● Dos Caminos (Meatpacking District) - Steve Hanson drops another branch of his upbeat Mexican chain in the former Vento Trattoria space.

I was walking my dogs past Café Habana when I ran into a group of old friends. The conversation centered on the 675 spot where Level V should be. The crew -- which included a few ex-Steve Hanson employees -- were talking about how “675 makes no sense” and that "another wave of contraction" of Steve's B.R Guest properties was about to happen. I was told it's "common knowledge” that the Starwood acquisition of B.R. Guest was “one of Starwood's worst deals ever." In between bites of crisp, cheesy corn, I was told that "at least one of Hanson’s properties was on the verge of closing, maybe more.”

The owner of the flagship Pacha in New York on international clientele, the rough lifestyle required for nightlife connoisseurs, and flushing out the phonies.

With hits like STK, One, Kiss & Fly, Coco de Ville, and Tenjune in his portfolio, the CEO of The One Group dishes on the bar/restaurant prototype, banking big in difficult times, and a newfound affection for live music.

If Hanson can’t make it, who can? At 10 a.m. yesterday, management was informed of the closing of underground Meatpacking club Level V, part of Steve Hanson's B.R. Guest empire. It was one of four places closed. The others -- Fiamma, Ruby Foo's Uptown, and Blue Water Grill Uptown -- were restaurants dependent on broker bucks, which are becoming quite endangered lately. Level V, on the other hand, was the underground lounge/club beneath Vento, the corner restaurant in that v-shaped building at 9th Avenue and 14th Street.

I took a week off to regroup and begin the New Year. I was around town, visiting clubs and trying to get a grip on what will be, and on Thursday I attended an art opening at a former assistant’s gallery. I’ve had a hundred or so assistants over the years, and the one thing this diverse group has in common is that they hate being called assistants.

Dominick D'Alleva, owner of Home and the still-hot Sway, on trading in the Law for the industry, not getting a table at his own joint, and plotting power moves in this economy.

Martini Park and Marquee co-owner Chris Barish on underage promoting, the power of the water-sipping celeb, bringing club culture to suburbia, and growing up with the Governator.