End of the world party wraps up early in West Hollywood

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The chances of an apocalypse Friday night were infinitesimal -- in fact they were nonexistent, according to a group of NASA experts.

But for the city of West Hollywood, that was more than enough reason to party.

About a hundred revelers gathered in the cold for a rainbow-lit dance party off Santa Monica Boulevard between the nightclubs Revolver and Eleven, with go-go dancers on platforms gyrating to a pulsing techno beat.

‘This city can find any excuse to have a party, and tonight it was the end of the world,’ said Michael Arrigo, who serves on West Hollywood’s disabilities advisory board.

Along Santa Monica Boulevard, clubs waived cover charges and threw apocalyptic theme parties. Police officers closed off a small section of the road for the outdoor event, organized by the city, it’s tourism board and the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

But Friday’s celebrations paled next to the city’s Halloween event, which draws hundreds of thousands. Also, the event ended about 40 minutes earlier than scheduled.

But Dwight Warren, 54, of Van Nuys, didn’t want to spend what he believed could be his last night on Earth alone. Clad in a Santa hat and holiday colors, he danced until the music stopped a few minutes later.

‘If you have to go, you might as well go partying,’ Warren said.

Warren drove from Van Nuys to meet his friends for a night of celebration. He said he’s one of the only people he knows that took the Maya rumors seriously.

‘I told my friends and family that I loved them, just in case,’ Warren said. ‘You just never know.’

But Warren’s belief was limited.

‘I didn’t sell my stocks or anything,’ Warren said.

Jeffrey Bertollini, general manager of Revolver, helped plan the event with the city over the last three weeks. Many of the revelers immediately relocated to his club, where there was a ‘Mad Max’ theme.

‘It’s just kinda silly and fun,’ Bertollini said.

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-- Frank Shyong