Scene in the Tropics

Brooke Hogan Moves to Miami--Again

Hogan Knows Best will be airing its 5^th season on VH1 starting this month. Blame the writer's strike, but this season the show will focus on Brooke Hogan, Hulk's daughter. Brooke will be moving into a penthouse at the Mosaic on Miami Beach. Rico James, an agent with SBI Realty, which sold the Hogan family their North Bay Road home in 2006, negotiated the deal. The VH1 producers loved the penthouse unit at Mosaic and thought it would be a perfect fit for Brooke, who likes to hang out with 15-year-old local teen, Amber Ridinger. The show will follow the young Hogan around Miami as she goes out on her own and finds her way without her family. Oh boy.

A-Rod Shaquing Up on Star Island?

According to the Daily Business Review, Shaq may have sold his Star Island manse to soon to be former Yankee Alex Rodriguez for a whopping $25+ million. No word on whether or not the Miami Heat giant will move into a South Beach highrise solo or with his possibly on-again wife Shaunie.

Hey, Jude! Julian Lennon Moving to South Beach

The Bee Gees have been our  neighbors forever, but moving into the 'hood very soon is a Beatle--or at least the son of a Beatle, John Lennon's, specifically. That's right, Julian Lennon just bought a private residence at The Ritz Carlton Club and Residences on South Beach. Lennon, we're told, is working on a sixth album release and plans to split his time between South Beach and Europe. His South Beach pad is swank: an 1800 square foot, two bedroom, three bath with an ocean view. Welcome to the 'hood, Jude!

Amy Winehouse Moving to Miami?

Digital Spy is reporting that Amy Winehouse is planning to buy a vacation home in Miami, where she married hubby Blake Fielder-Civil in May. It seems that Miami is where Fielder-Civil first fell in love with the singer commonly known as Wino and a source tells Brit-tabloid The Sun: "They love Miami, it has this draw for them. Amy is romantic--it is a special place for her because that is where they got married. It is ideal. They have the sunshine, the beach, and a brilliant nightlife too." And the humidity is great for big, beehive hair, too. LA gets Posh and Becks and Miami gets Slosh and Dregs. Come on down!

Can I Borrow Some Sugar, Tiesto?

World-renowned Dutch DJ, DJ Tiesto, will be living at AQUA on Allison Island when he's in Miami.  The DJ has bought one of the multi-million-dollar Duany Plater-Zyberk houses. Miami-based interior designer Simona Ciancetta of CREAUSA has designed the house, which will be "move -in ready" in a couple of weeks.

Big Famous Family Scouting Star Island

Another mysterious, "famous family" from Hollywood is said to be scouting homes on Star Island--one home in particular, and it's not Shaq's. The realtor says "money's no object." Of course, speculation surrounds the Cruise family, who has threatened teased us--and Gothamites--with their impending, alleged move. Who knows. With a potential windfall of $450 million plus and just minutes away from The Bahamas, it may not be Tom and Katie at all, but, rather, Larry Birkhead, Virgie Arthur and Dannielynn. Stay tuned.

Come on a my house....

Wanna be George Clooney's neighbor, borrow some, er, sugar from him and watch as he and his pals slap eachother's butts and play football? Then consider reserving a private villa at the swankier than thou Villa D'Este on Lake Como, in Italy, where George owns his own villa. If you ask us, though, we'll take Luciano Parolari instead. Parolari, the very photogenic executive chef of the  Villa d'Este resort on Lake Como made such an impact as guest chef at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables a few weeks ago with his heavenly risotto, among other things,  but, to the disappointment of many a fan,  won't be moving to Miami anytime soon. However, members of Miami's chic elite and jet set who are clamoring to become Clooney's neighbor and Parolari's best friend can take a number and reserve one of the swankier than thou hotel's two private villas, Villa Malakoff and Villa Cema, both which include invitations to dinner at Clooney's house. Just kidding. We hear Clooney hangs tight at the Villa's bar anyway. J-Lo's been there, too, but the place is more apros pos for publicity shy celebs who relish their privacy or want to get hitched in a secret wedding ceremony, hello Angie and Brad!  For more info on reserving a private villa and becoming everyone's new best friend, email privatevillas@villadeste.it.

Miami goes to the Emmys

Because no building is a good building without a celebrity resident, the dudes from Canyon Ranch's latest Miami digs went out to the Emmy Awards to court the Desperate Housewives, who are not at all desperate for houses.

Developer Eric Sheppard and Canyon Ranch’s David Duval joined LA Confididential publisher, former full time Miamian and media whorable Jason Binn for a star-studded evening celebration at The Key Club on the famed Sunset Strip.

Celebrity guests included Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Kathy and Rick Hilton, and Daisy Fuentes, all of whom went home with Canyon Ranch gift bags.

Canyon Ranch Living – Miami Beach is a joint venture by Canyon Ranch and Miami Beach-based WSG Development Company and will be the nation’s first residential community dedicated to healthy living. Available condominium residences are priced from $1.3 million and the property is scheduled for a winter 2006 completion.

Can't wait for that party.

Island in the Stream of Consciousness

We heard The Island sucked, but director Michael Bay's laughing all the way to the $7 million condo he bought in downtown Miami.

Bay will enjoy the good life in his two-level penthouse at Element, the latest building that has yet to go up down there. We hear it's draped in floor-to-ceiling glass walls and offeres 5,000 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and four baths, and a third level rooftop pool. Not too shabby, huh?

New York-based Brack Capital Real Estate is developing Element in Miami, as well as a sister tower in Manhattan¹s Upper West Side later this year. Residences at Element Miami are expected to begin selling early fall with price tags starting at almost $2 million for homes of 2,300 to 5,000 square feet. Construction on Element Miami begins this fall but it hasn't stopped a "huge" director and famous basketball player from an outta town team from buying a place there.