Don't be surprised if you see a lot of bronzed faces around town this weekend. A host of East Enders caught a few rays in between the parties and premieres in sunny Cannes at the film fest this week. Steven Spielberg with his whole gang – George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, and Shia LaBoeuf - were the toast of the Rivera with the launch of "Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". While critics were divided on the film and it might not be the best movie of all time - it is an enjoyable roller coaster romp that should please even the most devout fans of the franchise.

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart at the NYC premiere of "Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".

Spielberg and Lucas have taken pieces of their most popular ideas and woven them together. There are major riffs on "American Graffiti", "Star Wars", and "E.T." Just dissecting all the references is half the fun. Thrills are jam packed into the two hour flick. And Harrison may be 65 but OMG he is still one hunky movie star that makes you shiver with delight (lucky Calista Flockhart). His Indiana Jones performance is the perfect primer for wannabe action stars. Added bonus is Shia as a young Indiana in training.

Denise Rich had her posh yacht 'Lady Joy' docked in front of the Hotel Majestic, the command central for the film festival making it easy for celebs like Woody Allen, Penelope Cruz, and Scarlett Johansson to hop on board for a breather from the notorious French paparazzi. Not so lucky was Paul Simon who was swarmed with photogs as he arrived for Wyclef Jean's Together for Haiti benefit.

Also on the scene: David Sarner and the Pink Elephant gang were out in full force hosting exclusive parties on yachts and art elegant villas in the surrounding hills. The Hamptons International Film Festival team – new executive director Karen Arikian and programming director David Nugent who replaced cutie pie Raj Roy held court at the Plage des Palmes Café where they announced that this year's toastee at the HIFF will be one of the most prolific personalities on the international film scene, Founder and Co-Chairman of Fortissimo Films Wouter Barendrecht. Barendrecht has, at Fortissimo, guided titles such as "Chungking Express", "In the Mood for Love", "Heavy", "Super Size Me", "Shortbus", and Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones homage "Shine A Light" to international success.

But don't fret, all you celeb starved readers, there'll be plenty of gawking ops coming up this weekend all around the Hamptons. A hot ticket is the opening of bespoke design boutique Bellhaus in Wainscott where Shawn Bell will be hosting the fashion heavies and bold faced names including Glenda Bailey, Andre Leon Talley, Jessica Seinfeld, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Chace Crawford, Project Runway winner Christian Sirtiano, Katie Lee Joel and oodles more fab folks.

Rap fans will get a chance to hang out with the original white boy rapper Vanilla Ice at Porky's in Hampton Bays. Disco divas should get themselves to the Miracle House benefit where the legendary Martha Wash will have it Raining Men! Hallelujah! Uber model and all around nice girl Molly Sims gets feted at The Estate. "The Hills" Whitney Port is the honoree of Social Life's bash at the magazine's estate in Water Mill. British singing sensation Estelle will have them swooning at Lily Pond. Ultra rock fan designer John Varvatos, who counts Jon Bon Jovi as a regular client, will be hosting photog Mick Rock at his East Hampton store.

Kelly Ripa and Marc Consuelos at the American Theatre Ballet season opener this week.

Vered has a new show for superstar photographer Steven Klein who has shot everyone including the Material Girl – Vered's not releasing the guest list but there will definitely be some serious eye-candy at the popular East Hampton gallery. Kim Kardashian brings her booty and her posse to the White House in Hampton Bays. In Southampton, Stefan Keszler will show the works of Britain's answer to Keith Haring, Banksy at his chic Chelsea-esque gallery. In Southampton, Nicole Richie's man and father of her daughter, Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, is scheduled to be a special guest DJ at La Playa, brought to you by Pink Elephant's David Sarner.

Out of breath yet?

Now I'll give you some serious dish so you'll have something to chat about with Chace Crawford of "Gossip Girl" should your paths cross…

The big art world news was Sotheby's record breaking sale this week. Hardly in dire straits but looking to simply by a new mill, polo playing newsprint magnate and collector Peter Brant was a big seller at Sotheby's auction. One of Richard Prince's early supporters, he parted with "Millionaire Nurse" from 2002, one of the artist's paintings inspired by the covers of erotic pulp fiction from the 1940s. While it had been estimated to sell for $3.5 million, five bidders went for the work which ended up selling for $4.7 million. Even more subtle canvases had their appeal. "Achrome," a sensual, layered white canvas by Piero Manzoni, also brought a record price. Franck Giraud beat out five bidders to buy the painting for $10.1 million, well above its $6.5 million estimate.

But the really big deal of the night blew everyone away. A 1976 triptych by Francis Bacon brought $86.3 million becoming the most expensive work of contemporary art ever sold at auction and a slap at the doomsayers who had predicted that the art market would falter seriously this season because of the economy. Clearly, the art world hasn't heard of the recession. The sale went well beyond even the auction house's expectations, bringing in $362 million. 18 artist records were set for names ranging from Yves Klein and Piero Manzoni to Tom Wesselmann to Takashi Murakami.

Rocker Patty Smyth put on a butt kicking show at Bobby Kennedy Jr.'s Riverkeeper benefit, where she and hubby John McEnroe were honored. Onstage in a black cocktail dress, the singer told the crowd "I usually wear jeans and a T-shirt. But at least I'm not going commando on your a—, like all those other little sluts in this town." Mac's folks, Southamptonites John and Kay McEnroe, howled with delight.

File this under cheesy. With his sugar-mama Star Jones out of the picture, Al Reynolds is shopping his first television interview to the highest bidder. He's looking for a six-figure deal for an interview where he dishes about being married to Star. I hear that some shows are interested in a chat, but only if he is really willing to part with some deep dirt but nobody is willing to pay for it.

Patti Smyth and John McEnroe at the Riverkeeper gala.

James Frey whose supposedly non-fiction memoir was blasted as a fraud by critics and Oprah herself who had been his biggest fan is back in the literary limelight. The author made his triumphant return at the Blender Theater, where he walked through his adoring fans flanked by two huge body-builders and took the stage to read from his first novel, "Bright Shiny Morning." As my fave jazz pianist Eric Lewis played, Frey read a passage about LA's gun culture under a slide show of Terry Richardson photographs of tattooed, heavily armed gang members.

Actor Heath Ledger may be gone, but his role as the Joker in the new Batman movie is taking on a life of its own—as a merchandising powerhouse. "The Dark Knight" opens July 18, but legions of the morbidly curious are already scrambling for Joker memorabilia and manufacturers are rushing to meet the rising demand from retailers. The Joker action figures, released earlier this month, have already become a cult hit. One of my spies at Forbidden Planet, a store that specializes in movie and video game merchandise, told me their first shipment of the six-inch Joker figures sold out in less than two days

Circle on your calendar! John Brancati at East End Books will host a champagne toast to photog Lora Drasner to celebrate the release of her gorgeous new book "Sunsets", Saturday, May 31.

Seen Around the Villages:

Huma Abedin, right hand to Hillary Clinton, had a quiet dinner with Congressman Anthony Weiner at Almoncello in East Hampton. Aida Turturro with a bunch of girlfriends arriving early for the grand reopening of the Nick Monte Seawater Spa at Gurney's in Montauk. Alan Alda spotted throwing spears, shooting a bow and arrow and making primitive tools at Stony Brook University for a TV documentary on human origins.