It’s almost a year since the start of the boycott of the famed and beloved historic Beverly Hills Hotel. In that time, long time regulars like Clive Davis and Graydon Carter have gone elsewhere. The Night Before gala has relocated to the Fox lot. For a while, it was anathema to go to the Polo Lounge for a drink. The protest was based on the edict of the hotel’s owner, the Sultan of Brunei, who enacted severe anti-gay policies– known as Sharia– in his country.

But now things are changing. Oscar winner Russell Crowe, sources say, has been staying there for the last month. He’s been seen working out in the gym. Celebrity sightings are rampant. Sean Penn has been spotted at the BHH. So have Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Calls to to the hotel spokesperson haven’t been returned, but a top level source confirmed that a “number of celebrities have returned.” The hotel and the Polo Lounge, according to many, are “packed.” Last month the local neighborhood association from Coldwater Canyon had a meeting there with many celebs in attendance.

Earlier this month, Los Angeles Confidential magazine went ahead with a party at the pink palace. John Legend declined to appear or perform, but the party went on with mostly C list celebrities.

Now, the word is that one high profile studio exec has proposed donating $1 million to gay organizations in exchange for lifting the industry wide ban.

Would it work? A lot of former regulars feel sympathetic toward the long suffering hotel staff. They have nothing to do with Sharia and need to make a living. Is a year long enough punishment? The story is not over…

Oscar weekend began last night with a bang: while the LAPD Bomb Squad found nothing down at Hollywood and Highland, there were explosions of a different sort all over town. At the annual Gagosian Gallery opening– this year for artist John Currin‘s luscious nudes– the stars poured in. Leonardo DiCaprio came with his mom and a bunch of friends. Elton John and David Furnish did a through the massive gallery space. Mick Jagger arrived with his business partner Victoria Pearman.

That was a lot of star power in one room! And believe it or not, none of them talked to each other. Leo and Mick in particular passed like ships in the day– the room is brightly lit. Mick did stop and study each painting very carefully, Leo admired them more casually. There were plenty of other celebs and a performance artist who was dressed like Jesus. DiCaprio sported a wiry beard, and told me that shooting “The Revenant” in Calgary is very very cold, but maybe not as cold as New York! His mom Irmelin, who’s a peach, was celebrating her 70th birthday.

Over at the Beverly Hilton, Ewan McGregor and another boatload of stars were on hand for the 2nd annual Unite4Humanity, sponsored by Variety. Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Jeff Bridges, Aaron Paul and William H. Macy were among them, and everyone spoke to each other.

There were many other parties, I’m sure, but over at the excruciatingly hip Sunset Tower Hotel, writer director Paul Haggis was having his annual dominoes tournament — in black tie– for Artists for Peace and Justice. They raise money for Haiti. Aloe Blacc sang, Oscar nominee Patricia Arquette led the red carpet congo that included Adrien Brody, Russell Simmons,, Clifton Collins Jr. and bevvies of beauties.

What was going on in the Sunset Tower dining room? This is one of the most exclusive eateries in town. On Wednesday night, George Clooney and wife Amal were there, along with Michael Keaton. Last night: Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa— tied for nicest celebs with Elton and David–shared a table with Jimmy Kimmel; Bill Murray corralled director Wes Anderson, and actress Kelly Lynch with her director husband Mitch Glazer; Lee Daniels rolled through the room for a meet and greet; the great Rose McGowan and her 100 watt smile joined a table of pals, and Lawrence O’Donnell gave the joint an air of respectability.

Key words over heard in the air everywhere: Boyhood, Birdman, Will American Sniper pull off a surprise on Sunday night, and secret admissions of voting for The Imitation Game.

More to come…

The lawsuits brought by two young men against Michael Jackson’s estate– alleging the late pop star molested them when they were underage– are still progressing through Los Angeles family court. The suits were brought by Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck, each of whom was part of Jackson’s coterie of young boys who lived and played at Neverland, and went on trips with Jackson.

Over time, Safechuck dropped out of the picture and there was speculation that his family received financial assistance in exchange for their silence back in the day. Robson, however, went on to work for Jackson and his company, became a choreographer, and testified for Jackson in his 2005 at his child molestation trial.

Of the two cases, I’m told, Robson is in the best position because he worked for Jackson’s company. Both Safechuck and Robson have sued Jackson’s company and his estate. But rulings are still pending about statute of limitations on suing an estate five years after the probate has settled. Jackson died in June 2009.

If the cases were allowed to go forward against the estate, it’s more than likely that Jackson’s executors would settle. The reasoning is they don’t want to tarnish the brand in public with a lot of sordid details. The executors would also want to avoid embarrassing Jackson’s three children with a circus like televised and much publicized trial. A settlement would gag all parties and seal the deals.

More to come…