The 411
By Jon Warech

NYE – The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Get out those sweater-vests and rebrush your hair back in your face because Rok Bar is back.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Tom Brady. File photo by Peter Richardson/Red Eye Productions

This year, New Year’s Eve just refused to end. It was Tuesday, Jan. 2, and the celebrities wouldn’t leave, so actor Taye Diggs threw himself a huge 35th birthday bash at Mokai at the weekly “Favela Chic” soiree. Party host Roy Alpert was running around like a madman working the tables as celebrities like Ryan Seacrest, Lil’ Jon, Gabrielle Union, Jamie-Lynn Sigler (right, with Tom Brady), Craig David, Mickey Rourke, Damien Wayans (Damon’s nephew) and even Diddy made their way through the door. Diggs, rumored to be returning to the singles circuit, partied hard alongside Lil’ Jon, Union and other pals — going through two bottles of vodka and a bottle of Patron at the table. Lil’ Jon got on the microphone and worked the crowd, and everyone partied all night at the soiree that sealed the deal for New Year’s Eve parties. There was no singing of Happy Birth-Taye but the well wishes were felt around the room. (I know I took at least two shots of Taye-quilla in his honor.) Who knew Diggs was so popular?

THE HEAT IS OFF

After sleeping through all of Wednesday recovering from a long New Year’s week, I woke up Thursday to find out we lost Nick Saban and Pat Riley in the same day. While Saban took more guaranteed money (and could be replaced at this point by a sock puppet anyway), it’s Riley’s decision to take a leave of absence for surgery in the middle of a troubled first half of the season that stings the most. If the team were atop the East, somehow I think surgery would have waited. That said, Shaquille O’Neal is still hurting and Antoine Walker and James Posey were benched for being too fat. No joke. Meanwhile Team Fatty – that’s Shaq, ’Toine and Posey – were spotted partying at Privé on Sunday night while D-Wade and the TEAM (remember them?) were in Portland playing the Trailblazers. That’s just not right. They should be home crying in their Big Macs instead of out partying. At this point I would trade Walker and Posey for a pack of gum and a drunken hooker to be named later. I should be a GM.

BECOMING A SPEARSAHOLIC

It wouldn’t be a weekend if Britney Spears wasn’t supposed to be making a trip to Miami. Rumors were flying that Her Royal Trashesty was en route to South Beach on Saturday night to record with Pharrell Williams, dine South Beach style and crash for a night or two at the Setai. Whether that actually happened remains a mystery, but ’razzi shots of Spears in Santa Monica on Saturday afternoon (and another LA sighting Monday) make it seem unlikely the recording session actually took place. Either way, the weekly Brit panic mode among local behind-the-scenesters is super fun.

ROK BAR STILL ROCKIN’ IN ’07

Professional party-goers were whispering lately about Rok Bar and whether the Collins Ave. club was going to make it to 2007 or not. Turns out Rok lost its license to party some time ago (hence the relocation of the DJ booth) but prolonged a shutdown as long as possible. But get out those sweater-vests and rebrush your hair back in your face because after a brief closing, Rok Bar is back for at least three years. Soundproof doors are up inside (a la Mokai) and a remodeling is around the corner, but the Rok is definitely still cookin’ and as long as Sebastian Puga is still behind the wheel, the bar will remain a hot spot.

TABLE 8 OPENS FOR BUSINESS

Newly opened Table 8 South Beach opened its doors to Miami’s social squad on Monday night for an exclusive cocktail party to kick off the restaurant at Regent South Beach Hotel on Collins. Celebrity Executive Chef and co-owner Govind Armstrong, along with partners Josh Woodward and Chris Heyman, welcomed a select group of social butterflies and invited them to sample Table 8 via the passed hors d’oeuvres and complimentary cocktails. A celeb hot spot in LA, Table 8 South Beach will no doubt become star central as well. And who knows, maybe even Britney Spears will show up one day.

THE ART OF ART

On Friday night, VIM International hosted the private opening reception of The Studio of Botero — a collection of unpublished portraits of Fernando Botero by Felipe Ferre. Art enthusiasts packed the MARCY Building in the Design District and sipped Cointreau cosmos as Ferre (who flew in from France) discussed his work. Among those in attendance: Catherine Schmal and Kimberley Gaultier of the French Embassy, Julie Mansfield representing the city of Miami and Maria Ruiz, the director of community relations at Dacra. The exhibition runs through Feb. 10 before it moves to NYC. Check it out.

LOUNGE WITH BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF LINCOLN ROAD

People-watching on Lincoln Road just got a little classier with the opening of Gemma, an intimate lounge above Rosinella at 529 Lincoln Road. Open tonight for a VIP sneak peak and tomorrow for the rest of the world, Gemma is being billed as the champagne-before-dinner or late-night cocktail hot spot. Brought to you by Tonino Doino and family, Gemma offers both a candlelit lounge with contemporary jazz music playing softly in the background, and an outdoor terrace perfect for lounging under the Miami sky (or gossiping about those walking on Lincoln Road below). With a full bar featuring top shelf brands and a comprehensive wine and champagne list, Gemma should become schmooze central. And the fun starts now.

UPCOMING…

The Marleys. File photos by Getty Images Publicity

The Bob Marley Movement of Jah People presents the 14th annual Caribbean Fest at Bayfront Park on Saturday, March 3. Featuring Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Julian Marley (are there more Marleys or Wayans in this world?) and special guests Capleton and Sizzla, the Caribbean Fest honors reggae legend Bob Marley with performances by top Caribbean music acts.

Tickets are on sale now at www.bobmarleymovement.com.

SPOTTED…

• Boxing promoter Don King chatting with fans at The Park Sports Club after the Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter/James Toney fight at Seminole Hard Rock on Saturday night. Sitting ringside: Anna Nicole Smith and Hulk Hogan.

• John Singleton celebrating his birthday alongside actor Eddie Griffin and rapper Trina at the “Social Snacks” soiree at 510 Ocean on Saturday night.

• Boxer Bernard Hopkins schmoozing with the ladies at INK on Saturday night.

• Actor Mickey Rourke dining with Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Ferdie Pacheco at Fanucci’s on Lincoln Road Saturday night.

Got the 411? Send comments, questions and news items to Jon@miamisunpost.com.