Scene in the Tropics

Lance and Lover Swoon at Skybar

The openly gay Lance--Bass, of course, and boyfriend Reichen Lemhukul, were seen at Skybar last night hangin' out and stuff. No word on whether Reichen's ex, CARE Resource's Chip Arndt, was part of the festivities.

Simon Cowell Blacklisted from CVS?

On Monday September 11th,  Simon Cowell was spotted in a CVS pharmacy on Miami Beach attempting to pay for some incidentals when his American Express Black card was declined, repeatedly. The frustrated Cowell, as well as the line up of shoppers building up behind him, began ranting and raving to the barely English-speaking sales girl before management intervened.  Cowell, embarrassed but determined to collect his drugstore needs, dashed out to his waiting driver and body guard, leaving his open wallet and cards in plain sight of all customers then returned with a wad of cash. So next time you find yourself backed up on an appalling, pathetic, awful line in CVS, as usually is the case, just blame Simon Cowell, ok?

Hipsters Don't Lie

Any minute now the mayor will be giving hip shaking Shakira the key to the city and declaring this Shakira Week in Miami. The Columbian pop star is in town for some shows at the American Airlines Arena, where she will surely demonstrate that humping walls is, in fact, an art. Shakira will be at Bongo's Cuban Cafe Friday night after her show for an Ocean Drive en Espanol party and then her concert cohort Wyclef Jean will perform at his own official afterparty at Tommy Pooch and Alan Roth's Saturday night Suite soiree, where you can expect a certain special guest to allegedly appear and possibly hump the walls.

Door Mafia Don to Star in Sopranos

In a case of art imitating life--or would that be vice versa?---former Miami club doorman turned NYC club partner and  A3 Nightlife TV personality Fabrizio Brienza, who has helmed the velvet ropes at Bed, crobar and NYC's Pink Elephant, is appearing on an episode of the Sopranos. Brienza is in New Jersey this week filming the show, which will air later in the season.

Buda Be Gone

There once was a bar at 841 Washington called the Buda Bar and Lounge. Their spelling, not ours. But despite the typo, the owners of the uber popular Buddha Bar in Paris--you know, the one that spawned a series of CDs that everyone--even our car wash--plays for hip cred--sent the mispelled South Beach bar a cease and desist letter, telling them they must change the name, not correct the spelling, or else. Seems that the owners of the hip Parisian Buddha Bar are and have been scouting the streets for a locale that's fit for a , well, Buddha. In the meantime, Buda Bar didn't quit. They just changed their name to Indra instead.

DJ Khaled Arrested

SOHH.com reported that DJ Khaled was arrested in Miami last night (September 7^th).  A spokeswoman for the Miami Dade County Police Department confirmed to SOHH.com that DJ Khaled, (born Khaled Khaled) was arrested for possession of marijuana on Washington Avenue last night. Khaled was released this morning on $1,000 bail, police said. Meanwhile, the Miami PD wouldn't confirm whether Khaled was arrested at Diddy's NFL Concert as rumored.

This Just In: Chris Paciello Gets out of Jail Not So Free Tomorrow

Coming from a very reliable source, we were just informed that former South Beach club kingpin Chris Paciello, in prison for the past seven years on all sorts of family business and whatnot, is being released from the klink tomorrow, Friday--just in time for Ingrid Casares's party at Social Miami. That's right. Chris Paciello will be a free man. Sort of. According to said source, Paciello won't exactly be free until  he testifies against someone in another trial. "He doesn't want to testify and has nothing to do with that trial," says our source, "But he has no choice. He was subpoenaed." Surely after he's out he'll be subpoenaed straight back to South Beach where he will undoubtedly be feted with several huge welcome back parties. What's going on here--all the old school has returned--Louis Canales, Gary James and soon, Paciello. It's, like, deja who? Developing.....

John Travolta Flying Solo at Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

John Travolta was holed up at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne over Labor Day weekend. According to guests, he was definitely in a social mood, kibbitzing with guests in the lobby bar, the spa, sauna and steam room and in the hotel's tony Italian restaurant, Cioppino. JT told a guest that he was in town taking flying lessons. Which makes us a bit nervous considering he owns a full blown Quantas jetliner that he keeps in his backyard at his home in Clearwater. Travolta was flying solo this time, with wife Kelly Preston and kids awol from the Key.

Idol Chatter

Simon Cowell's in town filming his UK show X-Factor, an American Idol-esque reality show looking for the next big singing sensation. He's here until the end of the week, we're told, and is bound to show up at some of our finest watering holes. Any Simon sightings will be  most appreciated, especially for those who felt neglected when Idol tryouts neglected to come to Miami.

Maxim-izing the Potential

Helmets off to the Royal Palm Resort. Not only are they bringing sexy back to South Beach with Rande Gerber's first-ever Maxim Lounge, but they’ve also selected Super Bowl weekend to debut the hotel’s revamp into a men’s sanctuary. Maxim’s famed Super Bowl party is rumored to be booked at Royal Palm along with a promise of celebrity friends, a la Carmen Electra and Eva Longoria, stopping by on any given day or for next year's Maxim "Hot 100" party. Sirius radio and iPod docking stations will be featured in all guest rooms, while celeb skin-care specialist Sonya Dakar, whose clientele includes Matt Damon and everyone’s favorite Laguna-Beach-star-turned-tabloid-whore, Kristin Cavallari, will operate the spa and showcase signature male treatments. Detox scrub anyone?  Book your rooms now because like all things associated with this sexier-than-thou mag their availability will probably only last a matter of minutes.