Larry Poston officially opened the West Village resto Hotel Griffou with business partner Johnny Swet on July 1. Poston made his name in New York restaurant circles as a manager at Pastis and the Waverly Inn, and Swet gained his hospitality know-how at Balthazar and Freemans. Most recently occupying the 9th Street space was notorious speakeasy Marylou’s, but the name of the new joint is after the original, French 1870s occupants. The modern dining rooms are themed as a salon, library, and artist's studio with a French-inspired classic cuisine menu. Poston gives us an inside look at the new spot.

As a self-respecting woman -- or, for that matter, a New Yorker (one who, naturally, is trying to stand her fiscal ground in these tough economic times) -- I’m the first to say that eating disorders are unattractive on a physical, medical, and emotional level. However: this is The Big City, sweetie, and sometimes a girl’s got to stop, look around at all the gorgeous people surrounding her, and put down the pomme-frites, possibly followed by a pull-the-trigger trip to the commode. That being said, everyone loves going out to dinner here, and does it often. It’s an unavoidable part of our culture, and a way for us to leave behind the nightmares of work and stress in place of good conversation, good friends, and a stomach/liver satisfied with food/tasty libations (the ones we keep down). So here's a time-tested list of ten places where I’ve had a thrill without eating anything, where Shaq-sized Amazon beauties are found sipping glasses of champagne or drowning their hunger with empty vodka calories.

Matt Levine, the brains behind The Eldridge, on getting thank-you notes, why other clubs shouldn’t focus so much on their custie’s wallets, and the reason nightlife experts pick his joint when they go out.

Where do you go out? La Esquina, great atmosphere, great food, and great concept. Norwood, love the privacy, the different themes, the lobby bar, the restaurant, the lounge, and the quality of service service. Rose Bar, great vibe, great cocktails, and great design.

How would you describe yourself?I don’t really limit myself in terms of an occupation. I’ve done a lot of things in a very short amount of time, and that kind of energy allows me to constantly be looking for new projects while updating current involvements. I am motivated by goals, rather than monetary achievements, and I measure success in accomplishing my goals and bringing my concepts and ideas to life. The Eldridge has allowed me to create an environment and atmosphere that is really a description of myself. It is intimate while boasting a tremendous social scene, great music, great cocktails, great people, and a place to indulge your nightlife senses.

I started writing my humble blog over at JoonBug working with my friends Shane Neman and Ariana Gordon. I intended to write a paragraph or two a couple times a week, and well, it didn’t work out that way. A couple months ago, JoonBug was sold to another friend, Jon Gabel. I moved my blog over here to BlackBook with the intent of reaching a new and larger audience. The nightclub industry is not just owners, staff, and promoters -- there are so many things going on behind the scenes, so many people feeding at the trough. One of the things companies like JoonBug and Jon Gabel do is rent out virtually every club in New York for New Year's Eve and use the hundreds of thousands of names on their email lists to sell tickets. This works, as the clubs are very happy farming this action out so they can concentrate on Christmas business.

Fashion Week, as you may already know, is that special time of fall in New York when good friends gather to swap tales of summer fun in faraway places, amuse ourselves with skinny immigrant girls playing dress-up, drink our way through open bars, fight blonde Penn grads with powerful clipboards, and nonchalantly mention how lame the Marc Jacobs after-party was the next day. Great fun, say you? Of course. But lately, there’s been some grumbling from the normally exuberant party peoples who make the fashion magic happen. Stories of jaded fashion scenesters glumly sipping Vodka-of-the-Week & Sodas at drab lounges, whispers of widespread discontent at the tents -- a general sourness has befallen the festivities.

So tonight at 6 p.m., hie thee to Norwood to witness heiress-model Lydia Hearst in "Fame Fatale," a short film directed by designer/auteur Tara Subkoff for clothier Bebe ... and it was co-written by Princess Leia, er, Carrie Fisher. Plus there's a voiceover by actress (?) Jana Adams. That's all we got, other than a suspicion that miniblinds are involved. Atmospherically speaking.

Interior designer and star of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Dress My Nest Thom Filicia has benevolently aimed his queer eye at the W San Diego as part of his design partnership with W Hotels. This October, he'll unveil the redesigned street-level lounge Living Room, the sun-kissed pool Wet, and the poolside Veranda Bar. They were designed to reflect San Diego's “comfort couture” with bold prints, organic materials and intimate interior cabanas lined with wood louver paneling. But what about the man behind the leopard-print curtains (as if)? What kind of car does he drive? Where does he like to relax? Where does he cap his nights? Answers after the jump.

While some former Top Chef contestants have opened quickie burger joints in DC, and others have migrated to Montauk, Season 2 alum Josie Smith-Malave is staying right here in New York. Sure to dull the lingering pain of early elimination, Smith-Malave has been named executive chef at the private club Norwood. The sometime DJ, sometime MC, sometime T-shirt designer has yet to announce anything on her official site, other than that she "spices up things wherever she goes."

Supper Club's jetsetting Brit Tamsin Lonsdale makes introductions, keeps secrets, and detoxes poolside at Soho House after a rough weekend in Ibiza.

Point of Origin: I went to University in Edinburgh and every birthday party, I’d organize a celebration in our house, a mansion, a house by the water. So that’s where I got my taste for hosting events and getting all my friends together for music and dancing. In 2004 I was a fashion stylist in London doing styling for rock bands, new talent for Creation, the record company, and that was fun. I’d style a lot of the music videos but it wasn’t fulfilling work and it wasn’t like working for myself. I started hosting these dinners and they were really successful.

Back in February, our Editor-in-Chief chronicled the weekend he ate and drank through his wallet. One of the stops on his bacchanalian odyssey was the almost-too-close-to-Meatpacking private club Norwood. Well, get ready for round two! The secret garden is now open (9 a.m.–11:30 p.m. on weekdays; 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m. on Saturdays; 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. on Sundays). Reservations aren't needed (or accepted), but lighting up outside is allowed.