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When we spoke to Paul Sevigny about his soon-to-open hipsteraunt (the second coming of onetime West Village speakeasy the Beatrice Inn), he at first told us "it's kind of top secret." (Doorman Angelo certainly wasn't letting us in on the secret when we tried to crash V magazine's party for Courtney Love there on Halloween night.) But after throwing down with the beautiful people at actor-jeweler Waris Ahluwalia's birthday bash last weekend, we can now let you in on the details of what looks to be the downtown set's answer to the revival of Waverly Inn.

The Owners: Paul Sevigny (Chloë's brother; member of A.R.E. Weapons); Andre (Love Graffiti artist, the mind behind Black Block in Tokyo and Paris, Paris in France); Matt Abramcyk (part-owner of Employees Only).

The Menu: Julia Jaksic, chef at Employees Only, serves up NYC throwbacks like steak, Reubens, and a burger on a Kaiser roll. Cocktails ($12): old favorites like the negroni, Moscow mule, and even an egg cream made with chocolate syrup, seltzer, and vanilla vodka.

The Space: A warrenlike layout with extremely low ceilings. Oil paintings, old chests and bureaus, and nautical mirrors give the three front rooms — a tiny den with a brick fireplace, a main room with a leather couch, and a white-tiled barroom — a captain's-quarters vibe. Steps ascend to a back room with a D.J. booth, wooden ceiling beams, banquettes, and mirrored walls.

The Plan: Sevigny says, "The whole idea behind the bar-restaurant is bringing things back to NYC, like American and New York things." Monday Scrabble sessions and Italian-food specials will cater to the old regulars. Saturday nights will be so-called jacket-and-tie affairs. When we were there, the D.J. spun everything from metal to Motown, and there was dancing and decadence aplenty.

The List: The management didn't want to discuss, but expect a healthy amount of exclusivity during late-night hours.

The Beatrice Inn, 285 W. 12th St., nr. W. 4th St.

— Daniel Maurer