Playboy founder to celebrate birthday at the Palms

By Melissa Arseniuk

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | 7:27 p.m.

Leila Navidi

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, center, celebrates his 82nd birthday with the cast of his reality show "The Girls Next Door," including Kendra Wilkinson and Bridget Marquardt to Hef's right, at Trader Vic's.

Hugh Hefner is about to turn 83 years old and he’s gearing up for a day of birthday parties that would make men half his age jealous.

The resilient Playboy mogul will celebrate in advance of his big day with a pair of parties at the Palms this Saturday. His actual birthday falls a week from now, on April 9.

The day-long celebrations will feature girlfriends past and present.

The birthday boy’s day will start at 2 p.m. with a pool party at Palms Place. His trio of current lady friends, Crystal Harris, 22, and 19-year-old twin sisters Karissa and Kristina Shannon will be there, as will former live-in flames Kendra Wilkinson, Bridget Marquardt, and Holly Madison.

It is not known if Wilkinson’s fiancé, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett, will be there but it’s pretty safe to say that Madison’s more recent ex, Criss Angel, is not on the guest list.

The names of those lucky enough to be invited to the exclusive poolside party have not been released, but Palms owner George Maloof is among those expected to attend.

After some fun in the sun, Hef will take his partying public later that night, with two celebrations in the resort’s Fantasty Tower, at Moon and Playboy nightclubs. Those parties are open to the public, though standard cover charges apply.