Las Vegas Weekly

November 16, 2009 · 1:44 PM

Weekend Wrap Photo Galleries: Diddy, 50 Cent, Sammy, Chelsea

By Robin Leach

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs makes a promotional appearance for his new group Dirty Money and Ciroc Vodka at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip on Nov. 14, 2009.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Everywhere you turned this past weekend, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs was in the spotlight. And everywhere the music mogul, rapper, producer, actor and fashion designer went, he was busy promoting his Ciroc vodka. In fact, he’s so in love with Las Vegas at the moment that he’ll be back for New Year’s Eve hosting a TV special and helping open the Hard Rock Hotel’s new nightclub Vanity.

Vegas DeLuxe first reported Sean’s New Year’s Eve TV special here two weeks ago. The live event tied to America’s Party and fireworks show is set to air on The CW. The Strip-front stage location for multiple music acts hasn’t yet been confirmed, although rumors persist it will be at the entranceway to the new CityCenter. Now I’ve learned that there will be yet another live star-studded telecast from Mandalay Bay feeding into the live Times Square telecast on Fox.

My colleague Melissa Arseniuk, who interviewed Sean over the weekend for the Las Vegas Sun, reported that there’s also chatter about live cut-ins from Las Vegas for MTV and E! Entertainment. “I may be shooting a TV special, but I can’t give you any details because that’s breaking news,” Sean told Melissa. He added: “I used to come to Vegas maybe once every other year. I’ve been out here already four times this year. It’s the most I’ve been out here. I’m supposed to be out here. I’m the black Sinatra.” Melissa said he will be hosting at Vanity on or around Jan. 2 as part of the grand opening festivities.

He hasn’t yet had a chance to celebrate his 40th birthday, which was Nov. 4, but he’ll rectify that this coming week in New York. Meantime, his Las Vegas partying began at the new Strip Hard Rock Cafe, where he introduced his new group Dirty Money as part of our local KLUC FM contest, where fans got to meet the tycoon.

Also at the Strip Hard Rock Cafe was rapper 50 Cent wearing a John Lennon and Yoko Ono-inspired red band marking World Hunger Year. He promoted his new album Before I Self-Destruct. Hard Rock sponsors World Hunger Year and created the Imagine There’s No Hunger pin and bracelet with Yoko.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

50 Cent at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip.

Sean hosted a brunch yesterday at the Stratosphere. The private event for Core DJs attracted 200 guests to the resort’s 108th floor observation level. In between, Sean was front row at the big Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight. After the boxing match, he joined other celebrities at XS in the Encore and held court at a large VIP booth and was joined by Jermaine Dupri, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ray J. The quartet posed for photos and got the crowd going inside XS, particularly when the song “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys was played. Reality TV star Robert Kardashian Jr. dropped by the table to chat with Ray J. Mario Lopez and girlfriend Courtney Mazza were with friends at a dance floor table near Sean’s group.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, second from left, holds court with Jermaine Dupri, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Ray J and others at XS in the Encore.

Photo: Erik Kabik/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Jeremy Piven at the Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Nov. 14, 2009.

Another music star in the house was Ne-Yo. Also at XS: international soccer star Dwight Yorke, Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, reining Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler and football legend Jerome Bettis. New York Yankees star pitcher C.C. Sabathia returned to XS for a second evening and was joined again by teammate outfielder Xavier Nady and Seattle Mariners infielder Bill Hall.

Sammy Hagar @Cabo Wabo Cantina

Rocker Sammy Hagar paid a weekend visit to his newly opened Las Vegas restaurant Cabo Wabo Cantina at the Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood. Sammy delivered his official seal of approval, and then got up on top of the bar to toast the energetic crowd with his signature Waborita margarita. Sammy and his beautiful wife of 20 years dined at the Cantina where they sampled a variety of items including Cabo Wabo’s signature fajitas, nachos and guacamole. Sammy’s Las Vegas Cantina is his second location after the flagship in Cabo San Lucas.

He returned the next night to surprise fans with a performance, which was shown live on the oversized LED video screen facing the Strip. Since opening three days ago, Cabo Wabo Cantina has already hosted thousands of guests. Sammy told me he’ll be back to celebrate its grand opening with a free concert on Dec. 4.

Chelsea Handler @The Colosseum

Comedienne Chelsea Handler thrilled fans with her weekend show at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace with pint-sized sidekick Chuy Bravo, and she didn’t touch a drop of vodka during the performance. Chelsea’s boyfriend, former ABC boss and now Comcast Cable chief Ted Harbert, led her group while visiting The Venetian. Along with singer Natasha Bedingfield and actress Mary McCormack, Chelsea and Chuy went on a Grand Canal Shoppes spree to kick off the weekend.

Then the Chelsea Lately star took her group to Tao at The Venetian, where they feasted on signature dishes and snapped photos during dinner. After thanking the chefs for a great meal, they took a VIP skybox with a bird’s-eye view of the nightclub, sipped on Grey Goose cocktails and danced the night away. Chelsea and her star pals also met with Bette Midler and her daughter Sophie backstage at The Colosseum after Bette finished her show and before Chelsea started hers.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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