The place to be in the universe around 10:15 Friday night: The Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Star watchers got whiplash at the first of two fabulous parties celebrating the seaside icon's $1 billion rebirth.

It doesn't get more surreal than seeing Godfather costars James Caan and Robert Duvall chewing the fat on a couch. Then, a few minutes later, spotting The Geek from Sixteen Candles ( Anthony Michael Hall) snapping a picture of himself a la Thelma & Louise.

Huddled together by the Stairway to Nowhere were Gwyneth Paltrow and Alex Rodriguez. It was tempting to try to read lips, but who wants to stare? Paltrow is a good friend of newly single Madonna, and we've all heard the A-Rod rumors.

The 1954 resort that drew the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Sean Connery was hosting a new era of talent; e.g., rappers ( Sean Combs, Pharrell, Russell Simmons); reality starlets ( Kim and KhloeKardashian; Paris Hilton); and young, blond things ( Kate Hudson, Amanda Bynes, Chloe Sevigny).

Buffets spilled over with crab legs, lobster tails and myriad meats and Scarpetta, Vida and Gotham Steak were open for tastings. Champagne was everywhere; too bad if all you wanted was water.

Hilton, surrounded by an entourage of BFFs, is not one to miss an affair of this magnitude. The heiress eschewed trashy for classy and looked like the multimillion bucks that she has in a sparkly dark green dress. Crash star Terrence Howard showed off a decent set of pipes taking the stage mid-evening while Martha Stewart, in a sequined top and slacks, nodded to the beat.

While Friday's opulent bash was a gossip rag's nirvana -- ending with a performances by Mariah Carey and Robin Thicke -- it didn't compare to the anticipation surrounding Saturday's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and its annual parade of barely clad Angels.

The show -- featuring 35 supermodels including Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima -- was also an invitation-only affair for around 2,000 guests.

Klum -- who as she made her first trip down the runway said ''I love you'' to husband Seal, watching from the front row -- ended the show in a red bra and panties and studded red wings.

The afterparty at LIV nightclub, which featured laser lights and a live DJ spinning hits from Kanye West to The Talking Heads, went on to the wee hours of the morning. The VIP area -- with plush, white couches -- was christened by an array of celebs, including Gossip GirlMichelle Trachtenberg with an unidentified hot boyfriend; Laguna Beach bad girl Kristin Cavallari, The Hills heartbreaker Brody Jenner and Extra's Mario Lopez.

At around 4, it was a wrap.

MADELEINE MARR
AND AURORA RODRIGUEZ

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