Nicole Richie accepts the jewels and runs

There were two Beverly Hills book bashes Tuesday night. But, located just three blocks from each other, the literary events were universes apart.

One was a low-key affair at the Ralph Lauren store on Rodeo Drive for photographer Steven Sebring’s “Bygone Days.” The coffee-table book is a collection of Americana photos (1907-1957) taken by Sebring’s 90-year-old uncle, John Penor.

Sebring’s family was there, along with his pal, punk rock pioneer Patti Smith, who wrote the book’s foreword.

The second was a paparazzi-blitzed, champagne-fizzy bash at Judith Ripka’s jewelry boutique on Via Rodeo for Nicole Richie’s new book, “The Truth About Diamonds.”

The author, looking glam in a royal blue gown, arrived in a Maybach Mercedes-Benz that had been arranged for her and her entourage. But after saying “Thank you so much” to Judith’s son, Brian Ripka, for the $5,500 bracelet he carefully fastened on her wrist, Richie raced out -- without signing a single book or speaking to guests or press.

Nevertheless, the younger Ripka seemed pleased with her brief appearance.

“We have a long relationship with Nicole. She’s wearing one of our classic rings on the cover of her book, and we just renamed the ring for her, calling it the ‘Nicole,’ ” he said. “Her book is about Hollywood A-listers and going behind the velvet ropes. So for her to choose to wear Judith Ripka is just great.”

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From a creep to a fey choreographer

The biggest star at Universal Studios’ premiere of “The Producers” wasn’t Nathan Lane or Matthew Broderick.

It certainly wasn’t no-show Uma Thurman. And it wasn’t even Will Ferrell, nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as a psycho Nazi playwright.

It was Roger Bart, best known as George the pharmacist on “Desperate Housewives.”

Unbeknown to many “DH” fans, Bart was actually in the Broadway production and reprises his stage role in the film, playing the flamboyantly fey choreographer Carmen Ghia.

Since George’s recent “suicide,” Bart’s been getting reactions like “Ahhh! You’re not dead!” at restaurants and airports. “I’m sure George will be my Gilligan,” he said.

But seeing Bart play a leotard-clad Carmen Ghia, wearing lipstick and eyeliner, may confuse people even more.

“After these two roles,” he said, “I’ll probably have a great future as a creepy gay stalker.”

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Brosnan enjoys being a bad boy

In his new film, “The Matador,” a scruffy, puffy-eyed Pierce Brosnan curses a blue streak, boozes it up every night, kicks small dogs, tries to pick up Mexican schoolgirls and coldly kills complete strangers for a living.

And the audience loves him.

“That’s Pierce,” said Hope Davis, the former James Bond’s “Matador” costar, at the dark comedy’s after-party in a Regent Beverly Wilshire penthouse, high above the holiday twinkle lights of Rodeo Drive.

“He plays a real bad guy, a very raw and strange character, but despite all his really horrible flaws, you still end up being charmed by him.”

Brosnan was beaming about the independent film, which opens Dec. 30. He took a break from filming “Seraphim Falls” in New Mexico to appear at the premiere in Westwood.

He’s already picked up a Golden Globe best actor nomination (comedy or musical) for his “anti-Bond” role -- a degenerate hired killer named Julian Noble.

“I didn’t do the film to be the anti-anything,” said a bearded Brosnan, sitting on a couch with his wife, Keeley Shaye Smith. “But I had a great time playing a really cool character.”

The “Matador” script was sent by young New York writer-director-producer-actor Richard Shepard as a sample to nab a writing gig on the new “Thomas Crown Affair” flick.

The film premiered at Sundance in January.

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Woody Allen finds ‘dream girl’

Woody Allen, whose on-screen muses include Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow, seems to have found his new Lady Luck -- Scarlett Johansson, who plays an American actress in his new movie, “Match Point.”

Allen has called her a “dream girl,” describing her as “a naturally great actress. She’s very sexy, very pretty. She was just touched by God.”

Indeed, Johansson looked pretty hot in a sexy, low-cut Oscar de la Renta linen frock at the film’s premiere after-party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art last week.

She says she loves Woody’s “hands off” approach to directing. “I respond very well to that, and there is a nice banter between us. I loved working with him so much that I did it again,” she said.

Johansson is also in Allen’s next film, “Scoop,” a light comedy about an American journalism student who investigates murders in London and has an affair with an aristocrat (Hugh Jackman).

On Tuesday, “Match” snagged Golden Globe nominations for best picture, director, supporting actress and screenplay. But don’t expect the infamously neurotic director to sound happy about it.

“I just hope people come to see it ...,” Allen said with a shrug at the after-party. “It’ll be interesting to see if anyone shows up.”

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Elizabeth Snead writes “Styles & Scenes” as a blog for The Envelope (theenvelope.com), a Times website devoted to Hollywood’s awards season.

She can be reached at elizabeth.snead@latimes.com.