diaz, Julia Pitts and Jae Michelle host a "Ladies Allstar Jam." 404 S. Figueroa

SECRET PASSWORD PARTY at LoftSEVEN: Sundy Carter and Kevin Hart host "the sexiest NBA All-Star Game after-party ever" from 10pm until 6am. Tickets start at $100, but for $6k you and 20 friends can rent the jacuzzi. 219 W. 7th —Tickets

GRAND FINALE at Exchange LA: Diddy hosts his All-Star after-party on Spring Street. Tickets start at $100 and go up to $20k for the 30-ticket "Playa's Suite." 618 S. Spring —Tickets

CLOSE OUT PARTY at Club 740: Chris Brown hosts the "All-Star Weekend Closeout Party" with DJ Biz Markie. Tickets start at $111. 753 S. Spring —Tickets

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Conversation

Chris Loos on February 15, 2011, at 12:23PM – #1

Holy hell. Its going to be nuts just trying to run to the corner store or grab coffee. Time to get out of Dodge and do a weekend roadtrip.

crystal on February 15, 2011, at 12:42PM – #2

I was just thinking of the noise. time to get some ear plugs to sleep. Exchange clientele is always so loud when they let out at 2am.

Paul on February 15, 2011, at 01:22PM – #3

Who would pay $20,000 to hang out at The Exchange?

film rob on February 15, 2011, at 01:25PM – #4

fingers crossed, no shootings.

crystal on February 15, 2011, at 01:45PM – #5

people watching will be great though i bet!

Downtown Cowboy on February 15, 2011, at 02:13PM – #6

gawd - I'm glad I don't live on Spring!

rob on February 15, 2011, at 04:36PM – #7

i dont know what everyone is getting so worked up over, its the same venues that are open every weekend. And considering the prices,you can expect the crowds to be managible. Relax and enjoy the weekends events. Thats why you moved to downtown to begin with.

Chris Loos on February 15, 2011, at 05:11PM – #8

@rob - Commercial hip-hop crowd douchey enough to pay those prices? Nope, not why I moved downtown.

Gimme Peanut Butter Wolf or Madlib in Pershing Square any day though.

Don Garza on February 15, 2011, at 05:23PM – #9

When these folks leave those party venues , they tend to think everyone who isn't dressed up is homeless and respond accordingly. The other night, after walking home from a gym workout, I was insulted by people who were only here to party, telling me I was disgusting , and to leave downtown and get a job , and all kinds of things I can't repeat.. these people were high and drunk anyway... Anyway, sounds like it will just be another normal night downtown to me, no big deal..

baddicus on February 15, 2011, at 08:56PM – #10

More banned words for this year...1) hipsters; 2) douche bags (in reference to people); 3) bridge and tunnel crowd.

Ok, kidding about banning words...this isn't Iran...just make an effort to quit disparaging folks you don't know...you jerks! :)

Christopher Eaton on February 15, 2011, at 09:21PM – #11

I live in the Rowan. I know the club noise can be irritating sometimes (I deal with it every major clubbing night). Most nights it's really only bad for about an hour and I'm in the jacuzzi outside anyway. The construction noise across the street on Main St. is so much worse at 7 a.m. every day (arrrggghhh).

Having said all that, this event is bringing major, major money to DTLA and its a true close-up for Downtown at the national and international level in the media. For me it's important that these folk have a great time while they're here spending their greenbacks. I intend to go out of my way in the streets and in establishments to be friendly, give directions, etc. This is a tremendous opportunity for DTLA.

Chris Loos on February 15, 2011, at 09:47PM – #12

@Christopher Eaton - You make a good point. I agree that a high profile event like this that brings dollars to Downtown is a good thing, even if its not my particular cup of tea.

Don Garza on February 15, 2011, at 11:51PM – #13

Well , with the impending.. demise? of The CRA, I have to agree with those who see the benefits of these people coming downtown to spend money , that money goes into the general fund of the city as sales tax and circulates in Los Angeles...

KJ1 on February 16, 2011, at 07:40AM – #14

Yep. Big, fat money to DTLA. This is all to the good. Who knew these venues could charge these prices!

Sara Jones on February 16, 2011, at 10:06AM – #15

A bikini contest at Cicada?

Vonn Butler on February 16, 2011, at 11:27AM – #16

FUN FUN FUN! Although I am not paying those ridiculous prices. I love the activity it will bring to DTLA. The construction noise at 7am is much worse than the club and party noise.

Dan Glass on February 16, 2011, at 07:30PM – #17

I'm going to Kress on Sunday night. Fabolous is performing with DJ Skee and DJ Drama. I heard a ton of bball all-stars, rappers, etc. are going to be there. D Wade, Derrick Rose, etc.

jojinks on February 18, 2011, at 09:54AM – #18

Hopefully there will be added security and police to keep things under control from drunk drivers and stray bullets for our residents! I wonder how much money is generated for "downtown" with this kind of Vegas Partying? I would think it costs downtown a significant amoutn with all the added security and clean up.. (hopefully there WILL be cleanup and security and not just some dumping ground for thugs and hos!)

Paul on February 18, 2011, at 10:41AM – #19

Maybe this is a dumb question, but how are some of these events serving alcohol after 2am?

Christopher Eaton on February 18, 2011, at 09:57PM – #20

Hey Jorgie,

So far, so good. The people who've come to DTLA seem to be very well behaved and having a great time.

Oscar on February 19, 2011, at 12:02AM – #21

Sooooooo glad is raining!!!!

VIP Tickets on June 22, 2011, at 03:17PM – #22

With the NBA lockout looming, it's hard to wonder if the league would really stand so fast that it would sacrifice the great position it is in right now. The game has never been greater or filled with more marketable superstars as we saw during All-Star weekend. L.A. Live was booming and business looked great. The effect of the NBA and all of the festivities that resulted from the powerful weekend should be indicative of where its mass appeal stands as of 2011.