Las Vegas Weekly

July 17, 2009 · 1:29 PM

Ballers, Bunnies, Busta Rhymes and the Bizkit

By Melissa Arseniuk

Busta Rhymes in Prive at Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Prive

While the temperatures continue to rise and summer heats the Las Vegas Valley, the star sightings aren’t showing any signs of cooling down any time soon.

This weekend is shaping up to be one chock-full of NBA players, Playboy bunnies, hip-hoppers and rockers, with a few small-screen personalities thrown in the mix, too.

The parties start tonight with a trio of musicians-turned-nightclub-hosts: Busta Rhymes will host at LAX; ‘pop champagne’ hip-hopper Ron Browz is set to make an appearance at Jet; and Jermaine Dupri will return as guest DJ at Privé.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Jermaine Dupri.

Meanwhile, country supergroup Lonestar will light up the sky of the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

Earlier in the day, current July-August Playmates of the Month, Karissa and Kristina Shannon, will kick off a 48-hour stint in Las Vegas with an autograph signing and meet-and-greet event at the Playboy store. The twins’ PR bonanza kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Playboy store at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

Later tonight the duo will host the 10:30 p.m. performance of Playboy Comedy at the Palms.

The sisters will likely experience a little déjà-vu tomorrow, when they do the autograph signing thing once again, this time at the Playboy store’s Palms location at 1 p.m.., and later reassume their hostessing roles at Playboy Comedy for both the 8 and 10:30 p.m. shows.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Crystal Harris, Hugh Hefner and the Shannon twins -- Kristina and Karissa -- at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms.

Between the autograph signing and comedy club hosting, the girls will join boyfriend Hugh Hefner as he and girlfriend No. 3, Crystal Harris, pay the Playboy mogul’s ex, Holly Madison, a visit.

The foursome will take in the early show of “Peepshow” at Planet Hollywood, then have a private dinner in Hef’s Playboy sky villa at the Palms.

Earlier in the day, the Palms will be the place to be for NBA sightings, as the tail end of summer league brings a range of players past and present together for a few hands of cards for a good cause.

The 2009 Sports Dream Foundation charity poker tournament will see several dozen basketballers take to the tables: Kelenna Azubuike (Golden State Warriors); Greg Anthony (former UNLV star, retired Chicago Bulls and current ESPN/ABC basketball analyst); Jerryd Bayless (Portland Trailblazers); Mike Conley, Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies); Daequan Cook (Miami Heat); Baron Davis (Los Angeles Clippers); Ike Diougu (Indiana Pacers); TJ Ford (Indiana Pacers); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers’ number one draft pick); Al Harrington (New York Knicks); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Nathan Jawai (Toronto Raptors); Fred Jones (Los Angeles Clippers); Corey Maggette (Golden State Warriors); Shawn Marion (Miami Heat); JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards); retired NBA legend Sam Perkins; Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics); Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets); Jermaine O’Neal (Miami Heat); and former NBA player, Bonzi Wel, who currently plays overseas, in the Chinese Basketball Association league.

As if that wasn’t enough, NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon; Richie Incognito of the St. Louis Rams; Chip Vaughn of the New Orleans Saints; and light heavyweight champion boxer Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver will also take part in the event.

Also at the Palms tomorrow, Fred Durst and the rest of Limp Bizkit’s original line-up will give a free show at the Pearl.

All 2,500 tickets to the show are being given away starting at noon, so get there early if you want to check out what will be the group’s first show in the U.S. in eight years.

Also hitting the town tomorrow will be the B52s, who will entertain at Caesars Palace; Jewel, who will perform at Aliante Station; and comedic cover and parody group, the Dan Band, which will take to the stage at LAX.

Meanwhile, “90210” hottie Dustin Milligan will celebrate his 24th birthday at Privé, while “Daisy of Love” star, Daisy De La Hoya, will host at Pure.

Robin "Show Me Love" Carlsson, aka "Robyn" will wind the weekend down on Sunday afternoon at Tao Beach. Sure, the Swede hasn't had a hit since 1998, but that doesn't mean she won't look good in a bikini. Plus, she's recently collaborated with everyone from Britney Spears to Snoop Dogg, so who knows, a comeback might be right around the corner.

Also on Sunday, “Young and he Restless” stars Christian LeBlanc, aka Michael Baldwin, and Tracey E. Bregman, aka Lauren Baldwin, will be at MGM Grand. The small screen Baldwins will be on hand to serve as real life witnesses for the wedding of two contest winners who will tie the knot in very public, TV-friendly fashion at the Signature.

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at melissa.arseniuk@lasvegassun.com.

Share This