Once upon a time I was a raver. I wore ridiculous cargo skirts and platform sneakers, and had my hair in tiny little braids laced with bright pink. (For the record, I did not suck on pacifiers!) I only left the house for deep house, minimal techno, and drum and bass. I went out solely to dance. My inner-raver-self takes a look at the Convention 101 Fest put on by Robtronik in Downtown L.A. this weekend and feels warm and fuzzy inside.

KCRW, everyone's favorite community public radio station with the best music and news shows is in the midst of its fundraising drive which runs till August 17. To employ a few cliches: the best things in life don't come free, and you get what you pay for. With that in mind, you don't get top-notch musical programming not heard anywhere else if you don't donate. Says Rachel Reynolds, the station's publicist: "Subscribers are the largest single source of income for KCRW and even though we know times are tough for a lot of people, we're asking our fans to donate whatever they can afford. The payoff is being a part of a station that supports new artists and offers high-quality live performances by some of the best bands on the planet (and members get the first chance at tickets for our events, like our night with Moby, which often sell out)."

These are getaways for lovers -- or lusters -- only, without the family, just-good-friends, kids, laptops (lap dancing and clothing optional) or other encumbrances. Either you want to see and be seen, or you don’t. Whether you’re after an in-room Jacuzzi, couples massages, meals, or just a fireplace and a view, read on.

Pan Deï Palais (Côte d'Azur) - A princess’ historic palace turned boutique hotel in the heart of St. Tropez. With only 12 guestrooms, the palace is exclusively reserved for hotel guests -- so unless the people you’re trying to avoid are staying there, you’re safe. Valmont treatment fit for a princess are available in guestrooms and spa.
Also rans: Château de la Chèvre d’Or, L’Hôtel Du Cap – Eden Roc, La Réserve Ramatuelle.

In the run up to Sunday's main event, the Gay Pride parade, I went to visit Miss Honey Dijon, the Chicago house DJ who is now a New Yorker. Miss Honey was playing at a party called Chocolate later in the evening, which was clear on the other side of town. I wasn't sure I would make it that long, so I met her at a Mexican restaurant in Echo Park, where she was sitting with six or so of her favorite gay boyfriends.

The man who makes up the other half of Tenjune, on the opening of the Chandelier Room at the W Hotel in Hoboken tonight, his icons, and why New York's Meatpacking District is still the center of clubdom.

What's the story with the opening event for the Chandelier Room?
It’s tonight, 7 till midnight. The full facility will be open for all to see, even though the W has been open and operational for about a month. There will be a full red carpet outside and several live performances. There's a piano bar in the lobby -- very Frank Sinatra. There will be a lounge singer and a woman singing on the piano, like in The Fabulous Baker Boys. DJ Cassidy will be spinning. The Chandelier Room will be open inside, including the ballroom and outside. The Living Room Bar will host our surprise performer.

As regional director of nightlife for Morgans Hotel Group in Miami, Josh Wagner oversees Skybar at the Shore Club, Sunset Lounge at Mondrian, and Florida Room at the Delano. Here, he talks to us about cachaça, Grace Jones shedding tears, and growing a beard.

What are your favorite places in Miami, outside of Morgans properties?
The pool at The Standard Hotel is the most relaxing place in Miami, period. There’s an incredible place called Silvia’s. It's this inland restaurant on the canal where nobody speaks any English, and you can pick your fish in an icebox right there, and they cook it up right on the spot for you. I love the bar at Smith & Wollensky. I like Abbey Brewing Co. because it's a tiny bar that just has beer and a dart board, and on any night off, there's nothing better than a pint and a game of darts.

Miami nightlife baron Antonio Misuraca on recession-proof nightlife, club doormen as neurosurgeons, and revering both Bill Clinton and the Pope.

What is your weekly schedule? I am one of the local promoters here in South Beach. And the nights I do are as follows: Monday night at Bed’s "Secret Society," which has been going for about seven years. It’s like an R&B and hip-hop party. Wednesday night at The Forge, which is like an international night and has been going for about 15 years; Thursday night at the Gansevoort roof deck, I do a party called "Plunge"; Friday night at Set, which is like a house music night. It has been going for about three years. My latest is "Vanity Night" at LIV in the Fontainebleau Hotel. We just launched that, and— to me— it’s a success.

Art imitates life. Life, in this case, being hot young things that work at The Standard hotel. Staffers from all over the country were flown into Los Angeles for a photo shoot at the Downtown Standard sister property. The theme for the "bookshelf" calendar is "high school," and within its pages you'll find a prom queen, a stoner, some risqué cheerleaders, nearly naked student council members, and of course, a nerd.

Five ways to ring in the New Year in Tinseltown.

1. Katy Perry performs at the Gridlock NYE party 2009 at Paramount Studios. $100-$200.
2. The Standard is hosting two "Gold 009" parties, one poolside and one in the Purple Lounge. There will be live music, dancing, DJs, and plenty of champagne. $25 for the poolside party, $40 for the Purple Lounge.
3. The Kress is hosting a party from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., with an open bar and three floors of dancing. $125.

Michael Smith, private beat architect for Katsuya, Ferragamo, SBE, and The Standard, on drunken David Hasselhoff, the ambience of teeth brushing, Mark McGrath’s desperation, and MILFs in the White House

How did you get your start in Los Angeles? I started off DJing back in 2000, where, unlike today, LA didn’t have more DJs than housepets. Most DJs want to rock clubs and be the hero. I never cared if people knew who I was. I was in love with downtempo music because I could work, sleep, chill, and basically live to it. I looked to do completely different types of events: cocktail parties, art spaces, boats in the South of France, you know ... and found a niche outside of the club that allowed me to take more chances and meet more people. Eight years later, I’m doing global music marketing projects for many of the world’s top brands (Diesel, Vanity Fair, Jaguar, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Cavelli, 20th Century Fox). Crazy!