MTV VMA's: The Parties

(Miami) I arrived in Miami early in the week to catch some of the pre-event festivities for the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA’s) and instead got a front row seat for Tropical Storm Katrina. I was on the verge of panic thinking everything was going to be canceled when Katrina retreated back to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico with her eye dead-set on the Big Easy. Some events did end up getting cancelled due to the weather. In the best parties which never happened category, U2’s Bono had planned an exclusive party at the Pawn Shop on Saturday night which was postponed and then, by Thursday afternoon, called off. The folks at legendary New York punk club CBGB had also planned an event there on Saturday night which was similarly cancelled. Entourage star Jeremy Piven was scheduled to host a karaoke party Friday night at Sushi Samba in the heart of South Beach, but he wasn't able to get a flight to Miami so the party went on without him.

Thanks to our Bureau Chief, Clif Loftin, not only did I score an All Access VIP Pass to the awards -- I also scored invitations to some of the most exclusive parties in South Beach. My first stop Saturday afternoon was the ultra-chic barbecue for Madonna’s record label Maverick, hosted by company President Guy Oseary at the Raleigh Hotel. Coldplay’s Chris Martin was in attendance, sans Gwenyth and Apple. There was a lot of interesting gossip being thrown around at this event, particularly about the very private party that Mariah Carey had thrown in her penthouse at the hotel the night before.

Next stop, Kayne West’s party at the private Red Room of The Shore Club, apparently I left this party just in time to miss the bizarre shooting of record executive/ex-Con, Suge Knight. I skipped Diddy’s (aka Puff Daddy, P. Diddy or Sean Combs) dinner party at Setai so I could go directly to the intimate dinner party Quincy Jones was throwing for 100 VIP’s – me included. This elegant dinner party was held in a giant tent on the future site of the swank W South Beach Hotel. Quincy held court in a candlelit corner of the room, where he sat and chatted with many guests, including stylist Oribe, Jamie Presley, Michael Chow of Mr. Chow’s and Alicia Keys. I also popped by the Verizon Wireless Sponsored invite-only concert by the Black Eyed Peas where I ran into Jay-Z and Gwen Stefani. Other notable events were Pamela Anderson’s party hosted by OK! Magazine at Prive, and the Ocean Drive Party at The Loews hosted by Jamie Foxx – in attendance Foxx’s Miami Vice co-star Colin Farrell, others included Ludacris, Shaq and Christina Milian.

Of course I have to mention some of the luxury Swag Suites filled with “freebies” for the celebrities to devour. I ran into a shockingly skinny Hilary Duff and Good Charlotte boyfriend, John Madden, at The Sanctuary for the BWR & Best Events Premiere Gifting Suite which was organized by our good friend, LA-based event planner, Jeffrey Best. Some other hot swag suites were the Style Villa, Victoria’s Secret and EXPRESS Suites at The Sagamore where I had the most delightful conversation with desperate housewife Eva Longoria and the Heatherette trio Richie Rich, Traver Rains and Amanda Lepore.

I could report on the actual MTV VMA's ceremony, but what could I say that hasn't already been said? And anyway reporting on the exclusive private parties is all you Hollywood insiders want to hear about anyway. Right?

Buzz Austin reporting for The Hollywood Bureau