GRAMMY WEEK FUN GUIDE--UPDATE

The week kicks of tonight with NARAS' MusiCares dinner, which this year honors Paul Simon as "Person Of The Year," at the Century Plaza Hotel. Performers include Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett and Gloria Estefan. Simon will also perform at the Grammy ceremony, it was announced on 2/19.

Thankfully, so will Lil' Bow Wow.

Tonight is Grammy eve, of course, and the big events are Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy soiree at the Beverly Hills Hotel, his first of the post-Arista era. The invitation promises that "dot comes…and dot goes," but "Thankfully, there are still some celebrated traditions that continue stronger than ever."

Also tonight, "Rock The Vote" takes over the House Of Blues to honor Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, Reverend Jesse Jackson and MTV's Judy McGrath. The star-studded lineup of performers there includes Foo Fighters, Jill Scott and Black Eyed Peas, with the heavily rumored possibility of a surprise appearance by Macy Gray. In addition, RCA Records is holding a listening party for the new Dave Matthews Band album at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Finally, URB Magazine, Advanced Alternative Media, the Dust Brothers and various kindred spirits will host a soiree at Dominick's, with music by Grammy nominee Richard "Humpty" Vission.

Which brings us to Grammy night. After pushing your way past the Eminem protesters outside the Staples Center, you'll hop in your limo, crack open an airline bottle of Ketel One and starting party-hopping. But where to begin?

Grammy night parties by the Big Five include:

•The BMG Entertainment party, hosted by that noted swinger Rolf Schmidt-Holtz and catered by Mr. Chow, takes place at 5410 Wilshire, the old May Co. department store. The invitation arrived with a green glass paperweight in a wooden box. That same night, the RCA Records Group is throwing a bash during the Grammys at Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills.

•Warner Music Group, with a very modest vellum invite, is throwing their party at the downtown Los Angeles Center Studios.

•The EMI Recorded Music party is sure to swing, as only an event planned by Nancy Berry can. Get your VIP credentials in order for this year's hoedown at the downtown Hotel Figueroa.

•The Sony Music party, which traditionally has been a gathering of guests personally invited by Chairman Thomas D. Mottola, this year takes place in the relatively small Ago restaurant on trendy Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood, where they threw their party after the Latin Grammys.

•The Universal Music Group shindig, usually the most lavish, will take place at the downtown Cicada restaurant on Olive Street, the old location of Rex Il Ristorante (where EMI used to hold its annual post-Grammy bash). Invites are being limited only to nominees, artist managers and top executives, which means losers like us are out in the cold.

•As for those really in the know, the post-Grammy places to be, among many private affairs, include three hot parties being thrown by The Firm, Jill Scott and Macy Gray.

Here are some options for those of you who, like us, couldn't get invited to any of the above:

• Peruse the Grammy website.

• Read Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Executive Director Joan M. Garry's letter to Sir Elton John.

• Learn about Grammy host Jon Stewart's day job.

• If you're a smart-aleck, try some Grammy handicapping.
  
  
• Learn about Bud Scoppa's Grammy-nominated liner notes for the Little Feat box set.

• Play this music trivia game.

• Relive the grandeur that was the 1997 Grammys.

• Rent music DVDs from Netflix.

• Explore the limits of youthful indifference.

In other Grammy news, the Recording Academy and GLAAD co-sponsored a town hall meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss "the nominations of controversial artists whose lyrics have been called extreme, homophobic and misogynistic," which largely means Eminem.

Also, the Academy has signed up some big corporate players to support its slate of educational and cultural programs in schools. Sponsors include Ford, Folgers, Dr. Pepper/7UP, IBM, Continental Airlines and Us Weekly magazine.