Ever wondered what really goes on inside Casa Casuarina, a.k.a. the Versace mansion? Now, for $50, you, too, can get a piece of the alleged action as owner Peter Loftin opens his house up for the Magical Mystery Mansion Tour, where from August 18-September 30, strangers can stroll the manse in a 45 minute guided tour. What gives? Does Loftin need the money? We asked publicist Susan Brustman what the deal was and she told us "Revenues go back to Casa Casuarina, to help offset costs of maintaining the property and keeping it pristine and beautiful. They can make the profits from a month of tours on one or two paid events. We're just so happy they're opening to the public, offering something new, educational and breathtaking to tourists and locals on Miami Beach." In these tough times we can't think of anything better to do with fifty bucks than to tour someone else's house, can you?
Soffer Had Prince, But Jamie Foxx Had a $1500 Birthday Cake and Steve Urkell
Jamie Foxx had his cake and ate it too at his 40th birthday party in The Florida Room at the Delano Saturday night. Foxx's team placed a last minute order Friday, with edits running through late Saturday afternoon, for an over- the-top birthday cake from Fort Lauderdale boutique bakery, We Take the Cake. The four layer red velvet cake, Foxx's fave, replicated the movie poster of the party's theme, New Jack City, along with the New York skyline, Foxx's portrait and the logo of the party sponsor, Belvedere Vodka. The cake (see photo), which cost $1500, was served to a stellar list of guests, including Dwyane Wade, Fat Joe, Timbaland, Sean Paul, Busta Rhymes, Pharrell Williams and Jaleel White, aka Steve Urkell. Having Prince perform your birthday party=$2 million. Having Urkell as a guest? Priceless. Sorry, we couldn't resist.
A Near Miss: Timbaland vs. Storch
Rival producers Timbaland and Scott Storch had a near run in Monday night at BED's Motley Bird-sponsored Secret Society party.
Both were with their respective entourages, lounging on beds on separate sides of the club. They sipped on Motley Bird energy drinks and vodka for a good two hours before even noticing that the other was also there.
After a few final sips of his cocktail, Timbaland and crew finished up and headed out in a black Mercedes Benz. No exchanges were made. Whew. Close call.
It Wasn't Easy But Sharon Stone Made Many A Wish Come True
A stunning Sharon Stone charmed the starstruck crowd at the Make-a-Wish gala at the Hotel InterContinental last night--especially when she put on her best Hollywood face and called the monied crowd cheap after a struggle to collect high bids during a live auction. Despite the pulling teeth aspect, Stone, who gave a moving, Oscar-worthy speech about her experience with sick children in her work as an AmFar crusader, managed to pull out a massive tally--something like triple what was raised last year thanks to the sales of two Ferraris at $240,000 each, and Stone's own Rolls Royce, which went to lawyer and fundraiser Jim Ferraro for about $160,000. The InterContinental Make-A-Wish Ball net $1.5 million this year--- a huge jump from the $900,000 it raised last year. When she wasn't hitting up the crowd for cash, Stone mingled with friend and gala chairman Shareef Malnik and even posed for pix with pushier folk, including this blogger, who told the actress how stunning she looked and wished her luck with the tough crowd. "Oh, don't you worry," she laughed. When one man approached the actress saying he'd love to discuss the finer points of Basic Instinct, she smiled and said, "Um, let's not," as she moved on to work the crowd. Meanwhile, those with a more critical eye were more focused on Stone's skin tight unitard number. "The word is out that Sharon Stone has camel toe," said one ball-er, who hadn't yet seen the actress. Tough crowd, indeed.
Photo, right: Manny Hernandez
Nick Cannon All Fired Up
Nick Cannon hit the turntables as part of his MySpace music tour Friday night at Prive. He seems to have bounced back from his recently broken-off engagement with Victoria's Secret beauty Selita Ebanks quite quickly. Says our spy, "He arrived and departed hand-in-hand with the same mystery lady - a leggy beauty who looked a lot like Selita. She sat tableside as Nick spun for more than two hours, making eyes with him all night."
Forbes' #451 at Epicure Today
Seen around noon today: Mexican billionaire Emilio Azcárraga Jean ($2 billion according to Forbes), strolled out of a black Porsche with Mexico City plates and into Epicure to do a little shopping. Jean, CEO of Televisa, looked like he had had a rough night of partying—slumming in his shorts.
