"Tonight the lights in the city's newest high-rise snap on for the first time"

The latest addition to the downtown Los Angeles skyline is expected to debut with a big splash -- make that a big flash -- tonight, when lights in the city's newest high-rise snap on for the first time.

Owners of the 54-story Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott tower are rigging lights on the top 27 levels to flick on floor by floor in a rising wave to celebrate completion of the hotel, the last piece of the massive L.A. Live entertainment complex.

The attention-grabbing stunt will cost about $100,000; by no means a pittance but still a fraction of the $2.5-billion overall cost of L.A. Live, which sits next to Staples Center and is already home to Nokia Theatre and other attractions.

The flame-on at 7:30 p.m. will be part of a City of Hope charity gala honoring AEG President Tim Leiweke, who will be saluted by the tousle-haired singer Jon Bon Jovi, hockey star Luc Robitaille and comedian and ABC late-night TV show host Jimmy Kimmel, among others. The Marriott is set to open Feb. 15, and the Ritz-Carlton should follow in March.