• Logout
  • Member Center

SCENE IN THE TROPICS

Highlight at Fontainebleau: Gwyneth Paltrow

lank@aol.com

Friday night's Fontainebleau reopening was a cocktail soaked, Manolo-heeled fun house of sorts, a wedding, bar mitzvah, polygamist's family reunion and circus all-in-one. Thousands milled around the labyrinthine mega resort marveling at its restoration, renovation and, mostly, at the random mix -- a celebrity Chex Mix, if you will -- of A, B, C and Z listers who were around every corner. Making the rounds, Martha Stewart, who posed for pix graciously but when it came to helping out with tips for the perfect Thanksgiving pie was mum, saying, ``I'm not working tonight.''

That not-so-subtle snub was remedied by a fabulous musical performance by actor Terrence Howard, who proved that not every actor has to play Ray Charles to get up and earn serious stage cred. Randomness prevailed at the blue-hued circular bar in the main lobby, where Breakfast Club turned Dead Zone actor Anthony Michael Hall waited 30 minutes for a glass of champagne, which he downed in less than two seconds.

The biggest buzz began with reported Gwyneth Paltrow sightings, which made sense since her Coldplay hubby Chris Martin was in town for a concert earlier in the week. We didn't buy it until we literally almost stepped on her in the lobby right before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gorgeous Gwyneth, rocking a sleek bob, short white dress and killer stilettos, seemed out of place in this bastion of hype and circumstance, but was ever elegant, smiling and making small talk with whomever came near. Overheard in the crowd, gasps when one reveler pointed out that Paltrow also rocked some cellulite. The discovery -- and the sighting -- was the party's equivalent of striking gold.

In yet another ballroom, crooner Robin Thicke hit the stage and wooed the crowd with a rousing rendition of the Al Green classic Let's Stay Together. Taking the song literally, everyone crammed the stage to catch headliner Mariah Carey, who put on a mini-concert of several hits with dancers and a backing band, which had some local publicists speechless for a change. Perhaps the most random celeb spotted in Mariah's audience: Deborah Harry of Blondie fame. The legend was seen several rows deep and when we bowed to her and asked if she wanted to move up to the stage, she indicated that she was fine where she was, sort of like Oprah in Grant Park the night of Obama's win.

In the Carey crowd, the VIP section of more scene stealers included Paris Hilton, Amaury Nolasco (who was among the most gregarious in the house) and Kate Hudson, whose mega entourage could have smacked down Diddy's.

After Carey sang her last high note, the frenzied crowd crunched into Blade, the resort's subterranean lounge, a gawker's dream come true. At one table, Alex Rodriguez and BFF Ingrid Casares; holding court at another, the meaty Mario Lopez; in a corner, a soigne yet sleepy Chloe Sevigny and entourage; and, at the bar, Russell Simmons, who, according to someone next to us, ``was trying to make out with every hot chick there.''

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

Comments (0)
  • Videos

  • Quick Job Search

Enter Keyword(s) Enter City Select a State Select a Category