Rivers runs through W Boston

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A hornet's nest at Boston's Beehive
Since opening in 2007, the Beehive’s been buzzing. But behind the scenes, all’s not well at the trendy South End nightclub. Word is co-owner Darryl Settles (inset) is no longer welcome at the restaurant he helped create, and he and his partners aren’t even speaking. Settles, we’re told, is particularly at odds with operating partner Jack Bardy.

Located on Tremont Street in the heart of the South End, the Beehive is the brainchild of four founders: Settles, the former owner of Bob the Chef’s and creator of the Bean Town Jazz Festival; Bardy, who owns Pho Republique; Jennifer Epstein, daughter of Celts managing partner and Abbey Group chief executive Bob Epstein; and her husband, Bill Keravuori, also of the Abbey Group. The Beehive promises evenings of “bohemian decadence and eccentric fun,’’ and it mostly delivers. On weekend nights, the line snakes out the door.

But Settles has raised serious questions about the Beehive’s management under Bardy and the two sides have been in arbitration for over a year. Settles, we’re told, is seeking a shake-up at the top. Reached for comment yesterday, Settles declined to talk, but issued this statement: “I’m sorry that the relationship with my partners has deteriorated to the point that we cannot speak to each other, let alone work constructively together. I never thought in a million years I would be fighting to have my voice heard in the Beehive’s management. Now we are engaged in a yearlong court battle that has been emotionally painful for me and my family.’’

Bardy didn’t return a phone call yesterday, but he, Epstein, and Keravuori responded with a statement of their own: “This is a private business dispute of no public interest whatsoever. Darryl Settles has always played a minor role in this business as a passive ownership interest. The Beehive continues to be wildly successful under the vision and leadership of Jack Bardy, managing partner and operator, who enjoys the strong backing of the majority of the partners in the business.’’

Hmm. Asked for a reaction, Settles’s lawyer, William Nystrom, said the two sides are clearly far apart. “If they believe Mr. Settles, as a partner and one-third owner, is passive, you can understand why we need to be in arbitration.’’

BSO conductor's return delayed
So much for the maestro returning on Oct. 22. BSO music director James Levine will not be back for the much-anticipated first of two programs of Beethoven symphonies. Levine announced last month that he needed surgery for a herniated disk in his back, marking the third time in five years he’s had to miss performances due to injury. The BSO announced yesterday that the conductor’s caretakers now want him to delay his return until Oct. 28. The Oct. 22, 23, and 24 concerts (Beethoven Symphonies 1, 2, and 5) will be conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and the Oct. 27 and 29 concerts (Beethoven Symphonies 4 and 3) by BSO assistant conductor Julian Kuerti. Said BSO managing director Mark Volpe in a statement: “Jim’s full recovery is the first priority. We look forward to his return to the BSO podium and to the incredible focus, drive, and commitment we’ve all come to expect from his singular music making with the BSO.’’

Gaga about Gosling
The gals - and some of the guys - were all aswoon at actor Ryan Gosling’s gig Wednesday at the Middle East with his band Dead Man’s Bones. But more interesting than the movie star frontman was the choir, a collection of kids from around Boston who wore white hooded robes with skulls painted on their tiny faces. (Did we mention that Gosling’s group favors spooky tunes?) The Middle East show - the band’s first following a series of benefits at LA’s Bob Baker Marionette Theater with the Silverlake Conservatory Choir - drew a crowd of curiosity seekers. “I want to throw my panties at you,’’ shouted one male fan. Best known for his role in “The Notebook,’’ Gosling had little to say during the show, letting bandmate Zach Shields handle the stage patter. “You’ve been nice to us,’’ Shields told the audience afterward. “God bless you, Boston.’’ (Gosling, an Oscar nominee, and Shields met in 2005 when the actor was dating Rachel McAdams and Shields was dating her sister Kayleen.) The zombie vibe was not intended to be taken too seriously. At one point, the 28-year-old actor summoned one of the squirts in the skeleton choir to sing Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang, Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),’’ with Gosling and Shields playing backup. At evening’s end, the kid crew, which was assembled by Wellesley-based choral director David Coleman, was called up one by one to take a bow.

Punchdrunk execs wine and dine in celebration before show
The peeps from Punchdrunk, the British troupe coproducing “Sleep No More’’ at the American Repertory Theatre, dined at La Morra before the show’s debut. (Punchdrunk executive producer Colin Marsh and codirectors Felix Barrett and Maxine Doyle dined with ART artistic director Diane Paulus.) The after-party was held at Manderley Bar, the make-believe 1930s-style blues bar created by La Morra as part of the ART/Punchdrunk production . . . José Andrés, the celebrated Spanish chef and host of the PBS series “Made in Spain,’’ dropped into Craigie on Main the other night. Tony Maws tweeted: “Crazy Wed night! Intense and rockin’ and when you think you’ve seen it all in walks José Andrés et al. for a tasting!’’

Globe staffer Geoff Edgers contributed to this column. Read the Names blog at www.boston.com/namesblog. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.