Scene in the Tropics

Post VMA Nonsense: The Swag Hags Edition

As the dust settles from Britney's asteroid crash, we are getting little tidbits of VMA gossip that didn't involve that particular disaster. It seems that The Star Lounge, a swag suite at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, was quite the hot spot. In fact, Jessica's dad, Joe Simpson, who got knocked out of the Rolling Stone poker tourney at the Hard Rock so fast, fled to the Star Lounge, where he drank his sorrows away with Patron Gran Platinum--and then took a full bottle home with him. Brody Jenner was at Star Lounge, too, picking out several Laura Geller makeup samples "allegedly for all of his ladies," says a spy, who adds, "but could it just  be to maintain his own good looks?" Paris Hilton was also there, hanging out with Vegas sideshow star Jeff Beacher, while her ex, Josh Henderson was busy shopping around for swag. Despite the rap wars, Ludacris and Nelly showed a softer side by shopping for Ginch Gonch undies and supporting cancer research in the Patron Photo Booth. And finally, which Star Lounge brand rep was caught having sex in the spa bathroom with the married lead singer of a major rock band?   

Photos: Red Eye Productions

Rock Bands Rock the VMAs

Besides the fact that Paris Hilton looked as if she were trying out for a bit part in an off Broadway revival of Grease, and besides the fact that the VMAs blew bigtime, making many points of saying how glad they were to be back in NYC and not Miami, something did rock at the brutal MTV production. According to a publicist, Miami’s own model-turned-entrepreneur-turned-star of MTV’s Style Villas, Lee Dahlberg, is now on every celeb’s radar (or at least wrists) with his new Rock Bands. Deemed the darling of the celebrity shopping event, his creation not only made Christian Slater, Ivanka Trump and the guys of Gnarls Barkley crazy, but also captured the attention of Jessica Simpson. The songstress/shopaholic, nabbed two rock bands and ordered one to be custom-made in a python band donning a black onyx stone and diamond. Father Joe even took his eyes off his daughter for a New York minute to sport a Rock Band. The Simpsons came in just minutes after Nick Lachey, who received a Rock Band Dahlberg specially crafted for the new bachelor with a stone meant to relieve stress. Dahlberg explained the band was made of rich calfskin – to which Nick asked in the style more of his ex “you mean you kill cats for this?” In other celebrity family shopping incidents, Dina Lohan picked up a Rock Band for absent daughter Lindsay, who was busy cavorting with beau and rumored soon to be fiance, Harry Morton in Hawaii, "but it won’t surprise us if she pockets it to match that MILF t-shirt of hers," says our tattle. Us, either. We recall Mama Lohan being very friendly to members of the male species while in Miami for last year's VMAs.

Photo ops

Even commissioners get excited by celebrities in their jurisdictions. Take Miami Beach commish Richard Steinberg, pictured here at the Catalina Hotel with the South Beach Group's media relations manager Samantha Kessler, the Catalina's Erin McClurg and Big Boi from Outkast, who received the key to the city.

Father-daughter bonding

Awww, Johnny Knoxville isn't always a Jackass. He was seen in the Ocean Drive luxe lounge making Key to My Heart keychains, the cute crystal encrusted kind that Lindsay bLohan has, with his daughter, Madison.

The evolution of a rumor

So Texans Kelly Clarkson and Luke Wilson were both staying at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne during the VMAs.

But not together.

Although if you saw them both there, you may have thought they were an item. But they're not.

But the were both at the Ritz.

We repeat, not together.

Green with envy?

Ask and you shall receive..or at least that was the case for two young boys in from Baltimore at who scored tickets from the red-hot rock group, Green Day. Noticing the band hanging out in the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne lobby during the height of Hurricane Katrina, the boys asked if the band could possibly get them tickets to the VMAs. While those coveted tickets were out of their hands, they were able to offer something even better—seats (with Dad of course) to their Friday night show at the Office Depot Center. Apparently they did the same for another young fan who approached them the hotel's restaurant, Cioppino, earlier in the evening. We’re sure those who didn’t ask are now green with envy…

Laguna Beach-ed

One of the dudes from reality show Laguna Beach was kicked out of Jessica Simpson's party at the Delano last night, not that we're surprised.

According to our source, it was Stephen, the guy all the girls fight over, and "They were very unacceptable, the whole group of them were there. And we think they're all underage, too."

Stephen was, according to the source, "Being an obnoxious drunk."

And we care about Laguna Beach, why?

A Dunst cap?

We thought Kirsten Dunst was dating hottie Jake Gylenhaal,  but she did seem like she was trying to flirt with Orlando Bloom up in the Raleigh penthouse, according to our brave spy who managed to get past the vigilant, watchful Ingrid Casares who was guarding the list like the Queen's jewels.

Anyway as our spies were leaving they heard Dunst mention to Orlando that she was going to her room and to call her.  Spy-man was in the elevator with Bloom and he says, "I think he was trying to rap to one of the girls I was with, but he was, overall, one of the nicest guys that I have had the opportunity to meet."

Nice guys who are allegedly dating Kate Bosworth do not call girls like Kirsten Dunst at 4 am.

Jessica? Not a chance.

One of my best, most reliable sources had a real convo with Nick Lachey at Yahoo Music party in the Setai Penthouse. A huge football fan (USC & Miami), Nick is currently working with ESPN college gameday where he will be interviewing many athletes from different universities throughout the country. 

It so happens that today he was going to visit the U Miami to interview talented kick return specialist Devin Hester for a piece for ESPN which will air during the Labor Day UM v FSU game.

Our spy asked if Jessica Simpson would be accompanying him, and Nick said, and we quote, "not a chance." 

Jessica said she was upset that Sports Club/LA trainer Mike Alexander wasn't able to come to Miami and do he's celebrity segment at the Hotel MTV due to Katrina.  She also admitted that she hasn't worked out since the ending of the Dukes movie shooting.

Now we can sleep easy.

Simpson party of 11

No, not the lame Delano party. On Saturday night Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey dined at China Grill, party of 11, please. They drank a bottle of McCallan 12 year--Jess drinks hers on the rocks, just like we hear her marriage is.