A Benefit’s Silver Lining: Anthony, Leif

We interrupt this program with the following public service announcement: Green Day’s “Warning” is the antidote for sleep-deprived scenesters. If you gotta be up like a jaybird but you’ve been out like an owl, toss on the punk trio’s latest album for a healthy dose of snap, crackle and pop. . . .

My gawd, Minnie Driver’s got class. On Saturday, she cut this momma some slack by entertaining my 4-year-old with ocean tales at the hipster Hollywood hair salon Lather. Later that evening at the Silver Lining Benefit, she even remembered his name. Sharp cookie, that one. Reminds me of the time Kirstie Alley danced around the Studio City sushi joint Nozawa with the same kid, then 1. Or when he was 3 and Drew Barrymore whipped out some watercolors to paint with him at the Ivy while the kid’s preggers mom ate her first hoity-hot meal in months. And they say Hollywood ain’t got soul.

If you thought that was name-dropping, grab a bucket before I start in on the Silver Lining Benefit, which raised mucho dinero for the Sunset Free Clinic. (I wish I’d known it was a pool party. It was held at the gorgy Silver Lake mansion, the Paramour.) After catching up with the stylistic diva Roz Music, I wrapped my arms around Anthony Kiedis but didn’t have the Forrest gumption to explain why (“Californication” got me through the winter, and his contributions to the recent Hillel Slovak book made me weep--and I ain’t soft). Just then, I stumbled into my old pal Leif Garrett, who’s looking quite healthy these days (that’s why I pray), and we went prowling for Robert Downey Jr. After tripping over his entourage, I landed in the hands of New Times’ gad-about-town, Jim Freek--who always makes for a smooth landing. Since me and Freek are used to getting our rock on (the benefit’s music was mellow--Beck, Aimee Mann, Rufus Wainwright), we rocked on over to Jayburger for a coupla double-patty delights. . . . Warning Bill Robinson (who outbid everyone for a diamond skull-ring and bracelet set by jeweler Michael Schmidt at the benefit’s silent auction): Friday is Cherry’s sixth anniversary and I wanna look fancy.