The Newjass Quartet is back at thirtyninehotel on Tuesdays. Join Justin James on drums, Ryan Kunimura on sax and the guest jazz cats they invite to play with them this week at the still newly-renovated downtown gallery/performance space. The tunes are always sweet. All the other cool kids will be there. You can grab a cocktail. And it all starts going down at the convenient post-Sanjaya-on-"Idol" hour of 9 p.m. It's $3 before 10 p.m., $5 thereafter; 21 and over only.

— Derek Paiva

BEAUTY

AU COURANT TECHNIQUE

International makeup artist Laura Mercier, whose self-named line of makeup, skin care, bath and body products is synonymous with The Flawless Face, has a new book out. "The New Beauty Secrets" (Atria Books, $35) is filled with spectacular photos featuring movie stars (Isabella Rosselini) and models (Kate Moss). In spite of the glam approach, the text is full of practical, how-to tips that are very "now." In the foreword, Mercier client Sarah Jessica Parker writes: "She understands the difference between makeup for a girl and makeup for a woman." Yes!

— Paula Rath

FINAL WORD

"Staying alive and alert."

Helen Thomas | Veteran journalist, when asked what she considers her greatest achievement, in Vanity Fair