BUZZ CLUBS

Going back to Pop School

There’s a little bit of everything at the Boulevard Lounge, the new spot at the corner of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica. It’s owned by longtime pals Michael Bourseau and Christopher Lawrence. Bourseau is the Boulevard’s chef (who went from Paris to Italy to San Francisco to L.A.), and Lawrence recently hung up his set design cloak to reenter the bar biz. Among the fun at the airy, New England-style bar is the Sunday Pop School, which is hosted each week by former Goo Goo Dolls sideman Dave Schulz. The keyboard player gets pals crooning to four decades of pop. On Saturday afternoons, the Boulevard turns into the Brady Brunch, with classic TV shows, Fonzie’s French Toast and Popeye’s Spinach. The lounge attracts a mixed crowd and offers a bar with a global twist (think wines from New Zealand and sugar cane spirits from Brazil).

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Kick off your shoes

There’s a new twist on dance making its debut Saturday -- a night called Conversation, at Santa Monica’s Dance Home (522 Santa Monica Blvd.). What’s different? No booze, no smokes and no shoes. . . . Veteran nightclub promoter Ricky Vodka celebrates his 40th birthday at the Three Clubs in Hollywood on Sept. 29. . . . Last Wednesday at Seven Grand, scotch lovers got a lesson in its finer points from Simon Brooking, an expert from Edinburgh who traces his roots to the 13th century Celtic earls of Atholl. The event took place in the downtown bar’s Jackalope Room, and guests supped on Dalmore and Laphroaig single malts. . . . In more downtown news, don’t miss tonight’s debut of Hybrid, a weekly mash-up of rock and DJ culture at Grand Avenue’s new Crash Mansion. Expected to crash are Dave Navarro, DJ Skribble and JES.

-- Heidi Siegmund Cuda