Last year at this time, fashion week was buzzing over new nightspots like GoldBar and The Box, not to mention three Inns that were must-visits for the, ahem, in crowd—Beatrice, Waverly, and LW12. But as this year's invitations arrived, there was a distinct venue déjà vu—2007's places were hosting 2008's parties. Which led us to ask: Where are all the new bars? And more importantly, why aren't they opening during fashion week anymore?

We talked to some nightlife vets about our own theories—a sluggish economy, the city's nightlife reaching a saturation point—but no one would go on the record for a "negative" story. So consider instead the week's sole new opening: Mansion, a dance club taking over the old Crobar space. It's also a transplant from—horror of horrors—Miami.