PAINT THE TOWN GOLD
Vanity Fair’s annual post-Academy Awards celebration, which set up shop at West Hollywood’s Sunset Tower Hotel, might have had some recession-chic touches -- reused decor from past events and comfort food like chicken pot pie -- but there was no toning down the glam factor.
Trophy-toters Penelope Cruz, Kate Winslet and Sean Penn air-kissed alongside such nominated actors as Mickey Rourke, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams and musicians Sheryl Crow, Gavin Rossdale and Madonna.
Also spotted in the crowd was nominee Anne Hathaway, who had gotten special props from fellow nominee Viola Davis days earlier at the Perrier-Jouet-hosted Women in Film event Friday. “I finally saw ‘Rachel Getting Married.’ It was fantastic!” gushed the ‘Doubt’ actress that night at mogul Peter Guber’s Bel-Air home.
A few blocks down from the magazine’s affair, more than a few confused people -- ahem, Emile Hirsch -- mistakenly walked into the Fox Searchlight shindig at One Sunset in honor of “The Wrestler” and “Slumdog Millionaire,” which scored eight trophies.
Director Danny Boyle and the cast of the best picture winner, including Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, entered their fete after midnight to bask in the glow of gold amid cheers and applause. The young kids from the film, who were staying up way past their bedtime, were beaming.
Guests snapped photos with disposable cameras and ordered vodka drinks named after the nominated movies, but no word on whether Marisa Tomei opted for the Wrestler or the Slumdog, which came adorned with a lollipop.
Those who wanted a five-course feast headed to Elton John’s 17th annual Aids Foundation viewing party at the Pacific Design Center. The host belted out “Bennie and the Jets” with Raphael Saadiq for a crowd filled with Brits Simon Cowell, Gordon Ramsay, Elle Macpherson and Victoria Beckham, raising nearly $4 million by evening’s end.
Prince decided to headline his own post-Oscar soiree, closing down the Avalon with a late-night set complete with a shout out to Cruz and nominee Taraji P. Henson.
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