A-list stars and Olympians mingle at Oscar after-parties

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A-listers, Olympians mingle at Oscar after-parties

LOS ANGELES — With his shaggy red hair, black leather jacket and skintight American flag-printed jeans, Olympic gold medalist Shaun White upstaged even glam Oscar winner Sandra Bullock at a pack of parties around town following the Academy Awards.

The snowboarder was one of a group of Olympic athletes who mingled with A-listers at the parties Sunday, sometimes eliciting “oohs” and “ahhs” from the movie stars themselves.

At Vanity Fair’s bash at West Hollywood’s Sunset Tower Hotel, a string of celebrities, including Lenny Kravitz and Jon Voight, sought out White. Even Olympic-winning speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, who wore a sleek tux, looked happy to meet White.

Vanity Fair was steeped in a sea of nominees and winners. Vases of white, pink and yellow orchids decorated the room, along with bowls of red apples stenciled with “VF.”

By the time Sandra Bullock showed up, gripping her best-actress Oscar statuette and mugging for photographers with her husband, Jesse James, the party was in full swing, and White and his crew had left for another bash.

Others attending the party included best-actress nominee Carey Mulligan, who giggled with friends in a corner. Oscar co-host Alec Baldwin joked with Sean Penn. Hilary Swank and Tim Robbins ate burgers from In-N-Out Burger that were served by waiters dressed in the chain’s uniform. And best-director nominee Quentin Tarantino, wearing a black knit cap, leather jacket and sneakers, made a beeline for the bar after arriving at 11:45 p.m.

Jennifer Lopez and her husband, Marc Anthony, made a grand entrance, accepting handshakes left and right. Sean “Diddy” Combs laughed with Marlon and Shawn Wayans. Robert Downey Jr., wearing a blue bow tie and tinted glasses, talked with Natalie Portman. Zac Efron, Taylor Lautner and the Jonas Brothers yielded high-pitched shrieks from fans gathered on the sidewalk outside the hotel.

“Great job tonight,” said Julianne Moore, winking to Oscar co-host Steve Martin. Earlier, Moore and her “A Single Man” co-star Colin Firth, a best-actor nominee, held court on a patio outside.

Nearby, at Elton John’s 18th-annual viewing dinner and after-party at the Pacific Design Center’s tented courtyard, Kelly Osbourne stayed close to fashion-savvy figure skater Johnny Weir most of the night.

Saying he was “very small fry” when he attended John’s party a few years ago, Weir marveled at his new status.

“Now I’m running with Kelly Osbourne, who’s supportive of my skating. It’s beautiful,” said Weir, who had just met Osbourne at the party. “Kelly dropped my jaw. She looks the most amazing of anyone I’ve seen.”

Osbourne, who attended the party with her mother, Sharon Osbourne, wore a delicate, pale pink gown by local designer Sue Wong.

“We all wear velvet in figure skating,” said Weir, joking about his red velvet Dolce & Gabbana suit jacket

Guests including Betty White, Jamie Foxx, Josh Groban, Ricki Lake and John Waters dined on risotto, fish with black olives, New York steak with wine sauce, salad and milk chocolate bars slathered with chocolate glaze. A Godiva chocolate bar served up dark and milk chocolate balls.

Victoria Beckham and Heidi Klum sat at John’s table. Klum towered in a ’60s style jewel-embellished black minidress and Brigitte Bardot hair. Miley Cyrus and Nicole Richie were nearby.

“American Idol” judge Kara Dioguardi hugged last year’s “Idol” winner Kris Allen and finalist Allison Iraheta at their table. Simon Cowell sat at another table, playing with girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy’s hair. Jennifer Hudson swept in near the end of dinner.

Just before the night’s big auction for his Elton John AIDS Foundation, John praised Kathryn Bigelow’s best-director win, comparing it to the year when Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won Oscars in 2002.

Later, ’80s diva Grace Jones, wearing a floor-length black cape, lace-up heels and sheer black leggings, wowed the crowd, performing from a stage equipped with a staircase.

The first official stop for most guests at the Oscars was the Governor’s Ball, the Academy Awards’ official after-party, at the Kodak Theatre.

Oprah Winfrey, Stanley Tucci, John Travolta, Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Woody Harrelson and Meryl Streep were among those who attended.

Hollywood’s elite dined and talked with colleagues as an 18-piece, all-female orchestra provided the soundtrack. Tucci and Harrelson sat side-by-side, while Williams and Travolta shared a table with Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler. Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal had their Oscars personalized at the onsite engraving station.

Across town, at the E! Oscar party at Drai’s Hollywood at the newly opened W Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard, White settled into a booth at 1:30 a.m., surrounded by blond beauties, as house music blared over a packed, sweaty dance floor.

The bash boasted a younger set, ready to party into the wee hours, just like White.

AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.