Paper Dolls

We’ve always felt that L.A. needed a sassy rag like Paper magazine,
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 Roecker and pals Tim Armstrong, Davey Havok and Tiger Army’s
Nick 13,and catching slammin’sets by The Bravery, The
White Stripes and 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.”

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