Nightranger

Paper Dolls

We’ve always felt that L.A. needed a sassy rag like Papermagazine, and last week we temporarily got our wish when the New York pub invaded town for a week of art, fashion, music and even fitness (aerobics classes, table-tennis tournaments) at a storefront at Melrose and La Brea. Local “tribes” ranging from humpers (a.k.a. porn stars) to crumpers were photographed by day for an upcoming Los Angeles–themed issue, while the city’s fiercest freaks came out for after-dark parties. Tuesday saw the debut of the chic but definitely not meek contact sport “fashion wrestling” (moderated by Paper’s marvelous Mr. Mickey and judged by writer pals Clint Catalyst and James St. James)and the groovy new goodie-mobile Hearts Challenger— a pink ice-cream truck hawking frozen treats to the scenester set. Five themed nights, including “hipster heaven” (featuring Dim Mak bands like the girl-powered screechers Lion Fever) and “arty party” (with Ann Magnuson crooning) followed. Anthony Kiedis, Blake Miller,Jesse Camp, designers Henry Duarte,Jeremy Scott and Cornell Collins, and artistesRobert Williams and Mister Cartoon are just a few of the personalities who got papered (or plastered) throughout the week . . . Thursday, U.K. designer Paul Smith celebrated the opening of his very big, very pink new store a few miles west, with flowin’ bubbly, chatty/spendy crowds (including Bai Ling,Steve Jones and Kelly Lynch) and fab gift bags. Is Melrose back? The Paper project and Smith’s soiree are the most exciting things to happen to this wasteland of trendiness since, well, Wasteland . . . Speaking of Big Apple glam, The Knitting Factory’s screening of All Dolled Up last week, featuring rare New York Dolls footage, attracted lots o’ Johnny Thunders wannabes, but the real gas was watching the guitarist onscreen — surprisingly wacky before he got totally strung out. For hardcore fans, this raw, unnarrated flick is a must-see. And happy birthday to Factory fella/The Flair/Adz ax man Bruce Duff, who celebrated that night. Now, there’s a Jet Boy who’ll never stop flyin’.

A ROQ and a Pard Place

The fifth-anniversary roundup for the alt-twang club night Sweethearts of the Rodeo, emceed by Bryson Jones at Molly Malone’s, filled the stage with some big country heads: The Groovy Rednecks, Michelle Shocked, Lucinda Williams and James Intveld (who told us he just directed a Western starring David Carradine). Seen honkying their tonks: Sweethearts/Sin City Marketing queen Shilah Morrow, Rodeo faves Jonny Kaplan and Mike Stinson, and photog/club promoter Piper Ferguson (who helped start Sweethearts before leaving to open the Brit-pop/indie-hop party Café Bleu and then Club Bang!) . . . Finally, we capped off a merry mess of a week on the second eve of KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas,hangin’ in the Gibson Amphitheater’s outdoor VIP area with director John Roeckerand pals Tim Armstrong, Davey Havokand Tiger Army’s Nick 13,and catching slammin’sets by The Bravery, The White Stripesand Depeche Mode.See our full report with photos (and our shots from the Paper parties) on laweekly.com’s Style Council blog, where yours truly and other hot gals about town “undress L.A. nightly.”