Party place L.A.

Angelenos had no shortage of options when it came to musical ways to ring in 2009. Snoop Dogg celebrated at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, and, just up the street, legendary reggae band the Wailers played the entirety of the landmark album “Exodus” for crowds at the Roxy. At the Wiltern, Travis Barker and DJ AM reunited their drum-and-DJ project TRV$DJ-AM for its first public performance since the duo survived a tragic plane crash in September.

Downtown was home to plenty of action as well. Pink Martini brought its upscale party machine from Portland, Ore., to Disney Hall to entertain revelers, and the L.A. Live complex hosted back-to-back concerts at Club Nokia from soul singer Robin Thicke and rockers Stone Temple Pilots, while the Gipsy Kings had audiences dancing at the newly reopened Conga Room.

When it came to dancing, though, the place to be was Giant Maximus, presented by KCRW-FM (89.9). Thousands of people gathered in a 7-acre section of downtown to listen to DJ sets from Paul Oakenfold, Moby and a host of other electronica luminaries amid a full-scale carnival atmosphere.

For more coverage of New Year’s Eve festivities, see theguide.latimes.com.