Alicia Keys, Eva Longoria, Kelly Clarkson bring star power to Las Vegas

By Melissa Arseniuk

Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 | 11:24 a.m.

The weekend started a little early this week, thanks to the Latin Grammy Awards.

The star-studded awards took place at Mandalay Bay and played host to an array of celebs, including Eva Longoria, Alicia Keys, Enrique Iglesias, and Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez.

After the show, Iglesias headed over to Lavo with his manager and a large group of friends. The star threw back a few Grey Goose cocktails at the Palazzo hot spot and took in the club's weekly "Seduxion" Latin night.

Also at the Palazzo on Thursday, Disney’s "The Suite Life" stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse popped by First Food and Bar where tey sampled some white bean soup, ribeye steak, and the grilled pork chop.

Earlier that night, "Dancing with the Stars" stunner Kym Johnson was also at the Palazzo, among those at the 7 p.m. showing of "Jersey Boys." She took her mother, who was in town celebrating her birthday, backstage after the show to meet the cast and chat about the performance.

Also taking in a Thursday night show was Pantera drummer, Vinnie Paul, and Van Halen bass player, Michael Anthony, who checked out Holly Madison in the 9 p.m. performance of "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood.

Friday got off to an early start as 12-time All-Star baseball player Mike Piazza had breakfast at Simon at Palms Place. The famed catcher started his day and continued his Las Vegas getaway (he ate at Dos Caminos the night before) with oatmeal and a veggie cocktail.

Race car driver Michael Andretti was also at Simon on Friday, later that night for dinner with friends. Also in the dining room that evening: Vince Neil and his wife, Leah. (The Motley Crue frontman had the so-called "TV Dinner": fried chicken and mashed potatoes.)

Piazza didn't go far on Friday, and was spotted having dinner at the Palms that night, too, though this time he was at Palms proper, not Palms Place. He and two friends had dinner at Nove Italiano on Friday night and sampled an assortment of appetizers (mozzarella pizza, salumi, and shrimp franchaise) before setting into an arugula salad and the petit filet for his main course.

After dinner he and executive chef Geno Bernardo traded stories of Italy as they reminisced about their time overseas, and Piazza signed Bernardo's kitchen door before he left.

Another famed baseballer, New York Met Gary Sheffield, also had dinner at the Palms on Friday, downstairs at N9NE Steakhouse. The outfielder was joined by two friends, too, and ordered the lobster bisque and the surf 'n’ turf.

Also at N9NE that night was poker pro Phil Gordon, who sat with five friends and had the tomato Salad and 12-ounce filet along with mushrooms and asparagus on the side.

Also enjoying dinner in Las Vegas on Friday was David Spade, who once again dined at Tao with friends -- including late comedian Chris Farley's younger brother, actor Kevin Farley. The group appeared to be hungry: They enjoyed an array of dishes, including Tao's crispy rice, satay of chicken, kung pao chicken, and sushi and washed it all down with rounds of Jack Daniels and diet soda.

Another set of Tao regulars, electro-hop group LMFAO, did double duty on Friday, though they didn't heat up Tao or Lavo during this visit to Vegas. Instead, they started with a show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, then served as party hosts at The Bank at the Bellagio.

Poker pro Joe Cada took time away from his game (he's currently at the finalists' table) on Friday night to join the guys onstage at House of Blues. Decked out in LMFAO's signature Party Rock gear, he helped them perform "Yes," much to the surprise of the poker fans in the crowd.

Earlier in the day, Holly Madison joined Mayor Oscar Goodman downtown where she mixed and mingled with local artists, hipsters, and members of the local counter club culture at November's "First Friday" celebration.

Another beauty and “Dancing with the Stars” alum, Joanna Krupa, was also in town this weekend, and served as the hot party host at Jet at the Mirage on Friday evening.

Jay Leno was also at the Mirage on Friday, and returned to the Terry Fator Theatre for another two-night, Friday-Saturday stand.

LeAnn Rimes was back in town this weekend, too, and was next door from Leno on Friday, performing her last double-header show at Treasure Island.

Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson, the Veronicas and Parachute were over at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, as Clarkson’s "All I Ever Wanted Tour" rolled through The Joint.

Clarkson headed to Wasted Space after the show, where she and a group of friends cut loose in the VIP.

Also spotted in the club that night was NY Yankees' left fielder Johnny Damon, fresh off last week's World Series win.

Puddle Of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin partied a the Palms on Friday, at Playboy Club, while P. Diddy's "Making the Band 4 prodigy, Donnie Klang lived it up upstairs, at Moon.

Klag and six friends hung out at a VIP table and had a few rounds of Ketel One cocktails before the up-and-coming star took to the mic for a surprise, three-song performance.

R. Kelly was also in Las Vegas on Friday and gave a full-length and totally planned concert at Planet Hollywood before hosting a similarly-scheduled post-show party at Hawaiian Tropic Zone.

Also at PH on Friday night was Privé’s new resident night DJ, Jermaine Dupri, who mixed business with business -- and, yes, a little pleasure -- and toasted the launch of his new watch line, Nu Pop Movement.

Gary Sheffield of the New York Mets was spotted at Dos Caminos on Saturday afternoon as he and some friends watched college football in the Mexican eatery's lounge.

And while football might have been on the minds of those inside Dos Caminos that afternoon, it was all about skateboarding on the other side of W. Spring Mountain Road, as Tony Hawk brought his “Stand Up for Skateparks” tour to the Wynn.

The resort transformed its pool area for the extreme event, which featured a performance by legendary punk rockers Rancid.

Among those attending the event, in addition to Hawk himself, were Vegas-based tennis pro Andre Agassi; UFC great Chuck Liddel; Holly Madison and her "Peepshow" co-stars Aubrey O'Day and Josh Strickland.

Hawk's party moved inside later that night, as he and BMX pros Matt Hoffman and Simon Tabron; skateboarder Kevin Staab; and Chuck Liddell, among others, kicked back at Blush.

St. Louis Rams running back and Las Vegas native Steven Jackson was also there, as was Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, who enjoyed a few sophisticated glasses of Veuve Clicquot champagne out on the patio.

The night before, Hawk hosted a private dinner at Okada for a group of friends and "Stand Up" supporters, including skateboarders Bucky Lasek and Lyn-z Adams Hawkins, E! personality and host Sal Masekela, and Las Vegas' own former resident, Digg.com founder Kevin Rose.

Coincidentally, as Hawk and his party were dining inside, world-renowned DJ, Tiesto, was also dining at Okada, but outside at the Japanese eatery's hyper-exclusive, secluded outdoor table next to the waterfall.

Tiesto headed downtown after dinner, then checked out DJ Z-Trip as he spun at Rain before bringing the night's tour of Las Vegas full circle, back to the Wynn, with a stop at XS.

Also at XS this weekend was magician Criss Angel, who on Saturday made a rare departure from his usual Pure management Group nightspots (Pure and LAX) and visited the Encore’s glittery nightspot instead.

Johnny Damon of the New York Yankees was also in town this weekend, and was spotted on Saturday at Tao. His wife, Michelle, and a few family members joined the outfielder in the VIP as he continued to celebrate his World Series win with rounds of Jack Daniels and Coke.

Also partying to the sounds of DJ Vice that night was XXX film star Tera Patrick.

Florida Marlins Dan Uggla and Cody Ross let loose off the Strip, at the Hard Rock, this weekend. The All-Star second basemen and outfielder were spotted as they checked out the sexy scene at Body English Saturday.

John Fogerty, also spent his Saturday night off main drag, but unlike the Marlins, who were just a few blocks from the great boulevard, the singer was way out in Primm, where he performed at the Star of the Desert Arena.

Back on the Strip on Saturday night, reality tv personality Shayne Lamas celebrated her birthday with a belated b-day party at LAX at the Luxor. The small-screen star turned 24 years old on Friday.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nevada 2009, Georgina Vaughan, was at Privé on Saturday night to host the official afterparty for the Ms. Nevada USA pageant.

As the pageant action wound down at PH, things were just heating up at the new Hard Rock Café on the Strip as the latest incarnation of Everclear took to the stage, after openers Clayton Senne and Theory of Flight.

The stage at the new Hard Rock Café hardly had time to cool down on Sunday before Big Kenny from country super group Big and Rich stepped into the spotlight and heated things up for a charity concert supporting Three Square Food Bank.

Also raising funds for a worthy cause on Sunday was Vince Neil, who hosted a charity poker tournament at the Rio.

Among those at the tables yesterday was comedian Vinny Favorito.

And finally, up-and-coming rockers Low vs. Diamond closed the weekend out with a show at Wasted Space.

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at [email protected].