Posted Feb. 6, 2008,

Fabian Basabe Hits up the Parties, the After-Parties and the After-After-After-Parties

By Fabian Basabe

I was asked to film an interview for a new project, but being busy reporting the massacre that is Fashion Week for PAPERMAG -- by far my favorite assignment -- I had to squeeze the interview in between shows, and in order to make it easy for everyone, I arranged to do it backstage at the Tents in the W Suite. Just when I start getting comfortable and ready, a group of madmen and madwomen storm in and take possession of the suite because -- ready? -- Tyra Banks needed to change her pants. Why would she need to change, and why does her entourage walk around with spare pants for her? I don’t know and all these thoughts were twirling in my mind as I watched, in horror, feeling so alone in the world. Meanwhile, everyone is looking at me to see if I was going to throw a fit because I now have a production crew and no place to shoot. “Excuse me please, the suite is great but I think I'm gonna go,” I said, you know, maintaining my cool. I called a friend who owns a nightclub across the street, told him what happened and, in complete disbelief, he opened the doors for me. So, although a little shaken, we were back in business and they managed to take my interview.

Later that day, I went to Chris Benz show at the Lotus Club. Chris is the best -- his work is very cool but always with an old school vibe, and he always presents in classy spaces like that.

Eight Items or Less: Upstairs Is Not the Same as Kiosk, Debbie Harry Channels Shania and Jenna Fischer is Hott

By Gary Pini & Alexis Swerdloff

1. The downtown club where Puff Daddy allegedly punched somebody over the weekend is called Upstairs, not Kiosk (as the NY Post would like you to believe ). It's the place we mentioned before that used to be our old office, above Café Bari on Spring and Broadway. There is a store called Kiosk in the same building, but it is not connected to the club. So there.

2. Debbie Harry has a new album called Necessary Evil and USA Today says "she sounds like Shania Twain fronting New Order," but the varying song quality suggests that "Margaret Mead had the right idea when she said, 'One must never label a necessary evil as good'."

3. Despite rumors to the contrary, you can still get a room in Miami during Art Basel. A look at www.quikbook.com this afternoon revealed rooms ranging from $69 per night to stay at El Palacio Sports Hotel in Miami Shores to $1,430 per night at the Tides on Ocean Drive. Renting a car and staying in Ft. Lauderdale might be the best idea, that is if you can still drive after eight hours of free cocktails.

4. Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty have reportedly recorded a “ska type” song together. We guess train wrecks attract train wrecks…

5. According to a www.maximonline.com survey, Office star Jenna Fischer (who recently split from her husband) is the Hottest Hollywood Single. She beat out the likes of traditional hotties Jessica Simpson and Carmen Electra. Cardigans are hot again!!

Posted Sep. 27, 2007,

Upstairs = Old PAPER Offices

By Gary Pini

Though we haven't been there, we just realized that the bar Upstairs is in PAPER's old office! The summer's supposedly "hot celebrity hangout" is located above Cafe Bari at 529 Broadway at Spring Street in SoHo. We have many fond memories of that space and hope all the celebrities still feel our presence. If you're interested in starting a trendy club, we suggest looking a little further downtown to 365 Broadway where we moved after 529.