Las Vegas Weekly

September 4, 2008 · 1:30 PM

Charlie Sheen celebrates a birthday, Criss Angel seen with Holly Madison — again — as stars party

By Robin Leach

The nightlife experts who have propelled Tao at the Venetian into the nation’s largest grossing nightclub and restaurant operation are about to launch their newest amazing entertainment attraction. Lavo will open in the neighboring Palazzo resort on Saturday next week, but already it's been invaded by a slew of celebrities. When I was there for the “soft-opening shakedowns,” I spotted actor Adrian Brody, party actress Tara Reid and gossip blogger Perez Hilton. On my way out, in came Paris Hilton with Benji Madden, Nicky Hilton with David Katzenberg, Wilmer Valderrama with Michelle Rodriguez, singer Katy Perry, actress Christina Milian, nightclub queen Amy Sacco, movie mogul Brett Ratner, rocker Deryck Whibley, comic Marlon Wayans and basketball great Lamar Odem. Now this was an ordinary night and there was no red carpet.

So just imagine what it will be like Sept. 13 when it premieres with the official grand opening! I took a tour with owners Mark Packer and Richard Wolfe, and we’ll have that photo report early next week of the multi-million dollar shopping spree in the “souks” of Morocco, where Richard bought all the furnishings, lighting, glasses and decorations to ship back here to Vegas.

* Birthday celebrations were the order of the night at the Palms -- and KISS guitarist Paul Stanley was in the thick of the party for two consecutive nights with hotel owner George Maloof. George’s sister, Adrienne, and actor Charlie Sheen both were celebrating birthdays. The night before the KISS concert at the Pearl in the Palms it was a quiet tête-à-tête for two with Paul and George, but after the show the entire band joined George and all the stars at N9NE Steakhouse. Outrageous birthday cake platters finished off a gargantuan meal of shellfish platters, rock shrimp, scallops and filets! For the record, Paul stuck to Coca-Cola, plus Snickers for dessert. Charlie brought his newly pregnant wife and his two daughters to the N9NE steakhouse dinner, plus 11 other guests -- and again Coca-Cola with limes was the beverage of choice. They dined on lobster and summer salads. Also at N9NE were Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody, choosing sashimi and scallops from the menu with a glass of merlot, comedy king Chris Rock in a black and white track suit, who was in a party of eight that included fellow comic David Spade and UFC head honcho Dana White. All three ordered tuna appetizers followed by baby steaks with lobster tails.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Charlie Sheen with his wife.

Meantime at the adjoining Rain nightclub, was Hugh Hefner or Criss Angel’s galpal -- depending on which gossip is churning now -- Holly Madison from the Girls Next Door. Party girl Tara Reid of American Pie notoriety was also at Rain after the Paul Oakenfold spin-session, plus hip-hop R 'n' B producer turned D.J., Jazzy Jeff who performed on the Waterbooth Stage until 3:45 a.m. sticking with a mix of orange and cranberry juice! Chelsea Handler’s assistant comic Chewy was at Rain for two consecutive nights partying the first night in his all pink outfit with Allison Waite. He returned the next night but added a race driver’s hat to his clothing ensemble! Upstairs at the Playboy Club, members of the Hinder rock group partied with the bunnies and blackjack before going further up to the Moon rooftop nightclub.

Photo: N9NE Group

Tara Reid

Photo: N9NE Group

Holly and Paul Oakenfold

Photo: Pure Management Group

DJ AM and DJ Jazzy Jeff

Photo: N9NE Group

Hinder

*The unrelated Hiltons literally took over the Venetian hotspot Tao with gossip blogger Perez Hilton hosting one party, and his friends included Jessica Origliasso from the Australian pop-duo The Veronicas, who opened for the Jonas Brothers tour. Also there, Jessica’s on-and-off boyfriend Azaria from the Australian rock group The Follow. Azaria made headlines when he vanished and went missing for a week after the breakup. He was later found in New York and Perez told me that the feuding twosome has reconciled -- at least for now! Next day, Perez had another group at a private cabana at the Tao Beach, which included singer-actress Christina Milian, oil heir Brandon Davis, actor Wilmer Valderrama, Pamela Anderson’s ex-husband Rick Salomon and MTV UK VJ Tim Cash. Later that evening, both Paris Hilton and little sister Nicky Hilton, who have been all over town, arrived at the club’s dance floor owners' table alongside Wilmer and they partied the night away. Famed DJ Erick Morillo was also in the VIP zone.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Azaria (left) and Jessica Origliasso (right)

Photo: Ryan Weber, Radiant Photography

Perez Hilton

Photo: Ryan Weber, Radiant Photo

Perez, Jessica and Azaria at Tao.

*Over at the LAX nightclub in the Luxor, all eyes were on new2you couple Cirque du Soileil’s Believe magician Criss Angel entertaining Hugh Hefner’s Girl Next Door Holly Madison right through the night until last call, while Wilmer Valderrama and Eva Longoria Parker from Desperate Housewives hung out in the Noir Bar inner sanctum there. Nicky Hilton checked out her investment in the Company American Bistro before hosting an LAX party night posing for photos with fans. Grammy-nominated singer Keyshia Cole stopped by, along with famed NBA greats Michael Jordan and Charles Oakley. Across the dance floor were more NBA players, including Baron Davis of the Los Angeles Clippers, Antoine Walker of the Memphis Grizzlies, Tyronn Lue and Damon Jones of the Milwaukee Bucks, Tony Allen of the Boston Celtics, Larry Hughes of the Chicago Bulls, Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons, Kelenna David Azubuike of the Golden State Warriors, Nazr Mohammed of the Charlotte Bobcats, Antoine Wright of the Dallas Mavericks and Rashad McCants and Calvin Booth both from the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus former NBA star Howard Eisley. LAX was also celebration central for reality show star Khloe Kardashian, boxer Zab Judah, Shaun Phillips of the San Diego Chargers, and Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs. The high-energy Sugarhill Gang had the celebrity crowd in wild hysteria when they performed their chart-topping hits before unwinding on a VIP stage table with Moet Chandon champagne.

Photo: Pure Management Group

David Katzenberg, Nicky Hilton and Wilmer Valderrama

Photo: Alex Loc Thieu.Tryst

Keyshia Cole

Photo: Pure Management Group

Larry Johnson

Photo: Pure Management Group

Sugarhill Gang

Up at sister club Pure in Caesars Palace, Paris Hilton and sister Nicky won rave applause from the crowd because in between Patron tequila shots and dance sessions they stopped long enough to pose for photos with frenetic fans. Wilmer Valderrama and Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria Parker also joined in the fun. Actress Haylie Duff was part of a fab foursome that included actors Nick Zano and Channing Tatum and his Step Up co-star Jenna Dewan. Sports stars attending included Larry Johnson again, UFC fighter Stephan Bonner, Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies, Jared Dudley of the Charlotte Bobcats, Lamar Odom of the L.A. Lakers, former NBA pro Gary Payton and the Milwaukee Bucks duo of Damon Jones and Tyrone Lue. DJ Jazzy Jeff joined DJ AM for a "battle of the beats" night that brought in Perez Hilton once again with the reconciled Jess Origliasso and Azario.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Haylie Duff

Photo: Pure Management Group

Channing Tatum

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