Party hearty and smartly: free Metro rides and AAA Tipsy Tow service for New Year's Eve weekend

Many of us already have our plans made for celebrating the New Year. Some of us are still deciding - and if you happen to be in this category, might we suggest visiting the ExperienceLA.com calendar for some ideas :)

Whatever your plans are, if you and your roommates are drawing straws to see who will be the sober this year, or if you simply haven't had time to think about finding a designated driver, fear not! Metro and AAA have provided some wonderful solutions for this coming weekend of merriment in Los Angeles.

Singing in the Holidays

Call me a caffeine fiend (or a victim of commercialism), but the onset of my favorite holiday season becomes official when I begin to see the Starbucks Christmas cups appear in increased frequency. 90 degree weather or not, warming my hands around a steaming cup of Pumpkin Spiced Latte or Caramel Apple Spice, its holiday aromas wafting me into a state of glee, is a seasonal must. That and listening to 103.5 the moment the station converts to Christmas music 24/7.

I love Christmas. Warm fuzzies galore!!

Good news for those of us Christmas junkies who potentially make everyone else sick with our excitement over irrelevant songs boasting the joys of a white Christmas. The LA Phil recently announced its 2008 Deck the Hall Holiday Series... which includes a Holiday Sing-A-Long!! No more need to be a secret singer within the safety of your morning commute, as you can now join a multitude of people, on key or not, as they sing your favorite Christmas songs. If you've never experienced a sing-a-long before, you're missing out. But if it's not your cup of tea, here's a full listing of the series:

12/16: Chanticleer returns with Exquisite Christmas Singing
12/17: Organist David Higgs presents the Holiday Organ Spectacular
12/20-21: 'Twas the Week Before Christmas with the LA Phil
12/21: David Prather hosts a Holiday Sing-A-Long for the whole family
12/22: The Count Basie Orchestra brings the Swing to the Holidays
12/23: Soweto Gospel Choir offers Inspired Renditions of Christmas Classics
12/31: Pink Martini rings in 2009 with Two Special New Year's Eve Performances

-Sarah Koo, ExperienceLA Marketing Assistant