The town is going goo ga ga over The Standard Hotel's Boom Boom Room and, of course, that not a drag at all queen, Lady Gaga. Word comes to me from multiple (usually reliable) sources that the upper tiers of The Standard will have club legends, Nur Khan and Paul Sevigny on board after a few T's are crossed. I think it's two different spaces, but hey, it's only one cab ride. I could call them both and get a denial...so I'll wait for their phone calls and find the truth in their protests—although it does really makes sense as all parties involved would benefit from the fit. Paul has been looking for a place to hang his hat since The Beatrice took a beating and Nur just loves to be on top of the world. Paul has had marvelous success with his Tuesdays and Thursdays at Avenue so it seems he and Nur are at the top of their game right now. The Standard's excellent location and sublime views combined with the smart looks and staffing seems ideal.

Last week, Down By The Hipster reported that Le Royale, the fun, music-driven joint on Leroy Street, was closing. DBTH later retracted the statement. I think Scott got it right the first time. A swarm of weekend phone calls from employees and people in the know annoyed my friends as we sipped pineapple juice at Fannie Chan's poolside Thompson LES weekly. This story is confusing with partners not speaking and a sale seemingly needing only a dot of an 'I' or cross of a 't' to be real. Terry Casey, an owner and the face of the place, is himself unclear as to what will happen and when.

Last night I was invited to a cocktail party and dinner to kick off the GFC conference in New York -- taking place today -- bringing together some of the most up-and-coming DJs and creatives around the world. The conference's purpose is to discuss the future of music and creative collaboration. One of the most interesting choices is Pedro Winter, a.k.a. Busy-P, as curator in addition to being a DJ, he's also ex-manager of Daft Punk and founder of Ed Banger Records. Pedro selected several of the conference panel members -- those he deems exceedingly relevant in each of their respective countries.

I attended the "Save the Beatrice" party at the brand spanking new Cooper Square Hotel. Paul Sevigny promised a free save the Bea T-shirt if I came. He has not kept his word. However, he does promise to keep his word to the New York City Buildings Department. A hearing today will clarify what the department will require the Beatrice Inn team to do in order to reopen. Paul promises he's "more than willing to fix anything that is required and to address any issues that they have." I asked him if the joint will open soon, and he replied, "Hell yeah."

Last night was the first time I've ventured out this week because the flu has kept me home alone. I was booked to DJ at the Wednesday night party at Above Allen, the cool, cool lounge in the new Thompson LES Hotel. The cool, cool lounge was actually very cool, especially since they haven't had their HVAC (heat) sorted out. I really like this place. The Wednesday party, which features resident DJ Neil Aline, is a smash. It's promoted by Janelle Lee and Sean Tao, who are both (coincidentally) a couple of hospitality designers that I've been courting on and off for my design business. Sean, a former David Rockwell staffer, brought a young and fabulous crowd, while the rest of the scene was very adult and very sexy. Julie Park manages the joint and is building it nicely. They wanted music not typically played in New York clubs, and that's certainly my style. I was amused by Guest of a Guest photographer J.T., who didn't know a Sly Stone from a James Brown. Indeed, he couldn't get one track right all night.

Syndicate PR’s founder Nathan Ellis on spearheading the popularity of the Fashion Week presentation format, earning Anna Wintour's approval and looking forward to the most imaginative designer each season.

What has been your most memorable Fashion Week moment so far?
One is the 2007 Petrescu project with Trovata, where we created characters inspired by the collection and then unleashed them on an unsuspecting Fashion Week. When WWD ran an article on the stunt mid-Fashion Week because Radar.com speculated it might be an Ali G prank, I knew we had created something that would really raise eyebrows. Page Six outed us the last day of Fashion Week, and we celebrated with a party hosted by, quite naturally, the faux Romanian socialites and Waris.

Breakin' up may be hard to do in the best of circumstances, but calling it quits before Valentine’s Day is in a league of discomfort all its own. Avoiding an awkward situation is key, but as matchmaker extraordinaire Amy Laurent points out -- “breaking up via email, text message or even over the phone shows cowardice and immaturity.” With that in mind, here’s a list of spots that make breaking up right before Valentine’s Day just a wee bit easier (or at least more survivable).

10. Rick’s Cabaret & Steakhouse (Garment District) - Soothe the blow by offering to buy your ex a lap dance.
9. Bagatelle (Meatpacking District) - So loud no one will notice your yelling match.
8. Go see He’s Just Not That Into You - Blame it on the eye-opening film.

Shang restaurant, of the Thompson LES, has a brand new "starving artists" prix fixe menu designed with the current economy in mind. The restaurant's most popular dishes are strung together for a $35 price tag. The deal is available Mondays and Tuesdays all night long, and on Wednesday through Saturday from 6 to 7:30pm. Some menu options include chef Susur Lee's 19-ingredient Singapore Slaw and braised beef cheek.

Above Allen, or AA, had its soft opening on Friday -- but since it’s a terrace where being outside is most important, don’t expect things to completely pop for a couple of months. The first thing that struck me was the couches with their Stephen Sprouse print. I did a triple-take and caught up to my friend Jim Walrod, the designer, and asked him about them. Med Abrous is putting this insanely downtown chic joint on the map. I know Med from the Mark Ronson days of Life, and after an hour of catching up, I asked him a few questions to clarify what’s going to happen here.

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.