InStyle.com PARTY HOPPER

2002 MTV Video Music Awards

Gwen Stefani makes a grand entrance at Radio City Music Hall. To see more from this event visit InStyle.com

(InStyle) -- The main event: The MTV Video Music Awards, hosted by SNL's Jimmy Fallon, descended upon Radio City Music Hall and literally took New York City by storm on Thursday. But the rain didn't wash out any of the week's celebrity-saturated soirées.

THE PLAYERS

No Doubt, J. Lo, Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, The Vines, The Hives, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Ja Rule, Eminem, Axl Rose, Kate Hudson, and the list goes on ...

THE PARTIES

SIGN UP  Want more from InStyle.com? Sign up for free e-mails.    TRANSFORMATIONS To see more of your favorite celebrities visit InStyle.com.

Earlier in the week, newly established soloist Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Kirsten Dunst and Missy Elliott helped Pink, winner for best female video, get the party started downtown at hot spot Lot 61. Busta Rhymes kicked off the festivities with a dance party at midtown's Django, while LL Cool J chilled with Musiq Soulchild at the W hotel Times Square.

But things really got rolling (and rocking) the night of the ceremony. "It kind of feels like the Grammys meets a high school assembly," said first-timer John Mayer on the red carpet.

After the awards, The Strokes performed at a post-show bash at Milk Studios. The band's drummer, Fabrizio Moretti, called the entire VMAs experience "really surreal" before wowing a crowd that included Pink, Kid Rock and Kelly Osbourne.

But the fête on everyone's mind and agenda was P. Diddy's lavish affair at Cipriani. MTV's Brian McFayden explained: "One thing about Puffy's parties is that he tries to upstage everyone, and he does. Every year, if he's throwing a party, that's where to go."