The Bitch regrets everything about 2005, regrets it the way the recently RIPped Stan "Tookie" Williams regrets saying he didn't much care for The Terminator movies. Thus she is all wags and wiggles in greeting 2006 — and so far, at least The Year of the Dog has not disappointed, beginning with madcap South Beach New Year's Day morning, uh, revelry.
Steve Dennett / WENN
Mischa Barton tries to operate a digital camera
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Mischa Barton from The OCwas cohost of the party at the Victor Hotel. Her boyfriend, Cisco Adler of Whitestarr — a new "band" that has deployed the strange strategy of looking like The Mars Volta and sounding like the Black Crowes — was on hand for a midnight performance. After the set, about 1:00 a.m., the recently hooked-up lovebirds got into a huge fight, hollerin', carryin' on, and finally suite-door-slamming. (It should be noted a plume of nontobacco smoke seeped out from under the door.)
Apparently Adler wanted Barton's undivided attention, while the increasingly tiresome Keds spokeswaif wanted to mingle with never-tired Miami scenester royalty, including José "Jochy" Ortiz, Tara Ink's Nick D'Annunzio, and Sabor owner Mike Heller. As The Bitch looked on in incredulous glee, Barton screeched, "These are my friends, and I want to have fun!"
At that moment Nicole Richie fled Mansion, where deputized Bitch spies had spotted former Richie fiancé DJ AMchatting up less emaciated girls, and hurtled into the Victor. Lionel's hija gathered up Barton and they peeled out together in Richie's ride (SUVs and fur-trimmed boots apparently being the night's statement accouterments), heading for the Setai. This left behind at the Victor hotpants-lovin' tween star Amanda Bynes and Heatherette designer Traver Rains(the one in the Brokeback Mountain hat).
At the Setai's penthouse, a Mynt party attracted Leonardo DiCaprio(while it's true The Bitch prefers the chocolate to the golden lab, even after seeing The Aviator in person, she just doesn't get what the Titanic fuss was about), Molly Simms, and Vin Diesel.
First the xXx star entertained the Setai's guests and kitchen staff with some drunken antics. Then, at the Shore Club, a visibly wasted and obnoxious Diesel was seen dancing with a group of retired pole kats to a DJ set by king of crunk Lil Jon, who was equipped with his own diamond-studded bottle of Patrn tequila.
The Bitch then crossed the bay to take over the DJ booth for a spell — and to wax barf etiquette for the cracked-out revelers attending the soiree at the District's Poplife party. But all was not revelatory. Apparently a rookie imbiber had failed to make it to the bathroom and left behind a pool of regurgitated hors d'oeuvres and alcohol on the glass-top bar.
The salty dog then spotted her very favorite celebrity, Tara Reid. Reid was on her way to see Patrick Demarchalier's new photo decoration deployment at Mynt, but as always the sweet blonde had time for a canine hug.
Bailey Creams the Courthouse
Miami's criminal justice scene just got saucier thanks to a blog launched in mid-November by an anonymous local defense attorney who has borrowed the name — and the mischievous persona — of fictional British barrister Rumpole of the Bailey. As first reported in the Daily Business Review, the anonablogger — who posts via factory text-farm Blogspot.com, thereby thwarting those who would seek his identity via InterNIC or WhoIs.com — tirelessly lampoons denizens of the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building.
But amid Rumpole's satire lurk nuggets of news. He recently broke the story that Miami-Dade chief public defender Bennett H. Brummer paid $200,000 to settle a suit brought by an employee who claimed he was canned for supporting Gabriel Martin, Brummer's loquacious, combative challenger in the 2004 election. That item unleashed a furor. Current and past employees of the PD's office flocked to the blog to air their own accounts of bullying and coercion. "If you come out openly and oppose [Brummer], you'll be screwed," griped one staffer. "Every single one of Martin's supporters was demoted, fired, or strongly forced out."
A few readers responded that the problem wasn't only Brummer but also his staff of lazy discontents: "They got people who haven't tried twelve cases since Miami Vice was a TV show," wrote one detractor.
Brummer's response, according to some staffers, was to cut off access to the blog from in-house computers. (He didn't respond at all to The Bitch's three requests for comment.)
"I started this blog, and this entire undercurrent of hidden feeling toward Bennett Brummer came rushing out," Rumpole marveled during a phone interview. (To retain his anonymity, Rumpole always phones The Bitch from pay phones and stuff.)
"While I'm sure your motives were pure in creating this blog," opined one poster, "it is clear that it has dissolved into a haven of petty sniping and the opportunity for people to take anonymous potshots at anyone they feel may have wronged them.... I wonder how long it will be before someone makes truly unseemly and unfounded allegations."
Check out the melee for yourself at www.justicebuilding.blogspot.com.
Restoration Hardware
The Bitch loves sniffing out dirt in Miami's art world, but not all of it comes from the scene's skyscraping egomaniacs.
Case in point: Rustin Levenson, a renowned art conservator whose Pinecrest home was recently littered with sooty, sandy, and moisture-damaged masterpieces, including a few Salvador Dalis.
