BUZZ CLUBS

Mash-up, dance-off

Oscar viewership may have been down, but party crashing was at an all-time high, as everyone hit the DJ AM/Samantha Ronson post-Oscar doubleheader in the Hollywood Hills, which rocked till 6:30 a.m. Monday. Mariah Carey and Lindsay Lohan had a dance-off, while Justin Timberlake was grooving by himself in the background. Musical climax came when AM rocked the house with a mash-up of the “Cheers” theme song. Among those who turned out for the bash (hosted by Brent Bolthouse, Patrick Whitesell, Mike Deluca, Rick Yorn and Jen Rosero) were Keira Knightley, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, the Hilton sisters, Jamie Foxx, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Matt Dillon and the Rock. Lisa Rinna and hubby Harry Hamlin were there too, after taking part in the “Children Uniting Nations” viewing party at the Palladium, where such guests as JC Chasez and Natalie Cole were treated to a Chaka Khan performance.... Dita Von Teese, Sasha Cohen and Madonna were among the celebutantes who hit the W Magazine retreat last week at a lavish Beverly Hills home.

Got $50K to spare?

With the planned opening of his Safari Sam’s nightclub delayed by more than a month and facing a $50,000 shortfall, owner Sam Lanni last week took the unusual step of issuing a general plea for funds. In a letter widely circulated on the Internet, in music circles and at www.safari-sams.com, Lanni outlined his rocky, 23-month journey and blamed the city of L.A.’s dilatory permit and inspection process for the delay. Lanni, who ran a club by the same name in Huntington Beach in the mid-1980s, said that he has spent $900,000 toward opening his 495-capacity room, conceived as a multi-discipline arts venue, at 5214 Sunset Blvd.

On Tuesday, Sam’s media director Chad Forrello said Lanni is getting some response. “We’ve found a couple of angels, and now we’re looking for a couple more,” Forrello says. In addition, a petition presented to Councilman Eric Garcetti’s office has helped. “We know it’s unorthodox, and some people think it’s lunacy,” Forrello says. “But we’re at a point where we have no choice but to ask the public for assistance.”

Brunch in Memphis

The new Hollywood hotspot Memphis just added a Sunday jazz brunch to its menu. In addition, DJ Jake Hoffman is working it out at Memphis on Mondays.... And speaking of Jake, his dad Dustin checked out the sweet new spot Honey on Friday to celebrate agent Adam Venit’s birthday. Among others at the Vine Street dining spot were Ray Liotta, David Spade, Kevin James and Chris Kattan.... That was Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt checking out the Kiss or Kill bands at the Key Club on Friday.... Lousy news from San Bernardino on Saturday: An eyewitness to the punk rock riot in which five people were hurt and 15 arrested at the National Orange Show Events Center says it was worse than the 1983 riot on Sunset. The witness says it was herd mentality at its gnarliest.... The Key Club informs me they are sending “Jackass” Steve-O a cleaning bill for urinating on their red carpet Saturday night.

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-- Heidi Siegmund Cuda, with Kevin Bronson