Chances are you’ve seen Abigail Spencer in something over the last decade, though you might not know what. Patrons at nearby tables at Newsroom feel this and keep glancing over, trying to place her. Of course, people tend to do that habitually in L.A., especially on a hoity-toity street like Roberston Boulevard, across from The Ivy, where paparazzi post-up like snipers and celebs both pose on the sidewalk and scatter into big black cars, like gazelle. It’s the natural order around these parts. But there’s something different about Spencer’s charm and carefree spirit, especially when it comes to something as arbitrary as Hollywood notoriety. With lead roles in six films over the next two years -- beginning with this Valentine’s Day’s This Means War -- she’s going to be receiving a lot of it.

Cheap Shots used to be one of the best worst places to drink in the city before it was shut down a few summers ago. Rumors of tweens and bathroom blow swirled, and it was well known that their ID policy was lax to say the least. Cops raided, the doors shuttered, and we were sad. The legend lives on, however, in the form of Spanky and Darla's. Despite an unfortunate renaming, it's still the same dirty little East Village dive loved for its top-heavy bartenders and under carbonated pitchers. Just be sure to bring your ID.

Singer/art wraith Claire Boucher, alias Grimes, is all set to release her third album, Visions, on February 21. Filled with dark beats, ethereal sound collages and underscored by Boucher's pure-as-snow vocals, it's basically the soundtrack to an after-hours art school party filled with 19-year olds more attractive than you. But not to make it sound daunting or anything. The whole thing is streaming over at NPR, where all of the bloggable albums seem to end up these days.

● Beyoncé and Jay-Z skipped last night's Grammy ceremony, opting for a low-key night out at their favorite Brooklyn pizza place. And we really can't say we blame them -- Lucali is delicous. [Us]

Considering its subject material, the trailer for Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is impressively self-important. We open on Honest Abe standing in shadow, holding an axe and putting on his trademark top hat, giving some treacly monologue about justice or something. As the trailer progresses, we get plenty of slo-mo action shots, recreations of the 19th century Washington D.C. setpieces, and quite amazingly, a shot of Abe smashing a tree in half with just one swing of the axe. So yes, it's a drop dead serious movie about an alternate reality in which our 16th President fought vampires. What else would you expect from the director of Wanted? 

Za' atar (West Village) - A hidden gem serving the West Village's freshest and most affordable Middle Eastern food. Go now, before lines form.

The Hotel Concorde La Fayette is that rarest of rarities: an actual Parisian skyscraper. So it only made sense to make like a New York hotel, and install a fabulous skyward nightlife spot. At the new 34th floor La Vue bar, flash, unapologetically mod interiors by Pier Luigi Copat are done up in sexy red, white and purple, with an extravagant 11,000-glass-rod chandelier as the aesthetic centerpiece.

From hosting star-studded fashion parties, to supporting emerging artists via their Friends of Kanon (FOK) program, down to their chic bottle design, Kanon Organic Vodka has done an ace job positioning themselves as a stylishly superior spirit. Their latest project offers more of the same creativity and taps into fashion week's favorite photo-sharing app: Instagram.

The unchallenged rulers of glamorous Vegas nightlife, The Light Group, have, let's face it, decisively conquered Sin City. So it was virtually inevitable that they would finally make a home in that other Mecca of unapologetic decadence, South Beach. And choosing to install their chic new eatery Bianca in the legendary Delano, SoBe's original celeb-magnet hotel, sends a clear statement: WE DO NOT ARRIVE HERE QUIETLY! But Bianca is more about enjoying epicurean pleasures than it is about just showing off.

Nightlife is as good as it ever was and it continues to expand in every direction. Like our universe, it started with a Big Bang just a couple of years ago, when bottle service got out of the way of having a good time, and clubs, bars, lounges and restaurants got over the depression - both economic and social - of the post 9/11 disaster. Some peeps talk of the good old days as if there once was a Camelot or nirvana. I've been around for a long time and I firmly believe that nightlife today is more vibrant than any time in the last 30 years. I'm sure this statement will be refuted by many, especially those who thought having a good time meant waking up on a floor, but I'm standing by it. The drugs aren't as important a driving force as in "the day." High rents and aspirations mean that people must be functional when the sun is up. There are less or different types of after-hour opportunities. The 4am to noon spots have given way to parties at lofts and hotel suites. I have been saying for a couple years now that there are few great clubs but many great nights. This is changing as clubs refine their nightly programming and offer more than just one evening a week of nocturnal bliss. Westway is fabulous and getting more so as time goes on. It's a bit under-the-radar and to the left of things - dirty, fun, and daring. A friend of mine, Frankie Sharp is offering up a new Tuesday soirèe, "Westgay at Westway," and it seems undeniably fun.