New Year’s Eve: A Few More Places to Hit If You Don’t Want to Leave Venice

/>Westsider? Want to keep it close to home? Here are a few places that won’t charge you $200 a pop and will still make you feel warm, fuzzy, and oh so happy to ring in 2011.
1. Venice Beach Wines
VBW is always packed, so NYE should be no different for the little wine shop/brasserie/wine bar on Rose. But instead of asking you to pay it all up front, this year they’ve opted out of a surcharge, and starting at 4pm you can sip and chill to your heart’s content.
2. James Beach. Right on Venice Blvd, you can party with the big Venice partiers for $79 bucks..you just need to decide if you want to be in beddies at 10 (first seating is 5.30 – talk about early bird special), or watch the ball drop near the beach (second seating at 8). Here’s a sampling:
Appetizers:
New England Clam Chowder, Oysters on the Half Shell,Tuna Tartare, Dungeness Crab Cake, Roasted Pear Tarte
Entrees:
Wild Maine Lobster (must order in advance), Pan Roasted Halibut, Certified Angus Beef Filet Mignon, Darjeeling Spiced Maple Duck Breast, Truffle & Asparagus Risotto