While this weekend looked like it was going to be a relatively quiet one in Las Vegas, a slew of celebrities were in town over the past few days.
Things got underway on Thursday, when Denver Nuggets basketball player Carmelo Anthony was spotted as he had breakfast at Society Café Encore. Joining him for a little eggs benny and salmon flat bread was MTV VJ Lala.
Holly Madison auctioned herself off to the highest bidder that night – along with dinner for 25 cooked by Ago chef Marco Porceddu and other party favors – at "Taste of the Nation" at the Hard Rock.
The bidding for Madison's party package topped off at $5,500, and all the proceeds went to help end childhood hunger.
Another former Playboy model, Tera Patrick was out on he town on Thursday, and returned to Lavo to host another night of "Lingeriegasm."
Her husband, former Biohazard rocker-turned-porn star (and current Spyderz vocalist), Evan Seinfeld, also came out for the event.
Meanwhile, Boston Celtic Ray Allen partied in the VIP section at Blush.
Also on Thursday, Bette Midler took in fellow headliner George Wallace's show at the Flamingo.
The bubbly showgirl was reportedly in good spirits that night and patiently posed for photos and signed autographs for fans after the show as she slowly made her way out of the theater.
Another local star, Flavor Flav, was seen having dinner at Nove Italiano on Thursday night. The timely reality show personality sipped Perrier Jouet Champagne and shared a range of appetizers with a female friend before enjoying chef Geno's bolognese for his main course.
The following night, Gavin Rossdale kicked his weekend off with a poolside performance at the Hard Rock. While the former Bush frontman didn't bring his rock star wife Gwen Stefani with him, he had a good excuse: She was busy giving a show of her own that night in Atlanta. (Stefani and her band, No Doubt, are scheduled to perform at the Hard Rock in August.)
Earlier Friday by another pool across town, Cisco and Shwayze performed at MGM Grand's splash fest at Wet Republic.
Rain’s new Friday night staple, DJ AM, got "leied" at another local pool as he hosted a “Hawaiian Tropic Luau” edition of Ditch Fridays at Palms Place.
English football stars Danny Simpson, Wes Brown (both of Manchester United), Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Jonathan Fortune (Charlton Athletic), Graham Stack (Plymouth Argyle) and Adam Lallana (Southampton) also turned out to take in the bikini-clad scenery.
Later that night, Brown and a handful of the British soccer stars, who were apparently in town for a bachelor party, had a king-sized meal at N9NE Steakhouse.
The players and a group of friends dined in the restaurant's private dining room, ordering a lavish five-course feast that included platters of shellfish, N9NE's signature garbage salad, halibut, lamb chops and surf and turf.
As if that wasn't enough, the hungry, hungry, hulks had s’mores, cheesecake, Oreo cookie ice cream and espresso shots for dessert.
The group headed to Rain after the massive meal where they officially got the bachelor party started.
Also taking in DJ AM's set at Rain on Friday was famed fighter Rampage Jackson and Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons.
AM – whose real name is Adam Goldstein – shared the spotlight that night with former-Fresh Prince of Bel-Air-actor-turned-celebrity-DJ, Jeffrey Townes.
Townes reassumed his DJ moniker, DJ Jazzy Jeff, to join Goldstein for a “special 2 x 4 DJ set.”
Also playing DJ on Friday was Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden, who took to the turntables at Privé.
Meanwhile, Dancing with the Stars alums Mark Ballas and Derek Hough partied across the street at the Bank.
Boxer Evander Holyfield was also in town on Friday, and was seen taking in the sexy scene at Tao.
That same night, professional skateboarder Bob Burnquist partied at Playboy Club with a group of friends.
Over at the Hard Rock, meanwhile, System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan partied at Wasted Space. Also in the VIP section that night: adult film stars Puma Swede and Tory Lane.
Criss Angel was at Circus Circus Saturday afternoon as he opened his latest venture, a “Mindfreak Super Store,” at the casino.
The Believe illusionist chatted with fans and signed autographs for nearly two hours during the rare public appearance.
Also on Saturday afternoon, Steve Wynn was spotted in a VIP cabana at Tao Beach.
Meanwhile, Mario Lopez, Melora Hardin (who plays “Jan” on The Office), and Nadine Velazquez (of NBC's recently-canceled comedy, My Name is Earl) were spotted at another pool, at the Palazzo, as the resort unveiled its new sun-drenched desert oasis, Azure.
Hardin had dinner at Lavo the night before, enjoying a range of dishes with about five guests. The group reportedly finished things off with strawberry shortcake and Oreo zeppole for dessert.
C'mon, Pete. Use your words.
Jessica Simpson's brother-in-law, Pete Wentz, embraced the big three-oh! on Saturday during a star-studded birthday bash at the Bellagio. The bassist and his wife, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, blew out the candles at a b-day blow-out at the Bank following a late dinner at Yellowtail.
The senior Simpson sister was a no-show for her brother-in-law's birthday party.
Also celebrating a birthday at the Bank on Saturday was former Dancing with the Stars champion Mark Ballas.
His girlfriend, Joanna Pacitti, and mother, Shirley Ballas, also joined him for the belated birthday bash.
Ballas, who turned 23 last month, continued his Las Vegas weekend with a large dinner at Lavo.
Derek Hough, who was celebrating a May birthday of his own this weekend, once again joined Ballas on Saturday.
The two blew out the candles on individual birthday cakes before hitting the town to continue celebrating.
Also at Lavo on Saturday were Manchester United soccer stars Wes Brown (who, as previously mentioned, was spotted at the Palms on Friday) and Danny Webber.
The athletic duo were joined by several friends and enjoyed a meal in the restaurant's private dining room, then headed upstairs to get the party started.
Once in the club, the group raised their flag before raising their glasses: A large British flag was hung above their table while a server, who was decked out in distinctly British-looking (and sexy) duds, served them Grey Goose cocktails.
Back at the Palms, Billy Idol marked his return to Las Vegas with a night at Rain. The iconic musician drank white wine while he and eight friends partied on the club's a main floor at a table just off the dance floor.
And finally, while it may not have been The Hills star Audrina Patridge’s birthday this weekend, that didn’t stop her from coming to Las Vegas for a little fun and frosting-covered cake this weekend. A supportive sister, Patridge marked her brother Mark's birthday with a day at Tao Beach, bistro and nightclub on Saturday.
The Patridge patriarch, Mark Patridge, also came out to celebrate his sons' birthday, as did his daughter's ex-boyfriend, Corey Bohan, and about 20 of the birthday boy's friends.
The large entourage started their day at Tao Beach, then returned for dinner later that evening.
Patridge's party reportedly enjoyed sushi and a variety of Tao's signature items for dinner, along with several rounds of signature cocktails and shots.
After cake was served, "Happy Birthday," had been sung, and drinks were downed, the group moved the party upstairs, where Grey Goose and Jack Daniels were waiting for them in a VIP skybox.
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