Las Vegas Weekly

June 2, 2008 · 1 PM

Ashlee Simpson does the bump at Palms Place opening

By Robin Leach

Jessica Simpson pats little sis Ashlee's baby bump at the grand opening party for George Maloof's new Palms Place on May 31.

Photo: The Palms

Lovestruck pop newlyweds Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson were all aglow at the grand opening of George Maloof’s new Palms Place condo-tel under the ever-watchful eye of “grandpa-to-be” Joe Simpson. But Ashlee’s big sister, Jessica, was solo with former boyfriend Tony Romo nowhere in sight, and George Clooney’s former galpal, model Sarah Larsen, made her first solo appearance since their split. It was a night of both “the look of love” and “romances on the rocks.”

I got to talk to the Simpsons in the private dining room that Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon set up for them in his new restaurant there.

Ashlee showed me her “ baby bump” as Pete gently patted it. “I’m hoping for a baby girl,” said Ashlee, and Pete playfully added: “I’m hoping for a baby boy. But we will be happy if it’s a boy or a girl.” The happy and relaxed couple had explained that there’d been a Hollywood guessing game about her pregnancy when they married two weeks ago as they’d delayed the official baby news until Ashlee was safely into her third trimester. “Vegas is our quickie honeymoon” Pete said, smiling. Ashlee also confirmed that, earlier in the day, the family had decided to postpone her summer tour due to the pregnancy. She said, “We will be back better than ever and ready to rock in the future. I’m committed to giving my fans the best show possible -– and we also want the best for the baby.”

Pete, who is the lead bassist for his Grammy-nominated group, Fall Out Boy, then took over DJ duties poolside for the party and dedicated the first record, “Power of Love” to Ashlee’s dad and manager. “This is dedicated to my father-in-law, Joe Simpson, and I definitely have the power of love for you.” He also dedicated a follow-up record to his “Baby Momma,” who had moved to an adjoining VIP cabana with her own mom and sister who also rubbed the “baby bump.” For the record, they all stuck to water all evening long!

While Jessica put on a brave face going solo without Romo on her arm, model Sarah Larson seemed all smiles while reuniting with a whole host of friends back at her old workplace. Before her world-traveled romance with superstar actor George Clooney began at CineVegas exactly a year ago, she had worked as a cocktail waitress at the Palms. He whirled her to film festivals in Venice and Deauville, and then for the first time in his single life he even took her as a date to the Oscars. But right after that, he remained firm to his committed bachelor lifestyle and they split.

Sarah looked radiant in the cabana adjoining the Simpsons –- even reuniting with her former boyfriend, magazine owner Ryan Doherty, for a couple of sexy dance moves! That’ll start speculation but again for the record he was with his own new galpal, a sensational and shapely PURE nightclub VIP table hostess server who ironically is one of Sarah’s best girl friends!

The star-studded VIP list for the opening celebrations hosted by Maloof included everybody from Nevada’s divorcing first lady, Dawn Gibbons, to Hulk Hogan’s divorcing wife, Linda, who has a penthouse floor condo-apartment there with next-door neighbor Jessica Simpson! My longtime pal Ian Zeiring, from Dancing with the Stars confirmed he’s not going to return to the Beverley Hills 90210 TV special. Also joining in the fun were Khloe Kardashian, from Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis; LaToya and Jackie Jackson; Lauren Conrad, Lauren “Lo” Bosworth and Stephen Colletti all from MTV’s The Hills; A.J. Buckley (CSI NY), Ashley Scott (Jericho), Josh Meyers (Date Movie), Krysten Ritter (What Happens In Vegas), Rob Drydek (Rob & Big), Scott Mechlowicz (Eurotrip); and Ted Stryker, Romany Malco and Verne Troyer from the new movie Love Guru with Mike Myers.

SPEARS NEWS AT PALMS PARTY

Earlier in the weekend-long party that attracted some 3,000 revelers, the cast of E! TV’s Sunset Tan reality show –- including the Oily Girls, founder owners Devin Haman and Jeff Bozz, sexy Vegas manager Janelle Perry, Ania Migdal, Nick D’Anna and Erin Tietsort -- launched their new summer swimwear collection with a poolside fashion show at the main Palms pool. There were 17 different styles of sexy bikinis in original designs and prints -- but one member of the Sunset Tan cast wore a bikini so brief you saw more of her assets than she’s even seen, in polka-dot fabric that can only be described as Band Aid-sized dental floss!

Watching the poolside action was co-partner Larry Rudolph, who is Britney Spears’ manager. I chatted with him about how the media frenzy had erupted with news and photo agencies from all over the world rumoring that the pop-queen was coming with him for the weekend Palms Place opening.

“She had two dinners with George Maloof – and that started the frenzy,” he told me. “ She’s not coming and she’s taking care of her family and her work. Britney is the biggest media star in the world and most of the time everybody gets what she does completely wrong. It’s an extraordinary phenomenon.” Larry didn’t want to give me specific dates about any return to a concert tour or when and if a new album would be completed but did again say, “When it happens it will be the biggest comeback story in show business ever -- and she’ll go right to the top all over again. Britney is an extremely talented artist and she’s doing fine -- better and better every day.”

Meantime on Friday of next week (June 13) her attorneys will file a business plan for the recovering pop-star in advance of a July 31 court hearing about the conservatorship now run by her father, Jamie, who controls her financial and personal affairs since her February admission to Cedars Sinai Hospital for mental health evaluations.

Court commissioner Reva Goetz ruled on Thursday that Britney is still not well enough to participate in any meaningful way in her legal proceedings and because of her tenuous condition may still need further medical examination before the conservativeship rulings. Britney’s court-appointed attorney, Sam Ingham, even agreed that “it could be harmful to her recovery” to participate in the legal court negotiations.

On Sunday, just before 10 a.m., the Simpsons checked out and piled into a limo for their private jet flight back home to Los Angeles. Maloof told me: “It was a wonderful weekend. Everybody enjoyed themselves and everything went smoothly -- there were no hiccups. Everybody loves Palms Place especially the pool complex -- and our new restaurant and lounge attractions. It was a great opening and exactly what I wanted.”

TONIGHTS TIP:

2 Live Crew’s Uncle Luke makes it rain Benjamin’s and other $$$ bills at the Prive nightclub in Planet Hollywood on Money Monday … Over at the Mirage there’s a 3 in 1 party that starts at Bare pool lounge, then moves to Stack restaurant and then into JET. If you stay the night it’s only $89!

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