The news of Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein’s sudden passing [1] ripped through the community profiled weekly in this column on Friday afternoon. Beyond obvious musical talent, Goldstein’s unparalleled “universality” drove his success. His availability and positioning as a talent was unique -- he worked with every significant player in every market simultaneously. From Los Angeles and New York, to Miami, Las Vegas, and even Chicago, Goldstein routinely played both coasts in a single weekend. Rarely does someone so exposed remain so universally popular -- making Goldstein the only analog to the “Kevin Bacon connection game” for the music, hospitality, and event marketing industries.

 

First discovered by A-list insiders, he was routinely tapped for private events like Leonardo DiCaprio’s birthday party and one of Steven Spielberg’s children’s Bat Mitzvah years before he became a tabloid staple. As news of his death spread on Friday, the talent heavy and perpetually exclusive Friday night at GQ editor Chris Huvane’s Crown Bar in West Hollywood became the default local “shiva." He will be missed by his many colleagues and friends, as well as all those who could thank him for many mornings of sore dance feet.

 

The summer’s remaining films unspooled with premieres to fill the party circuit last week. Two writer/directors, Mike Judge and Rob Zombie, went head-to-head with premieres and after-parties for their new projects last Monday night. Dimension and the Weinstein Company unveiled Zombie’s “Halloween II” at Grauman’s Chinese. Contrary to the thriller’s blood and gore, a surprisingly wholesome after party followed Zombie down the street to Mood. Zombie’s own parents filled his VIP booth while guests munched chocolate milk and cookies. The director was too busy to put down his cell phone to pose with well wisher Mickey Dolenz, who later retreated to sing Monkees songs in the corner with “The Office’s” Craig Robinson. 

 

At the other premiere, Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Clifton Collins Jr. and Gene Simmons hit the Arclight to promote Judge’s upcoming Friday opener, “Extract." Bateman’s once and future “Arrested Development” costar Will Arnett (pictured at right with Simon Pegg and Amy Poehler) also made an appearance at the Three-O Vodka sponsored after party. Talent-to-talent kudos also came from Johnny Knoxville, who showed up to pat the back of his frequent creative collaborator, Judge.

 

Two zip codes west down Sunset Boulevard, “True Blood” star Anna Paquin hosted 20 of this fall’s young TV stars at the Mondrian for a game of “don’t be that guy/girl who falls in the pool." Kevin Connolly, Eliza Dushku and "Big Love’s" Daveigh Chase navigated the jam-packed pool deck and stayed dry. Paquin (pictured at left with co-star Stephen Moyer) lent her face to Nylon magazine’s celebration of the new season. Magazine publisher Jaclynn Jarrett hit all three prerequisites of this summer’s default party playbook: Celebrity DJ? Check, Benji Madden. Free flowing vodka? Check, Svedka. Auto-RSVP from "90210" castmates Annalynne McCord and Shenae Grimes? Check. Check.

 

“How I Met Your Mother” star Josh Radnor and Brody Jenner were amongst Stolichnaya Vodka’s lucky RSVPs who were shuttled to an unannounced location for a secret preview of the Cirque de Soleil-esque “Moskava Affair” by avant-cabaret troupe the Vau de Vire Society Thursday night. Molly Simms, Lindsay Price and Jenna Dewan dodged gold-coated pixies and cracking whips during the jaw dropping and genre bending “goth-ballet” performance high in the hills.

 

By Friday night, some of the town’s youngest talent kept their partying amongst family -- both those who were present and those in spirit. Mom Diana Ross and sister Tracee Ellis Ross threw a 21st birthday bash for actor/brother Evan Ross at Guys and Dolls. The theme? Michael Jackson. In addition to the late singer’s much discussed friendship with Diana Ross, he was also Evan’s godfather.