Wed. Feb. 6

Truth be told, it has seemed a little odd that with all her gallivanting about, Paris Hilton hasn't hosted a party at a Boston club. (Of late, anyway. Maybe she did and we missed it.) But that all changes when Hilton - the heiress who's famous for being famous - makes the scene at Joe and Ed Kane's club, the Estate, for the Boylston Alley club's First Anniversary Bash. (Actually, it was called Mansion for a while.) Now, what's Paris promoting - well, besides herself (Paris being Paris)? She's got a romantic comedy movie coming Feb. 21 called "The Hottie and the Nottie." This is her first role, we think, since the "House of Wax," remake where she was killed by the "bad" people, not exactly engendering a lot of sympathy - at least on our couch. That was the first bad movie of note she did after that infamous sex tape - the 21st century version of "the shot heard 'round the world." What will she do at the 700-capacity Estate? Well, the club opens at 9 and she's expected - expected - about 11 and then she will ... be Paris, I guess. We certainly want to get close enough to determine for ourselves whether her dumb act is an act or just real life. Judging from her appearances on Letterman ... Now, what about her drinking? She did spend all that horrible hard time in jail after a DUI, and her (one-time?) chum Nicole Richie has turend the corner. And this weird "joy" we've all been taking in "celebrity" partying/destruction may be taking a turn - after Amy Winehouse's breakdown, Britney Spears' long downward spiral, and particularly, Heath Ledger's death. But who am I kidding? This is America. When 9/11 happened, some pundits (not this one) predicted a return to seriousness of purpose, including news. I thought there'd be an unofficial moratorium to junk culture, but it would creep in soon enough. and it did. We're a celebrity mad mileu driven by websites and "Extra!" and "OK!" and we've suspended disbelief - just like in the movies - about what constitutes celebrity and what's really important in our lives. In today's world, Paris makes the grade and if she wants to get wacky in public, we'll watch. How many cellphone cameras do you think there will be at the Estate? How about the "legit" press? How much do you think Paris is being paid for this appearance? You will pay $20 for the privilege of being there. DJ Chachi will spin - and you should know this Chachi is not connected to WBCN's Cha-Chi, he is a Chachi unto himself and we know not from where he comes.

One Boylston Place, www.theEstateBoston.com or www.going.com/parisinboston.