Brad Pitt

Insider

By Mark Dagostino

UPDATED 02/13/2006 at 01:00 AM EST • Originally published 02/13/2006 at 01:00 AM EST

BENNY'S BIRTHDAY
Manager to the stars Benny Medina had a hard time managing the youngsters at his 48th-birthday bash in the GM Penthouse at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Jan. 28. Mischa Barton danced till she fell flat on her rear, right in front of boyfriend Cisco Adler and pal Nicole Richie. (Jessica Simpson also hit the dance floor but stayed on her feet.) Entourage's Kevin Connolly kept time to Madonna's "Holiday" by drumming on girlfriend Nicky Hilton's bum. Not that the grown-ups—among them Pamela Anderson, Prince, Lenny Kravitz and Macy Gray—were any more attentive: When Medina tried to hush the crowd for a 12:35 a.m. speech about his rise "from the 'hood to be sitting on top of Beverly Hills," it appeared only Tyra Banks was listening.

WHO GOT PAST THE VELVET ROPE?
The Jan. 26 Escada Pacific Paradise launch party at L.A. club the Lobby filled up to capacity early. Here's who got in:
REID
STAMOS
SAGET
AND HERE'S WHO WAS LEFT OUT ON THE SIDEWALK:
McCONAUGHEY
CRUZ
HAYEK

LEGENDARY PARTY

Songwriter Denise Rich hosted pals (Al & Star Jones Reynolds), old-school hitmakers (Ashford & Simpson) and up-and-comers (singer Wafah Dufour, Osama bin Laden's American-raised niece) to toast John Legend's eight Grammy nominations at her swanky pad overlooking Central Park Jan. 30. After a string quartet welcomed guests with Legend's hit "Ordinary People," he told Insider, " I'm living the dream! It feels very, very good."

FAST TAKES

Brad Pitt browsed BabyGAP duds in Toronto ... Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett scribbled "I ♥ Josh" and "I ♥ Scarlett" on a paper tablecloth in Montecito, Calif.... Salma Hayek, on a Malibu beach, held hands with Gus Gustawes, Matthew McConaughey's producing partner (her rep denies they're dating) ... Courteney Cox Arquette Arquette chatted with Matthew Perry at an L.A. party for author Jo Gartin's Weddings: An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride ... Jude Law fell asleep poolside at L.A.'s Chateau Marmont—fully clothed, down to his shoes.