FishbowlLA threw its Mediabistro-sponsored launch party tonight at Pearl in West Hollywood. The blog's Michael Sonnenschein posted his thanks at 10:40 p.m., apologizing for some "rough patches" and passing along this etiquette advice:

Meanwhile, the wait-staff of Pearl would like me to relay a message to the Los Angeles media community: For future reference, 'open bar' is not synonymous with 'no tipping.'

Sounds like it was a somewhat tense evening. Journos will get a chance to redeem themselves Tuesday night at a cocktail mixer at the Hotel Figueroa thrown by SPJ (Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta has been invited) and a Press Club event with Hugh Hewitt April 26 at the L.A. Athletic Club. The Slater affair also makes Friday's Press Club-USC-NYT seminar on sourcing of news stories particulary timely (same link.)