Just heard a very realistic rumor that East Village hipster standby The Annex has been sold and will become, of all things, a sports bar. In honor of the decline of yet another club kid landmark, the infamous electro-nu-rave Ruff Club party will be throwing a final hurrah for the sweat den it made popular on September 11, bringing out some underground all-stars: the Misshapes, Spencer Product, and the Ruff Kids. Another fond farewell to a Friday night hotspot that many called home.

Women in music reigned last night in New York City. To begin with, Catherine Pierce, from the songstress-sister-duo The Pierces had an art opening at Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn. Catherine invited me to check out her latest paintings on display, so naturally I said yes to the lovely lady and friend. Nadia Koch, a huge music fan and partner in Home Sweet Home, tagged along with me for the evening. We arrived at Cameo -- which sits behind The Lovin’ Cup Café -- to a sea of Catherine’s friends and family, including her younger sister Louisa, plus Paige Wood, who also had artwork on display. Alison Pierce, Catherine’s better half from The Pierces was of course there as well to support. And oh! I can’t forget this bit -- the girls introduced to me to their mother! After our introduction, I knew why her daughters are so sweet.

SPOTTED: Jenny Humphrey/Little J/Dan's sister (Taylor Momsen) of Gossip Girl fame, kicking ass, taking names, and generally rocking out at The Annex last night. Momsen's band is called The Pretty Reckless; they're going on tour with The Veronicas in June. And according to former Huffington Post writer Rachel Sklar, they were pretty decent. Video after the jump.

Ah, the modern institution of the Indie Rock Music Festival. If there’s a better way for western youths to stay drunk for a week, I haven’t found it. And while drinking alcohol on its own may be a wonderful way to spend one’s time, it’s always better in the presence of live music. And unless you're Usain Bolt and can sprint across avenues and bridges in record time, there's no way you'll get to see even a fraction of the bands playing at this year's CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. So here are our picks for the top 10 shows to see at the fest. For a list of the top 10 liquors to get plastered on quickest, please consult your local bar wench.

In the booming, bustling world of urban nightlife, things are neither silent nor still, nor necessarily what they seem. Here, when most people have begun cashing in on their eight hours of rest, we hit the streets with our most beloved, insatiable crew of revelers—from deejays and drag queens to one very poised 92-year-old single gal—to experience the debauchery and decadence of the world after dark.

Back in the late nineties, when Brooklyn wasn't yet the new Manhattan, Spencer Product was throwing the kinds of parties in his heart-of-Williamsburg loft that today might be found in the outer limits of Bushwick. Filled with upstart creative types, demand forced him to move them across the bridge -- first to Luxx, where he started the "Berliniamsburg" night, which attracted acts like LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy and electroclashers Fischerspooner.

Jason Baron, owner of two of the Lower East Side’s finest music dens, has all the makings of a rising nightlife macher: great timing, the party bug, plus tons of famous music-making pals. Five years down the road, the Annex and Darkroom owner reveals what it takes to stay current in the ever-shifting LES.

Point of Origin: I’m from Detroit originally. I moved back here about six years ago from London where I went to university. After I finished, I assisted a fashion photographer, but found I didn’t like fashion, so I got into music. When I moved back to New York, I was still photographing bands, including all the Interpol shows. That was what helped me get a scene down here.