CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Creative Coalition Party, NC Music Factory Fountain Plaza

This benefit gala for The Creative Coalition got a late start but wasn’t short on entertainment. The outdoor venue was looking pretty swank and those with VIP access were ushered into the gated interior of the courtyard. Whether the lofty, open-sided white tent was intentional or a precautionary measure against this week’s weather antics, it covered several bars and more than a dozen cushy sectionals.

The restaurants around the courtyard’s perimeter varied in their guests: Osso and Bask on Seaboard were VIP-only, but Wet Willie’s was far more casual with patio umbrellas and glimpses of the Giants/Cowboys game visible through their windows.

The cabs and limos started rolling up steadily around 11:30 p.m. after the convention wrapped for the night. They dropped off a relatively diverse crowd in terms of age and taste: attire ranged from denim micro-shorts to Louboutins and there was no shortage of lapel pins.

There wasn’t an official red carpet for arriving celebs but nearly all stopped for a few quick photos. (Rose Byrne of “Damages” looked particularly darling in a floral blouse and snakeskin sling-backs.) Other notables included Patricia Arquette, Alexis Bledel, Beau Bridges, coalition CEO Robin Bronk, Tim Daly (current coalition president), Wayne Knight, Tony Shalhoub, Alfre Woodard and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

When the B-52s took the stage around quarter to 1 a.m., camera phones were out in abundance as the legendary pop stars got to work.

Around the corner, the Foo Fighters “Rock the Vote” show was truly closed-doors to those without tickets —media included — but when it let out a number of those concert-goers gathered after on the sidewalk in front of the coalition party (or idled in their cars on the way past) to take in the “Love Shack” shenanigans.

(And no worries: the Observer’s own celeb-savant Theoden Janes will have details from the Flo Rida/Eva Longoria “Got Your 6” show tomorrow.)