SOME guests at the “Away We Go” premiere party at the Jane Hotel wondered if Oscar winner Kate Winslet (there with her husband, the movie’s director, Sam Mendes) was aware of the hotel’s ties to the Titanic, subject of Kate’s most famous film. The building housed and sheltered all of the ship’s survivors right after the 1912 tragedy, and a memorial service was held there at the time. Eerily, the very last Titanic survivor, Millvina Dean, passed away over the weekend. Kate had just weeks earlier contributed to fund her nursing-home bills with “Titanic” castmate Leonardo DiCaprio and their director, James Cameron.

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A tipster who describes himself as a “front of house employee” at the Bryant Park Hotel claims that Madonna, whose Sticky and Sweet Tour is on hiatus, booked 28 rooms for her dancers, roadies and techies. “They are horrible,” our source alleges. “We work with people in the fashion and entertainment industry all the time, a crowd that is notoriously difficult, but these guys are rude. They are presumptuous and cheap. Nearly every one of them have stiffed their bellman and servers, and what’s worse is they have tons of stuff.” A rep for Madonna said Her Madgesty is known for her generosity and typically doles out tips when a hotel stay is over. And a hotel rep called the allegations “fabricated,” adding, “They are a polite group. We are happy to have them stay with us.”

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The date for Whitney Houston’s comeback has been set.

Arista Records says her long-awaited album will be released Sept. 1. Houston hasn’t released a CD in seven years.

So far, there’s no word on a title for the album.

The 45-year-old superstar is one of the best-selling artists of all-time, but in recent years, she’s been defined more by drug problems, marital woes and erratic behavior than by her Grammy-winning voice.

But lately, Houston has appeared to return to her pop princess form. She wowed the crowd when she performed at her mentor Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party in February.

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Despite reports that David Carradine’s death was likely self-inflicted, his manager tells Usmagazine.com that the actor did not commit suicide.

“The cause of death is still under investigation in Bangkok,” she said Thursday. “All I can tell you is that David did not commit suicide. I can tell you that 100 percent. He would never commit suicide.”

The Oscar-nominated actor David Carradine, 72, was found dead in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Citing unidentified police sources, local newspaper The Nation reported that the actor was found hanged in his luxury hotel room and is believed to have committed suicide.

“Again, the cause of death is currently under investigation,” his manager said.

Carradine was part of the famed Hollywood acting family that included his father, John Carradine, brother Keith and niece Martha Plimpton.

“My Uncle David was a brilliantly talented, fiercely intelligent and generous man,” the Kill Bill star’s niece, Plimpton told Us in a statement Thursday. “He was the nexus of our family in so many ways, and drew us together over the years and kept us connected. I adored him as a child, and as an adult I admired and respected him. We will all miss him terribly, and are so grateful for everyone’s condolences.”

She added: “The passing of someone so loved is extremely difficult under any circumstances, and I hope that all those in the media who admired David will respect his legacy and allow his family and loved ones to grieve peacefully.”

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Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster soaked up the rays on the Italian coast yesterday as their two-year-old son played nearby.

The couple basked on sunbeds as Alistair explored rock pools and beckoned his famous dad to inspect the marine life.

Penny, who has recently been photographed in a series of rather mumsy-looking frocks, opted for maximum exposure with a pair of thong bikini bottoms.

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Bobby Brown and his girlfriend Alicia Etheridge welcomed a son earlier this week, he announced at a Las Vegas club last night.

“I just had a little baby boy!” Brown said during a performance at the Rok nightclub in the New York New York Hotel last night. “His name is Cassius…he was born four days ago.”

His agent Ravi Dabiesingh confirms the news, adding “they are extremely excited.”

Dabiesingh told Us in February that Brown was “very excited” about expecting another baby “as [he’s] big on family.”

Brown began dating Etheridge in 2007.

Brown split with Whitney Houston in 2006. They have one daughter, 15-year-old Bobbi Kristina.

The “My Prerogative” singer also has three children from other relationships: Landon, LaPrincia and Bobby Jr.

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