Jay-Z, Hugh Hefner and Mariah Carey head to Las Vegas for weekend

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Jay-Z performs at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. The rapper is expected to serve as host at two Las Vegas nightclubs this weekend: Lavo on Friday and Tao on Saturday. He might also pop by other night spots as well.

By Melissa Arseniuk

Published Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 12:16 p.m.

Updated Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 11:30 p.m.

Denise Truscello

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon will be in Las Vegas this weekend. Cannon will be guest DJ at Moon tonight (April 30, 2009).

It will be a mixed bag of VIPs in Las Vegas this weekend, as Jay-Z, Hugh Hefner, and Mariah Carey are all planning trips to town.

Meanwhile, a handful of motocross riders join perennial Vegas partiers Mario Lopez and Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian at separate scheduled appearances.

Carey and husband Nick Cannon will get things started tonight as they ring the (wedding) bells at Moon to celebrate one full year of marriage.

Cannon will spin a set as guest DJ; no word on whether or not Mimi will pic up the mic.

DC Motocross teammates Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Robbie Maddison, Nate Adams, Adam Jones, Josh Hill, Davi Millsaps and Dustin Miller will sign autographs and take pictures with fans on Friday afternoon, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., at their sponsor’s new store at the Miracle Mile Shops.

Over at the Palms and fresh off a stint in Costa Rica, big time nightlife promoter-slash-tattoo-artist John Huntington will officially mark his return to Las Vegas this weekend as he rebrands/opens his own/new tattoo parlor on Friday.

The shop, Huntington Ink, will replace the “Inked” star’s previous commercial collaborative effort with Carey Hart, Hart and Huntington, which previously occupied the same space.

Huntington will host at Ghostbar next week, along with a group of so-called “ink girls.”

While Huntington celebrates inside the casino, things will heat up around the pool at Palms Place and Bungalows as the 2009 season of Ditch Fridays gets underway.

A bikini-clad cast of 2008 Playmates – including Michelle McLaughlin (February 2008); AJ Alexander (May 2008); Juliette Frette (June 2008); Laura Croft (July 2008); Kayla Collins (August 2008); Kelly Carrington (October 2008); and identical twin sisters Jennifer and Natalie Campbell (December 2008) – will host the sexy afternoon splash fest.

Meanwhile, Naghty by Nature will be over at the MGM Grand's adults-only pool, Wet Republic, on Friday night where they will put on a little live performance of their own.

The concert is being put in as part of Wet Republic's Hot 100 contest.

The guy who calls himself Pittsburgh Slim will be at the Bank on Friday and will perform what the club is calling his "YouTube hit," a song called "Girls Kissing Girls." (The clip has been viewed about 3,743,550 times since it was posted -- in October of 2007 -- but it's still debatable whether or not that qualifies it as a "hit.")

While Slim is doing his thing at the Bank, Elizabeth Mendez, a.k.a. Feisty and Chelsea Fetula, a.k.a. Lil' Hood of the VH1 reality show, "For the Love of Ray J," will be a few blocks north, at Jet.

Later that night, the music will continue back at the Palms as Euro sensation Hedkandi takes over the turntables at Moon, along with DJs Phil Faversham and Airloom.

Meanwhile, Robin Thicke and Jennifer Hudson will play the Pearl.

In a curious and odd change-of-venue, the official Thicke-Hudson after party will be held at Privé at Planet Hollywood.

Despite the Grammy and Academy Award-winners at the Palms, however, the biggest star of the night will shine over at Lavo, as rapper Jay-Z puts in his first of two nights as a Las Vegas nightclub host.

No appearances by his better half, Beyoncé Knowles, have been announced – but here’s hoping.

With or without Beyoncé, the former Def Jam CEO and 40/40 Club co-founder will be at Tao on Saturday to host yet another night of fun in da club.

Jay-Z won't be popping by his former nightspot at the Palazzo this weekend, though -- 40/40 quietly closed its doors last fall. This means it's anyone's guess where the after party will be.

Rarely one to keep fans guessing, Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner announced weeks ago that he will be at Simon at Palms Place on Saturday night to announce the 50th Playmate of the Year.

Former “Celebrity Apprentice” contestant and former 2001 Playmate of the Year, Brande Roderick, will host the event, while several other Playmates past will also be in attendance.

Erik Kabik/Retna / www.erikkabikphoto.com

The Kardashians at Pure on Nov. 13, 2008. From left, Kris, Kourtney, Khloe and Kim.

Hef and his bevy of beauties will host the official after party later that night at – where else?! – Playboy Club.

Over at Planet Hollywood, Mario Lopez will host a night at Privé.

Further south on The Strip, at MGM Grand, the cast of “True Blood” will come together for a second season kick-off party at Tabu.

Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammel and Alexander Skarsgard are among those expected to walk the red carpet at midnight.

Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian will appear alongside NBA great Robert Horry on Saturday at Sapphire Pool at the Rio as the adults-only pool holds its season opener soirée.

The evening party kicks off at 7 p.m. and will feature a performance by Alisa Apps. The three-hour celebration will support the Prostate Cancer Foundation and admission is by donation, with a $10 minimum.

As the weekend’s supercross series comes to a close, Carey Hart will throw a party at his hardcore club at the Hard Rock, Wasted Space. A collection of hand-painted 59FIFTY hats will be auctioned off during the party.

Steve Marcus

Junior welterweight boxer Ricky Hatton of England poses as he makes his official arrival at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada April 28, 2009. Hatton will fight Manny Pacquiao of Philippines at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2.

The hats’ unique designs were created and executed by Hart and Huntington tattoo artists, and proceeds of the sale will support the Road 2 Recovery Foundation, which helps professional motocross racers who have suffered career-ending injuries.

VIPs expected to attend include motocross greats Chad Reed, Davey Millsap and Josh Grant. Hart will be there, too, but let’s face it: That goes without saying.

Space Miami resident DJ, DJ Oscar G will heat things up on Sunday as he spins an afternoon set at Tao Beach.

Meanwhile, England’s own Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton will host an afternoon of fun in the sun at Wet Republic, regardless of the outcome following his fight against Manny Pacquiao the night before.

Hatton is expected to arrive at 3 p.m. to will host the Wet Republic’s weekly “Daylife Sundays” pool party.

Fighers Wanderlei Silva and Thiago Alves will also host on Sunday, but not until much, much later. In fact, their night won't start until the wee hours of the morning: They're hosting the post-fight festivities at Drai's After Hours -- and everyone knows that place doesn't even open until the sun has long gone down.