Sean Penn and Petra Nemcova? Yup, you heard that right. You could almost hear the sound of eyebrows raising as the two walked the red carpet at Elton John’s Oscar party. The soiree was one of the hottest events in town thanks to the cancellation of the annual Vanity Fair party, so if Penn and Nemcova are together and hoping to keep things low key, they stepped out at the wrong party. Also at the Elton John bash: Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, Ellen DeGeneres and Billy Joel.

Across town, Miramax was celebrating a very successful Oscars night at Bar Marmot. The studio’s film “No Country For Old Men,” took home statues for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay: “A seriously good reason to celebrate,” as one Miramax executive put it. Winner Javier Bardem rubbed elbows with Penelope Cruz, and Ben and Casey Affleck were there, too.

And finally, who could resist the purple carpet at Prince’s post-Oscars fete? This was undoubtedly the most-coveted ticket in town, for anyone still standing at 2 a.m. when the party really got started. Among those spotted: Javier Bardem, Eva Longoria, Oscar winner Tilda Swinton, Kate Beckinsale and P. Diddy.