Scene in the Tropics

Alex Rodriguez sells Miami Beach manse to a mystery Palm Beach celeb for $30M

TMZ reports that ARod has left the building--that is, his 9 bedroom, 11 bathroom Miami Beach manse, which he just sold for $30 million. Though the Yankee slugger took an $8 million pay cut in the price of the home, originally listed at $38 mil, he bought it in 2010 for $7.4 million, raking in a pretty impressive profit nonetheless. The buyer, TMZ says, is a Palm Beach celeb. Rush Limbaugh? Rod Stewart? G-d forbid Donald Trump?  No one knows--yet. Says our real estate mole, "It's a couple from Palm Beach." The home is not so far from Matt Damon's, which is currently on the market for the bargain basement price of $20 million. True high rollers, however, may want to consider the Versace mansion, which just dropped its asking price today from $100 million to $75 million.

Valtrex alert: Jersey Shore Season 2 flaring up for July debut

Jersey Shore

Poor South Beach, suffering from that not so fresh feeling after the inexplicably popular MTV virus known as Jersey Shore polluted our beloved beach town. And just when you thought we got rid of it, that virus is about to infect the airwaves when it relapses debuts on Thursday, July 29 at 10 p.m. on that channel that used to play music videos. We're itching from the trailer already. In a way, it's sort of like watching the JonBenet Ramsey story on Lifetime that show Toddlers and Tiaras in which innocent children are tarted up and pimped out for publicity. You can' t help but cringe, and you can't help but watch, either. At your own risk, of course.

Was Martina Navratilova's move to Florida for more than just the weather?

Miami based celebrity divorce attorney Raymond Rafool brought closure for Martina Navratilova's ex girlfriend Toni Layton, who filed a suit against the tennis legend for compensation and property shared during their 8-year relationship. After a year-long battle, the pair, who held an unofficial marriage ceremony in 2000 atop Mount Washington, New Hampshire, finally reached a confidential financial settlement over what was rumored to include: the former couple's businesses, trusts, assets, income, homes, cars, a boat, a jet ski and gifts such as jewelry, pets and even guns that Navratilova was allegedly withholding from Layton. "We are pleased that all of the disputes between the parties have been resolved. The terms of the settlement are confidential," says Rafool, who represented Linda Bollea in her divorce against Hulk Hogan and Christy Rice against former Miami Heat player Glenn. Reports are that the settlement was $3 million. Meanwhile, some speculate that Navratilova's decision to move the couple to the Sarasota area in Florida may have been a calculated move considering Florida doesn't recognize gay marriage. "There is the thought that the wealthy and celebrity gay and lesbian community may not want similar marriage and divorce legislation because it could grant their same sex partners more legal rights," Rafool added. Hmmm, interesting. They don't call Navratilova a player for nothing, you know.

Christina Aguilera was, indeed, herself in Miami Friday night

 
Not since Britney Spears went batty in the trophy room at SET has Miami been so excited about a seasoned pop star sighting at a local club (cool your jets Gaga fans.We remember Score. But we said seasoned). But that's how it went down Friday night when Christina Aguilera was seen partying with a bunch of girls including reality show something or other Kim Kardashian, in town for the bachelorette party of their friend/stylist Simone Harouche. Perhaps it was the two together that was such a big deal, or perhaps it was because Kardashian and Aguilera have been seen together quite a bit lately. But what really had eyebrows raised wasn't the fact that Aguilera requested an off duty Cedric Gervais to spin an exclusive set of her hits at LIV Friday night, or the fact that two of her dancers broke out into routines that must have been reserved for her recently canceled concert tour, but, rather, the whole regurgitated trend of famous women pretending to professing their love of other women in a desperate attempt for publicity. Apparently on the heels of her canceled show, X-Tina admitted to being attracted to women in the July issue of Company magazine. True or not, it's hardly shocking and hardly news, considering we witnessed the pop star and another reality specimen, Paris Hilton, thisclose to sucking face many moons ago in the Raleigh penthouse for an MTV VMAs after party. Aguilera, meantime, is a wife and a mom, not that there's anything wrong with that. Maybe she should have just clarified that she has a thing for reality show women?

Bradley Cooper brings a little A-list, A-Team, A-game to Miami

 
Look, guys,it's 300 degrees out and no sweat rings!

Seen last night all cool, calm and collected: Bradley Cooper, star of The A-Team movie, in town guest hosting WWE's Monday Night Raw live on the USA Network with co-stars Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Sharlto Copley. No word on whether Cooper came with girlfriend Renee Zellweger, though some reports say the couple are either about to split or have already done so. Cooper may be back in October when The Hangover II possibly starts filming in Miami, a story we broke back in April, and one which director Todd Phillips has not denied.

Halle lujah: Halle Berry has a humorous time on South Beach

 

Despite the 350 arrests-- mostly on misdemeanor drug charges, the most arresting site on South Beach during Urban Beach Weekend, at least for Halle Berry, was the site of this Speedo-sporting fan, who approached the actress as she was sunbathing with two guy friends over the weekend. The newly single Berry, according to our sources, seemed to be vacationing in Miami without her two-year-old daughter and with guys who'd be more interested in her with fabulous turquoise bikini on than off, if you know what we mean. Good times.

Photo/Mavrixonline.com