TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Jenny Peters

THE DREAM IS ALIVE: Magic Johnson stepped aside last weekend and let the younger generation take over, as his annual Midsummer Night's Dream charity extravaganza rolled out under the watchful eye of current NBA stars Baron Davis and Paul Pierce. The Golden State Warrior and Boston Celtic together pulled out all the stops to raise cash for their eponymous foundations (as well as Magic's), created to help kids in need.

But the parties were mostly adults only, starting with a Texas hold 'em poker tournament at the Avalon Friday night, with players Jessica Alba, Kelly Hu, Penny Marshall, John Salley, Bruce Jenner and Oksana Baiul, followed by the Saturday-night bash at the House of Blues.

Transformed into the ``Glam Jam,'' the HOB party combined a fashion show featuring Baby Phat, Planet Blue, Enyce and other trendy looks with a multiple-act concert starring Snoop Dogg, Brandy, Angie Stone and Joel Madden, whose main squeeze, Hilary Duff, looked on adoringly.

Sunday's Dream included the kids, as a host of NBA stars -- Davis and Pierce, along with Mike Bibby, Dante Jones, Mike James, Dontae Jones, Jerry Stackhouse and Shawn Marion -- put on an exciting all-star basketball game at the Staples Center. Then Snoop, Usher, Terrell Owens and Reggie Bush donned uniforms and showed the big boys how it's really done, playing their own celebrity version of the game, while Nick Cannon, Brandy and a bevy of Miss Universe contestants cheered them on.

By Sunday night's closing party at The Day After nightclub in Hollywood, only the strong were still partying as the clock struck midnight: Snoop and Brandy made the scene, and of course the weekend's proud hosts, Pierce and Davis, were on hand for the final moments of their first Dream.

``Last year, Paul and I were fortunate enough to be hand-selected by Magic to continue his legacy of bringing together the community and making sure that our kids are being given a chance to do more in life than what cards have been dealt to them,'' Davis said proudly. ``Paul and I live in L.A., grew up in L.A., and we are dedicated to providing opportunities for at-risk children.''

And tons of fun for grown-ups, too.

JUSTICE FOR ALL: Why did 3,000 people converge on the Hollywood Palladium last Saturday night? Ostensibly to celebrate ``Truth, Justice, and the American Way'' at the 10th annual Justice Ball, but as one ecstatic 40-something reveler cried, ``It's my big chance to finally see the Go-Go's!''

For the big draw of the night was the triumphant return of that first and best all-girl rock band, 25 years after they first played the Palladium.

``We're happy to be back here again; it's hard to believe it has been that long!'' said a grinning lead singer Belinda Carlisle, who can still belt out the band's big hits with aplomb. From ``We Got the Beat'' to ``Vacation,'' Carlisle and fellow band members Jane Wiedlin, Kathy Valentine, Charlotte Caffey and Gina Schock kept the packed (and extremely hot and sweaty) venue rocking late into the night.

The ball was all about Bet Tzedek (Hebrew for House of Justice), the nonprofit legal center that provides free assistance to low-income, elderly and disabled Angelenos. With a huge silent auction, casino games and ticket sales going from $75 to $150, the party raised more than $500,000, all earmarked for keeping the Fairfax district center and its numerous satellite offices open for another year of helping those in need of legal advice.

``Crossing Jordan'' star Steve Valentine boogied to the Go-Go's beat in the VIP section, along with actors Alana Curry, Seth Peterson, Robert Trebor and Elvira (aka Cassandra Peterson); and once the cheering stopped and the band left the stage, the party raged on with dancing to DJ tunes.

If the packed house and smiling faces were any indication, justice was definitely served.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) SNOOP DOGG, BANNER and USHER: Hoop dreams a reality

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

(2) CARLISLE: Way to Go-Go