Las Vegas Weekly

November 25, 2008 · 11:29 AM

Strip Scribbles: Benji Madden parties on in two more Strip nightclubs

By Robin Leach

Benji Madden at Wasted Space.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Yesterday we told you that Good Charlotte rocker and Paris Hilton’s most recent ex Benji Madden had begun his bachelor-at-play visit to Las Vegas with a dinner at N9NE steakhouse, followed by the Playboy Club upstairs at the Palms. But he didn’t stop there.

He wound up spinning a one-hour DJ set in the middle of the night at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock, where he is a partner, and before dawn rose he also went to Body English nightclub to watch hip-hop legend KRS-One perform. For the record, no gorgeous blondes on his arm -- yet!

*Partygoers just fell in love with Playboy playmates Kara Monaco ( PMOY 2006) and Janine Habeck (Germany’s PMOY 2005) when they hosted a Tabu Ultra Lounge party in MGM Grand that went well into the wee hours pre-dawn. Kara wore an off-the-shoulder, sexy, short black mini dress, and Janine donned a tight pale pink dress.

*Flamingo magician headliner Nathan Burton flew to Hollywood to help celebrate talk-show royal Larry King’s 75th birthday. Nathan made him magically appear from a cabinet for the CNN star’s Cardiac Foundation fundraiser, which also featured Leeza Gibbons, Drew Carey, Colbie Caillat and Paulina Rubio.

*Congratulations to 20-year-old Georgina Vaughan of Summerlin, who won the title of Miss Nevada USA. Georgina will represent the Silver State in Donald Trump’s next Miss USA beauty pageant. She won out over 21 other competitors ages 18 to 26. Eighteen year-old Ileri Tunrarebi of Henderson beat out 11 other teens and claimed the Miss Nevada Teen USA 2009 title. “These beautiful girls will act as positive role models for Nevada, and they have a great chance of becoming the next Miss USA and Miss Teen USA,” said Maureen Atwell, pageant director.

*Star surveillance: Smooth ladies man Usher ordered up Kobe beef when he hit Sushi Roku’s Red Sun Lounge late night. … Comedy star Dane Cook was next door in the Boa Steakhouse at Caesars Palace Forum Shops, where he ordered lobster tails. … The classical violin-playing Alizma triplets tucked into sushi and sashimi at Koi in Planet Hollywood before catching the Keith Barry magic show next door. … Orthodox Jewish rap, reggae and rock artist Matisyahu entertained an entourage on the outside patio terrace of Lavo in the Palazzo, where Mehcad Brooks, co-star of HBO’s hot True Blood series, dined with friends. … Actor Brian Baumgartner from NBC’s The Office cheered on the contestants at Tao nightclub’s 3rd annual Go-Go dance-off contest in The Venetian. Funnyman Jamie Kennedy joined Brian just as the $10,000 winner’s prize was awarded. … Across the Strip at Christian Audigier nightclub in T.I., former Baywatch star Jeremy Jackson partied for at least the third time this month -- and still stuck to just Fiji water!

*Certified master chef Gustav Mauler held his 7th annual “Cooking With Gustav” dinner in his Spiedini Ristorante at the JW Marriott and raised more than $3,000, which he donated to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.

Tonight’s tip

The rain must be coming our way because Stone Temple Pilots rocker Scott Weiland, fresh off the band’s red-hot reunion tour, will throw a party for his new solo album Happy in Galoshes at Lavo in the Palazzo. Carey Hart throws a triple-header with rockers The Vacation joined by Ian Shane Taylor and Mack & The Reflections at his Wasted Space in the Hard Rock, while LMFAO turns in a live performance at Moon nightclub atop the Palms Fantasy Tower. At Budd Friedman’s famed Improv Comedy Club in Harrah’s, comedian Charles Fleisher headlines with supporting act Jodi Borello through Sunday.

Tomorrow’s tease

Paris Hilton admits that she’s still in love with Benji Madden even though they split up by “mutual agreement,” and some veteran James Bond stars head to Las Vegas for the weekend. The holiday season gets underway as the Christmas lights are turned on in the Cactus Garden, and the X girls strip down to stuff the bird and say “Happy Thanksgiving.”

Coming later in the week, the incredible story of the Britney Spears comeback, which should include a New Year’s Eve kickoff right here in Vegas. Negotiations are underway this week to finalize that. Britney faces a whirlwind few days -- she flew to Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday for the European stage of her return and then goes onto London this weekend for Simon Cowell’s The X Factor. Britney then races right back to New York on Sunday to celebrate her 27th birthday a week from today with the release of her new album Circus and a Good Morning America appearance at New York’s Big Apple Circus.

Vegas DeLuxe has the full inside story -- and advance photos from Sunday’s emotional, often heart-breaking and very revealing MTV documentary of her climb back to the top, recovering from two years of major, messy missteps -- and now fighting for top pop status all over again.

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