BUZZ CLUBS
A new brew on Melrose
The Village Idiot is looking pretty smart. Locals have taken like ducks to water to the pub and restaurant at the former Chianti on Melrose. It’s quite the neighborhood scene these days. Kirsten Dunst hung out there on Saturday night with a couple of cute actors from “Mean Girls,” and word is the Belgian ale-steamed mussels are the hot item. The Village Idiot is lighter and brighter than Chianti, which was very, very dark, and owners Dean Malouf and Charlie Conrad opened up the venue to reveal 18-foot ceilings. The duo met in London a dozen years ago and are looking forward to adopting another neighborhood in the future. . . . Paris Hilton has a new vice. The heiress was spotted at a private preview of Vice, the new ultralounge from Steve Goldberg and Steve Fowler at the former Star Shoes on Hollywood Boulevard. Vice opens to the public this weekend.
Emmy winner
Les Deux Café scored TV Guide’s Emmy after-party this year, and Tony Schubert of Event Eleven is planning to morph the spot into a French-style burlesque hall on Sept. 16. . . . Take a walk on the mild side with DJs Mick Cole and Mark Lewis, who are hosting the sunset soiree titled “Riviera Traxxx,” tonight at Moonshadows in Malibu. . . . Electronic music exports “Made in Brazil,” featuring DJs Mary Zander and Leozinho, return to Avalon on Saturday after selling out previous shows. . . . In more Avalon news, NASCAR lovers (aren’t we all?) will be crashing Avalon next Wednesday for California Speedway’s “Running Wide Open” party, featuring Jeff Gordon, DJ AM and a performance by Rhianna. . . . On Sept. 5, Seven Grand downtown is hosting a “Barn Burner,” featuring a live performance by Wiskey Biscuit and Jim Beam drink specials. . . . Danny Masterson’s Sunday-night jazz scene has made its way to LIFE, a Wilshire Boulevard restaurant and lounge.
Making waves
The Beach on Sunset was scheduled to make its official debut Wednesday night with performances by Jesse McCartney and DJ Steve Aoki. The new club at the former Carlos ‘n’ Charlie’s/Dublin’s, et al, is the second L.A. venue for owner Steve Marlton, a film producer who also owns Sugar in Hollywood and has operated nightclubs in Portland, Ore. . . . Zap Mama is hitting AfroFunke tonight at Zanzibar in Santa Monica. . . . Hideout co-owner Kevin Miller celebrates his birthday tomorrow at the Santa Monica bar by the beach. . . . DJ Splyce has been tearing up the town. Last week, he performed at Ritual, Opera and LAX, where he debuted the nightclub’s new Jetset Thursdays. . . . And last week’s performance by Common at Boulevard3 attracted Omar Epps, Brandy and MC Lyte.