Scene in the Tropics

Janet Jackson Recording New Album in Miami

Janet Jackson and a group of male and female friends--no sign of boyfriend Jermaine Dupri---slipped in the back door of Prive Saturday night for promoter Justin Levine's Empire Events party. Holding court in Prive's hip hop section, Ms. Jackson, clad in head to toe form fitting white pants, shirt and shoes showed off her svelte figure while sipping red wine and grooving to hits by Diddy, Jay-Z and a vintage Jackson 5 remix. Jackson is down here with record exec LA Reid for the next three months recording her new album at Circle House Studios. Boyfriend Dupri is also in on the production.

U2 Mystery Solved!

A major buzz was surrounding Casa Casuarina last Saturday night, when three people reported to Scene that they could swear that U2 was playing a wedding there. Apparently the band sounded exactly like Bono and co., but the real band was busy playing Cannes that night, as we discovered a few days later. So who was the amazing U2 soundalikes? UV, the U2 Tribute (www.u2tributeshow.com), who played the wedding of the band's biggest fans, Nick and Evelyn Molina, who sounded off on our blog, writing, Well, the truth has been spoken. We are local South Beach residents that decided that our wedding needed to be like no other. With Bono previously booked (lol), we went with the next "real thing" -- UV." According to Bono's alter ego, Gabriel, the South Florida based band, "We are die hard U2 fanatics ourselves and we always strive to pay proper and respectful tribute to the BEST BAND IN THE WORLD, U2. We had heard that some passerby were definitely believing that U2 was playing..after all, it's South Beach, Versace mansion...why not, right?" Right! And check out their website. The physical resemblance to the band--especially "Bono"--- is eerie!

Bubba-licious

Thursday night at Prime One Twelve, President Bill Clinton dining in the restaurant's private room with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Star Jones, and UM prez Donna Shalala in a party of 25.

You go, Glo!

A bomb scare on the George Washington Bridge in NYC Saturday morning couldn't stop Gloria Estefan from walking over the bridge to make it on time to her book signing in New Jersey. Traffic was at a complete stand still in both directions  so she left her limo on the bridge, jumped the guard railing and walked across where she was on her way to Bookends  in Ridgewood, NJ for a signing of her new children's book "Noelle's Treasure Tale." On the other end, she hailed a cab and made it to the signing where over 1000 fans applauded her arrival.

Ben 'n' Matt: BFF Again?

Reunited and it feels so good.......Best buds Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were spotted having a power lunch at Gloria Estefan's Larios on the Beach yesterday afternoon. Matt's accessor--er, wife, Luciana, was there with her daughter from the first marriage, but no signs, sadly, of Jennifer Garner. Spies tell us they overheard M 'n' B discussing movies, or as those in the biz call them, films. We wonder if the J-Lo classic Maid in Manhattan was among those discussed.

Happy New Year

While yours truly was busy in Sin City  (where Paris Hilton nearly renegged on her hosting duties at Venetian Hotel hot spot Tao because her 19-year old Greek beau du jour was allegedly in trouble with Vegas police for underage boozing, and where Nicky Hilton's party at Pure in Caesar's Palace usurped sister Paris's as the place to be, attracting a motley crew of stars including Stevie Wonder and his wife; and where an even odder pair--Rob Lowe and Kenny G. were spotted at The Hotel's fabby a go go Mix restaurant and lounge) spying on randomly running into Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston at 4 in the morning, a whored horde of celebs and wanna be's stormed our fair city. Here is the play by play:

At the Delano:

Jamie Foxx's arrival at the Delano was delayed when the private plane that was chartered to take him to Miami wouldn't star and Jamie then refused to board it. Another plane was chartered, but this time, a bird crashed into the window at take off, grounding that plane, too. Finally, another plane was chartered and whisked Jamie and his six friends to Opa Locka airport. According to a very reliable source, "There were strict instructions from the Delano brass to the airport driver, saying 'no stops at the drug store." And they didn't mean CVS, either.

Meanwhile, Lindsey Lohan, also checked into the Delano and, according to our spy, "Is more of a bitch than anyone could ever imagine. But you have to decide if her mother Dina is as much of a bitch." As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. After checking into 6 rooms,which were accomodating mom and friends, Lindsay then asked to switch two of her rooms for a pool bungalow, where her neighbors were Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg.

At the sneak preview party of Glass at the Forge:

Although it's not officially opening until this Wednesday, January 4, Glass had a pre party that hosted the likes of Mickey Rourke, who hung tight with fashion photog Sante D'Orazio. Also in the crowd, producer/director Michael Bay and Sopranos chick, Jamie Lynn Sigler (formerly Discala, the name belonging to ex hubby AJ, whose BFF happens to be Jessica Simpson's ex, Nick Lachey).

At the Shore Club:

Onlookers were gawking at the scene at the Pipino Salon, where Lohan, Sigler and Molly Simms were all getting coiffed simultaneously. The gaggle was all a'giggle at what a fun time they were having here in our fair city. Like Lohan, Simms brought her family down with her while Sigler sported her best friend. Tresser to the stars Pipino also did the 'do on OC star Mischa Barton, who was busy at the Hotel Victor fulfilling hostessing duties and fighting with her boyfriend, Whitestar musician Cisco Adler.

At the Hotel Victor:

So after that Cisco kid did his New Year's rockin' eve thing, performing at midnight for an audience of 800 people (650 of which had never heard of Whitestar until that night), he got into a big blowout with gal pal Barton. According to our spy there, the couple was "Dropping f-bombs, slamming doors and stomping. They then held themselves behind locked doors of their bungalow." Besides screaming, there was a noticeably fragrant smell of herb wafting from the bungalow for much of the night, which may have helped the couple to calm down a bit.

According to our very inside source, "Cisco was mad because Mischa wanted to hang out with us. He yelled at her and said, 'I can't believe you want to hang out with these people instead of me." Like a true starlet, she just screamed back at him, saying "These are my friends and I want to have fun." So there.

Also at the Victor was teen queen Amanda Bynes, who had to fight off horny Whitestar band members who were pawing all over her. Designer Travor Reins of Heatherette partied with his clique of club kid friends around the pool, and WB and MTV star Nick Zano called his new love, VH1 host Rachel Perry, at the stroke of Midnight to wish her a happy new year. Awww.

Moments later, Nicole Richie abandoned her hosting duties--which she fulfilled to many people's surprise with ex fiance DJ AM--and showed up at the Victor fuming over the fact that AM was "Being cold to her and flirting with other girls. She said "F this and went to the Victor to party" with fellow skeleton and new BFF, Barton. The duo hung out for a while and then piled into Nicole's car to head over to the Setai around 1:30.

At the Setai:

All the aforementioned, including Bruce Willis, who we hear is in hot pursuit of supermodel Petra Nemcova, and Leonardo DiCaprio. More on him in a few.

At Mansion and Prive:

Mother and daughter Lohan arrived at Prive at about 11:30pm on New Year's Eve. Linds was spotted hanging in the DJ booth while spin mistress Samantha Ronson did her thing. Linds then left the party for about an hour--from 3am-4am, so she could check out the scene at Mansion. Once there, she said 'hey' to on again, off again, on again beau Wilmer Valderrama, Amanda Bynes, Gabrielle Union and DJ Sky Nellor, who used to date Oscar winner Adrien Brody. Then Linds headed back to Prive, where DiCaprio, Fat Joe and Girls Gone Wild pig mogul Joe Francis were partying. Nicole Richie fled Mansion (see above) and joined Lindsay at her table. Leo held court in the VIP room until 6am "looking very happy to be single and loving the attention he was getting from all the ladies," says our spy.  He spent most of his time at Prive standing on a couch looking out on the crowd sporting a sideways baseball cap and chain smoking cigarettes. According to another onlooker, it sounds like Leo "could benefit from a little Weight Watchers these days." Back at the Manse, Wilmer was hanging in the DJ booth with AM and, at 5 am, was behind the turntables with a mic in hi shands singing the songs being played a la Jamie Foxx and Gold Digger. The only time Wilmer wasn't in the DJ booth was when The Bravery performed, we hear.

Meanwhile at the Mynt party at The Setai:

Mynt threw a huge party in the 10,000 square foot, 44th floor penthouse at the Setai where Vin Diesel, DiCaprio, Bay, and Willis hung out and gawked at the leggy models who were hired invited to make things pretty. The party at the Setai pool And because no party is the same without the requisite Tara Reid sighting, the deposed E! hostess showed up in the wee hours at Mynt--the club, not the penthouse party.

And on Sunday, they all rested. Yeah, right.

18 and over, Leo

Heheh. We just found out that Leo DiCaprio was CARDED at the Delano because he was dressed like  a total schlump (the way of the future, the way of the future, the way of the future) in flip flops and a baseball cap. "We had no clue who he was until  he showed us his ID and we saw his face beneath the hat," says our spy. And no, he wasn't  with Kirsten Dunst either....

Katie Holmes and the Fresh Prince

This just in from someone who was lucky enough to snag an invite to Katie Holmes's forty seventh 27th birthday party shindig, this time on Saturday night at Casa Larios.

"I was invited to her birthday party at Casa Larios after Jingle Ball and they were all over each other for more than two hours. They are definately in love. It was actually nice to see two people so in love. Other guests were Will Smith, Jada Pinkett, Jazzy Jeff, and Alfonso Ribiero--(ed. note: a Fresh Prince Reunion!). There was a live band, an all you can eat 5 course dinner and open bar.

Will Smith took care of the bill. It was pretty amazing. Unfortunately there are no pics because it was strictly forbidden for anyone to take pictures at the party where Katie blew out the candles of huge three dimentional pineapple cake. So there you have it."

Live from New York...

Beau Beasley, Miami's most razzly, dazzly reality star, had a fine time at the Saturday Night Live after party on, duh, Saturday night in NYC. In fact, SNL alum Dan Ackroyd thought Beau was fine too, we hear. Despite the fact that Dan's married to Donna Dixon, he is obviously confident enough in his masculinity and sexuality to recognize a hot man when he sees one. According to, well, never mind, Dan turned to Beau and said, "You're a beautiful man." From a Blues Brother to Big Brother. How sweet.

Watch out Britney

Alan Roth is getting back to his musical roots. The TAI Entertainment promoter, who used to work for now defunct video music channel The Box, as well as Tommy Boy Records, is currently working with partner Tommy Pooch on the marketing and PR side of  up and coming artist, Na'sha, 22, whose debut album My Story, features the production work of the likes of Paris Hilton's producer/companion Scott Storch. Na'Sha performed live at South Beach club Amika during the MTV Video Music Awards where the likes of Coldplay lead singer and Gwyneth Paltrow's hubby Chris Martin witnessed her talent. On Thursday, September 29, Touch Restaurant and Lounge hosts Na'Sha's release party, The Vox Lounge, from which the $20 suggested donation goes to the Red Cross. Roth is also representing Montana, a new artist who, according to Roth, "Is J-Lo meets Jessica Alba. And she can dance!" The two are currently in the studio working on tracks and will be shooting a video soon.