Steven Tyler, Snoop Dogg among stars lighting up Las Vegas

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Friday, July 24, 2009 | 6:14 a.m.

Scott Den Herder

Snoop Dogg at Star of the Desert Arena on July 10, 2009.

Once again, the stars didn’t wait until the weekend to come out and play and the star-studded partying will continue tonight through the weekend – this is Las Vegas, after all.

Former Destiny’s Child songstress-turned-soloist Kelly Rowland got the party stared at Tao last night, as part of the club’s popular Worship Thursdays party.

The songbird used the occasion to toast the success of her collaborative effort with David Guetta, “When Love Takes Over.”

The big news of the night, however, went down at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel as late-’90s pop-punk sensations Blink 182 reunited for the first of two shows.

Last night’s show was the first time Travis Barker, Tom Delonge and Mark Hoppus appeared onstage together for an official show in more than five years. They’ll do it again tonight, swapping out last night’s openers, Motion City Soundtrack, for Chester French.

Chester French will actually give two shows today, first with an afternoon acoustic set at 1 p.m. at Zia Records at 4503 W. Sahara Ave., then a full-length opening set at The Joint later tonight.

While Chester French will head to the Palazzo for a post-show party at Lavo, Travis Barker will head over to the the Palms, where he’ll put in some performance overtime with his good friend, Adam Goldstein, aka Rain resident DJ, DJ AM.

The two talents, who are known more simply as “TRV$AM,” are expected to go on sometime after midnight.

Also taking to the turntables tonight will be Lindsay Lohan’s scowl-happy ex, Samantha Ronson, who will do another stint in the booth at Privé. While the Vegas-loving and scorned Lohan isn’t expected to come to the show, let’s face it: When it comes to LiLo, you just never know.

The Counting Crows will also perform tonight, though nowhere near the Strip, at Red Rock Resort.

Meanwhile, the long-legged and lovely Stacy Keibler will be back on the Strip, at the MGM Grand, as she hosts a festive Friday night at Tabu

The star sightings will continue Saturday as former reality TV contestant Melissa Rycroft hosts an afternoon pool party at Palazzo.

The former “Dancing with the Stars” and “Bachelor” contestant’s hot hubby, Ty Strickland, will also be at Azure Saturday.

And as all good Vegas celebrity watchers know, any appearances at the Palazzo or the Venetian are usually followed and/or preceded by dinner or drinks (or both) at Tao and/or Lavo, so keep your eyes peeled for Rycroft and Strickland if you’re at either eatery this weekend.

Later on Saturday night, Aerosmith returns to Vegas, along with opening act ZZ Top, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In addition to the concert, hardcore fans and determined Steven Tyler groupies will have a chance to catch a glimpse of the legendary front man after the show, too, at the official afterparty that he is set to host. Appropriately, Tyler’s get-together is being held at a club named after a New York City nightspot that was once as notorious as the rocker himself: Studio 54.

If you prefer rappers to rockers, Pure or the Palms will be the place to be Saturday night.

Fast-talking, muscle-bound hip-hopper DMX will be at Pure at Caesars Palace while Snoop Dogg returns to the Las Vegas Valley for his second show in just over two weeks, and will perform for the lingerie-clad crowd at Kandy Vegas’ main event at the Palms. (The Doggfather played in Primm on July 10.)

Another super-sexy, yet considerably shorter and more subdued show will go down at the Luxor Saturday, as Grammy Award-winning crooner Robin Thicke headlines the resort’s Singles in Sin City Saturday night party.

The early evening poolside party will also feature Elevator Fight and gets underway at 6 p.m.

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.