Celebrity Mound

Everyone who was hoping to see a smackdown between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s ex Jennifer Aniston at the Night Before party last night was sorely let down when Brangelina decided to attend the Independent Spirit awards instead. Jennifer was in attendance at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the star-studded Night Before party, which benefitted the Motion Picture Television Fund, and was also attended by A-listers George Clooney, without girlfriend Sara Larson, Seal and Heidi Klum, and Jake Gyllenhaal. But the Friends star left after barely an hour and headed back to a private bungalow at the hotel.

The party, at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s exclusive 1912 bar, was the hot pre-Oscar party in town. Two men were even arrested trying to get in using fake credentials and were taken away in handcuffs.

The Jolie-Aniston face-off wasn’t the only awkward Hollywood run in that was avoided. Yesterday morning, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise had breakfast at the posh Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel, narrowly missing Tom’s ex-wife Nicole Kidman, who showed up for a business lunch with mega-producer Harvey Weinstein. The two are rumored to be working on a movie project together. Tom wasn’t the only ex pregnant Nicole missed. Later in the evening, her former boyfriend Steve Bing dropped by the Polo Lounge and joined a large party in the front of the lounge.

Also in the Polo Lounge was designer Roberto Cavalli, who stopped by PageSix.com’s table to say hello as well as producer Brian Grazer and Russell Simmons. Christina Applegate enjoyed a cigarette outside with a friend. Around 11 p.m., new parents Nicole Richie, wearing a short black skirt and her hair up in a messy ponytail, and Joel Madden arrived and were escorted by security who took them both into the men’s restroom — together. Despite the rainy weather, the pair then headed outside to a private table under heat lamps.

Partygoers didn’t just rub elbows with Hollywood’s most powerful, including Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, but also left with a pricey gift bag fit for Hollywood’s elite. Attendees were asked their shoe size and then were given custom designer tennis shoes. They also received loads of high-end cosmetics, and played a MAC Cosmetics trivia game. The winners received a $2000 laptop.

Although the party was abuzz and the Polo Lounge was hopping with famous faces, not everyone thought it was the hottest ticket in town. As Elton John left out the back entrance with an entourage, he told PageSix.com, “My party is better.”

(source)