There, in a dark corner of the revamped and expanded Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach Friday night was Madonna’s boy toy, New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez, cozying up to big-screen cutie Kate Hudson — while just a few feet away, Iron Man’s Gwyneth Paltrow surveyed the scene.

In another area, a much brighter place by an overcrowded bar, domestic diva Martha Stewart was being rude to a flamboyant Joe Sixpack who asked her how to improve his traditional Thanksgiving pie.

“I’m not working right now,” replied Stewart, walking away in a her gold lamé jacket.

And then on the stage of the grand ballroom, where the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin once shined, was another superstar, Mariah Carey, her singing highlighted by the locally based Symphony of The Americas.

Welcome to the kind of party that’s been rarely seen in SoFla, the ribbon-cutting of the legendary 1950s Miami Beach resort.

Tough economic times? Well, the credit rating agency Moody’s this month warned that the owners of the resort, led by Miami developer Jeffrey Sofer, may soon not be able to pay some bills in the not-so-distant future.

But who cares? It is, after all, Miami Beach — where flash isn’t necessarily a reflection of one’s ability to pay. And this $5 million affair was everything it had been hyped to be, and not just because of the specially-created-for-the-occasion fragrance in the miles of hallways and the free-flowing Veuve Cliquot.

Carey entertained about 1,200 VIPs in the hotel’s ballroom well past midnight. She followed a current favorite on the music circuit, crooner Robin Thicke.

Those spotted in the audience include: Lonesome Dove’s Robert Duvall, who walked off after Carey’s first tune; The Godfather’s James Caan, who walked frantically through the crowds; former celebutante Paris Hilton; hip-hopper Usher, who spent most of his time on his Blackberry; Big Love wife Chloe Sevigny, who looked good enough in her denim jacket but stuck out among smartly dressed guests; rocker Lenny Kravitz hanging with Jerry Maguire’s Cuba Gooding Jr.; Miami Heater Shawn Marion chatting with his boss, team owner Micky Arison; and retired Heat star Alonzo Mourning and legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula.

Palm Beachers, too, made the trip. Actor George Hamilton was fending off a male admirer who couldn’t believe he was the George Hamilton. Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres brought an entourage from Jupiter.

And then, there was serious beefcake. Like actor Josh Lucas (Poseidon), model/actor Jason Lewis (Sex and the City) and NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon. And some of the world’s most gorgeous women, including models Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima and Karolina Kurkova.