Las Vegas Weekly

January 25, 2010 · 1:06 PM

Photo Gallery: A birthday party w/Meg Ryan, Helen Hunt and Adam Carolla

By Robin Leach

Helen Hunt, Camryn Manheim, Adam Carolla, Kathy Najimy, Dan Finnerty, a friend, Cheri Oteri, Ricki Lake, Suzanne the Opera Singer and Nia Vardalos.

Photo: Robyn Andrezejczak/Imagesofvegas

Actress Kathy Najimy surprised her husband Dan Finnerty of The Dan Band with an exciting weekend trip -- that included Meg Ryan and Ricki Lake -- to Las Vegas for his 40th birthday. The couple flew in on a private jet and checked into the Siena Suite at the Palazzo with its incredible views of the Strip.

Kathy and Dan headed down to Lagasse’s Stadium, where they kicked off the evening with a cocktail party with family and friends. Guests included Ricki Lake, Camryn Manheim, Adam Carolla, Helen Hunt, Cheri Oteri and Nia Vardalos. The party was in a private VIP luxury box complete with pool table, white sofas with colorful pillows, old-school video games and an outside patio. Ricki and Helen had a blast playing Ms. Pac-Man.

The guests enjoyed Emeril Lagasse’s signature chicken sliders, mini crab cakes with remoulade sauce and Creole broiled shrimp cocktail as they drank beer, wine and water. The Venetian Opera Singer Suzanne the Duchess made her way to the party to sing an astounding “Happy Birthday” to Dan in Italian opera as all the guests raised glasses for a champagne toast. The group also posed for photos and danced.

The party continued at Tao in the adjoining Venetian, where the group of 30 had a private table in the loft overlooking the Buddha. The table was decorated with snow globes with pictures of Dan inside them, dice and other Las Vegas-esque items.

Meg Ryan joined the group later, hugged the birthday boy, and then sat next to Helen to catch up. Kathy stopped the dinner to have Dan’s best friends, including Helen, give speeches to celebrate his 40th. The group did one large toast, and Kathy presented Dan with a custom Las Vegas-style cake from Tao with two large dice and a Las Vegas sign atop that read “Happy 40th Birthday Dan!” Then it was time for the nightclub upstairs, where they had a private raised table in the club’s moat VIP section stocked with Grey Goose and champagne, and they continued the celebration past midnight.

The next day, Kathy, Dan, Meg, Camryn, Cheri, Ricki and Nia had brunch at Dos Caminos in the Palazzo. Contributing photographers Al Powers and Robyn Andrzejczak shot this incredible and close-up photo gallery.

Meg broke away from the weekend festivities long enough to attend Cirque du Soleil’s Love at The Mirage with best gal pal Robin Ruzan, ex-wife of Mike Myers. The ladies kept it low profile and sipped Fiji water during the performance. Afterward, they returned to the Palazzo to rejoin the group for Dan’s continuing birthday at Lavo.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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