Ring in '08 with the sea list

MIAMI BEACH (PGN) >> Though Hawaii and Las Vegas are this year’s hot spot for celebrities on New Year’s Eve, Miami Beach has still got its share of semi-famous names.

Rocker Pete Wentz and girlfriend Ashlee Simpson touched down on Sunday night in time to host a NYE party tonight at the Shore Club’s Sky Bar (where Eve will perform). Curiously, Wentz was sporting a black brace on his left foot.

Meanwhile, former N’SYNC member JC Chasez was all over SoBe with Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford, who arrived at Miami International Airport on Saturday night wearing dark jeans, a white T-shirt by Polo and a black hat. The two hotties hit the Kobe Club, Delano and Mokai. Crawford will spend NYE at Cameo with Elisha Cuthbert and Brody Jenner.

Newly single Dylan McDermott (who’ll be at the Setai on NYE along with Jennifer Hudson) was also at the Kobe Club with some friends, as was Shawn Pyfrom from Desperate Housewives. Earlier in the day, Entourage star Adrian Grenier – whose band is performing at the Victor on NYE – was spotted lunching solo and then hitting the beach for a jog. On Friday night, Matt Damon and wife Luciana (who live in Miami Beach) dined at a Lincoln Road restaurant with Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan.

Also seen and heard around Miami Beach: Carmen Electra, who’s hosting a bash at Parrot Jungle; Kim Kardashian, who’s the special guest at Mansion on NYE; Mandy Moore and Samantha Ronson, both hosting the party at the Raleigh; Sean Stewart and sister Kimberly Stewart, who is a guest on NYE at Cameo; Shannon Elizabeth, who’s doing the countdown to 2008 at the Sagamore and stopping by the Catalina; and Nick Cannon, in town to play host at Opium Garden.

Temperatures in Miami Beach today are hovering around 28 degrees C but a cold front is moving in that will give revelers a wet and chilly wake-up on New Year's Day. Wednesday's forecast calls for a high of only 14.

Bee Gee brother moving out

MIAMI BEACH (PGN) >> Singer Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees is moving out of Miami Beach.

The brother of Barry Gibb and the late Maurice Gibb has reportedly sold his waterfront mansion on North Bay Road to porn mogul Kristopher Hinson for a whopping $17 million (U.S.).

Hinson, who already lives on North Bay Road, is co-founder of Bangbus.com.

Gibb paid $950,000 for the property in 1983. The home, which has 10 bedrooms, is separated from Barry Gibb’s mansion by just one property (formerly owned by Jennifer Lopez). Famous neighbours include Matt Damon.

Robin, 58, and wife Dwina, 55, have spent more time overseas since his fraternal twin Maurice died in 2003 of complications from a twisted intestine.

Both were on hand last March for a ceremony to rename Island View Park in honour of Maurice Gibb. Located at 18th Street and Purdy Avenue, it is not far from the Gibbs’ Middle Ear Studios.

Swank takes to the skies

TORONTO (PGN) >> Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank is flying into Canada this winter to star in a feature film about famed pilot Amelia Earhart.

Swank, 33, will shoot Amelia for eight weeks in Toronto with director Philip Noyce (The Quiet American) starting in March. The production will then move to Nova Scotia for two weeks before wrapping up in Oahu, Hawaii.

Produced by Toronto’s Don Carmody (Chicago), the biopic will focus on Earhart’s life prior to her mysterious disappearance over the Pacific Ocean in 1937.

Swank won Academy Awards for her roles in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby.

Also working in Toronto this winter is Mark Wahlberg, who is playing the title role in Max Payne, an action flick based on the popular video game.

Pop! helps those in need

Pop! Goes the News is pleased to support the CHUM Christmas Wish with a donation worth about $1000.

The 41st annual CHUM Christmas Wish recently put out an appeal for toys and gifts suitable for older children and teens so PGN is donating about 60 CDs and DVDs. These include hits from such acts as My Chemical Romance, Jonas Brothers and Ashley Tisdale.

Pop! also donated nearly 100 lbs. of clothing to The 519 Church Street Community Centre's homeless program to help those in need this holiday season. The items include Gap jeans and T-shirts as well as dress shirts from labels like Boss and Polo.

Wahlberg coming back to T.O.

TORONTO (PGN) >> Mark Wahlberg will bring a popular video game character to life on the streets of this city early next year.

Wahlberg, 36, is set to star as Max Payne in an adaptation of the Rockstar videogame. Haunted by the tragic loss of his family, Payne is a rebellious murder investigator who faces an enemy determined to destroy both him and the city.

It will be the fourth movie the actor has made in Toronto. Wahlberg shot The Big Hit, The Corruptor and Four Brothers in the city. Both Shooter and Fear were filmed in British Columbia.

Production of Max Payne will run Feb. 26 to May 8. It is being directed by John Moore, whose credits include Behind Enemy Lines, Flight of the Phoenix and last year’s The Omen.

No other casting information has been released.

Adrien Brody, Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Julia Stiles, Val Kilmer, Stephen Dorff and Liev Schreiber are currently working on films in southern Ontario.

Keith Urban rocks downtown T.O.

TORONTO (PGN) >> Country superstar Keith Urban thrilled dozens of fans today with a free performance at the Future Shop store at Yonge and Dundas.

Urban and his band, who are in town for a concert at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday night, performed five songs before he sat down to sign autographs for about 100 fans.

The singer, who is married to Nicole Kidman, is promoting his new CD, Keith Urban Greatest Hits: 18 Kids. Urban last performed in Toronto last February.

Country comes to the city

TORONTO (PGN) >> Country music superstar Keith Urban will sing for fans inside the new Future Shop store at Yonge and Dundas next week.

Urban, who performs in concert at the Air Canada Centre on Dec. 13, will sing three songs and sign autographs on Dec. 11 starting at 12:15 pm.

The singer, who is married to Nicole Kidman, is promoting his new CD, Keith Urban Greatest Hits: 18 Kids.

The first 100 fans who line-up at the store on Dec. 10 before 6:00 pm will receive a wristband for priority access to the special performance and exclusive access to the autograph session. Another 200 people will be allowed into the store for the mini-show.

Urban was last in Toronto on Valentine’s Day for an invitation-only performance at the Mod Club.

Fans with credit need apply

TORONTO (PGN) >> Bon Jovi fans will be clutching their American Express cards and telephones on Thursday morning.

The New Jersey rockers are giving 60 lucky fans and their guests a chance to watch the band’s sound check at the Air Canada Centre on Friday. Then the fans will attend a party in the Air Canada Club, from where they will watch the concert.

To score one of only 60 double passes, American Express cardholders need to call 1-800-756-7915 at 10:00 am EST on Dec. 6. For more information, click here.

Bon Jovi plays a sold-out concert at the Air Canada Centre on Dec. 7.