Black is back in a big way. Black is the new black. Stuart Black of the famous Mr. Black party, which was amazing here and has been amazing in its L.A.incarnation, will move his traveling circus of debauchery to the spacious confines of Webster Hall. In this interview, I was surprised to learn about the audience he plans to cater to. Stuart is determined to carve out a great club within the great club.

With Hollywood awards season reaching its crescendo, we’d forgive you for thinking movie folk have all the fun. But this Sunday, the Grammys will aim to remind you that the music industry is full of famous people, too, and that like their cinematic counterparts, they love a good party. Here are a few of the best events in Los Angeles leading up to Sunday’s big show.

My boyfriend and I have been saying that a lot since we landed in Miami on Tuesday. When spoken in a tipsy, slutty voice, it's a reverent nod to the late Anna Nicole Smith, and a perfect excuse for the week's debauchery. At a dinner last night hosted by Puma and the Bass Museum of Art in celebration of their partnered unveiling of the works of artist Isaac Julien, the woman sitting next to me said, "If you want to get noticed at Basel, you need to party your ass off." (She was, at the time, heeding her own advice.) This morning, when I ran into another friend, he said, "I see you've got your morning coffee. That must mean you had a good night." And yes, Jimmy, I have had a couple of good nights.

To say that Juliette Lewis and I have a past might be correct, but it wouldn't be accurate. Sure, I've caught her rock act four times now, reviewed it twice, and underwent all kinds of maybes before I interviewed her by phone for two different publications. And yes, I'm a longtime fan of her film work. But for two people to have a past, both have to know about it. And until last Thursday, it's highly unlikely that Juliette Lewis even knew I existed, let alone imagined a backstory that comprised spilled drinks, stunned silence, a stilled heart, and more superlatives per column-inch than any Thesaurus. So when I got the nod to meet with the blinding and bewildering star of stage and screen before she and her merry band of mayhem-makers opened for the Dolphins/Bears up at Sun-Life Stadium, I jumped at the chance to add to that past - and to clue her into it in the process.

For smokers in Los Angeles, big changes are on the way. A new ban on lighting up on restaurant patios is expected to go into effect as early as February of 2011, according to laist.com, and last week, a new, stricter ban on smoking in all public places (that includes bars) passed a preliminary hurdle by a 13-0 Los Angeles City Council vote. What does this mean for those who like to smoke with a cocktail in hand? It’s too soon to tell. There may well be exceptions for some bars, especially in Hollywood. It all depends on how strict the new L.A. ordinance is (only an early draft to prepare an ordinance passed last week—actual language is forthcoming), yet early signs point to a severe ban that could be universal. But, for the next six months or so, thanks to a current loophole that allows some bars to qualify rooms as "outdoor" patios, savvy Angelinos will keep on puffing inside at a few select bars. Here are the top 5 bars in L.A. to sneak a smoke.

Last night Paper magazine held their sixth annual Paper Nightlife Awards. It's been touted as "our version of the nightlife Oscars" by Publisher and Editor-in-Chief David Hershkovits, and we've been stumbling through the parties right along with them, as they nominate the best new and noteworthy names and places. A few years ago, we emerged ill and inked, "sweating vodka with bright red hearts, swastikas, and the name 'Audrina' scrawled across a back in paint and permanent marker." We're older now, and though we're none the wiser, we've decided not to post about the curious relics we woke up with this morning. Instead, we'll simply recap who/what won, and what we're looking forward to trying out in the near future.

Whenever they are asked, New Yorkers will famously say how much they hate L.A.. Funny thing about that -- for a group of people who seem to loathe our sunny climes, they sure are here a lot. Friday, New York glam rock group Semi Precious Weapons comes to La La Land, graciously hosted by none other than Perez Hilton, Queen of All Media, who has decided to channel some of his energy into music. The band, voted Best New York Band by Village Voice readers, may be a little too glittery and shiny for New Yorkers. With his raccoon guyliner and teased bleached blonde hair, singer Justin Tranter seems like he was airlifted from the Sunset Strip circa 1987. So it's perfect that the New York band is playing with Evil Beaver, Gorgeous Got a Gun, Chris Pickering, and DJs Jamie Scrap and Lady Starlight. Friday, 8pm @ Viper Room.

Guys may come from Mars, and women from Venus, but Friday night dance parties are universal lingo. From glittering warehouses to stealth doors at intimate lounges, these slick floors ache for some unbridled dancing debauchery.

The young "Up in the Air" star soars.

Tomorrow is the launch party for the Los Angeles installment of the popular party/roving club, Mr. Black, at Bardot. I called West Coast liaison Luke Nero to get the scoop on what to expect at tomorrow's unveiling. For one thing, you'll get not one, but two Asses, though Luke said of the infamous bottomless waiters, "I might cull it down to one."