Hugh Hefner embraces his 80s and the ‘80s (kind of)

By April Corbin

Friday, April 9, 2010 | 7:50 a.m.

This weekend's birthday shindig at the Palms for Hugh Hefner is sure to bring out a bevy of buxom Playmates happy to embrace its '80s theme, but don't expect the Playboy mogul to reminisce fondly about the decade of DayGlo and legwarmers.

"That was not a particularly good decade, the '80s or the '90s, actually. I was in a pickle. They were conservative decades. I had a stroke (in 1985), as a result from that I got married," says Hefner, referring to his second wife, former Playmate Kimberly Conrad, whom he married in 1989 and only recently divorced after more than a decade of separation.

Hefner continues, "People's favorite decades are usually about how young they feel."

So, how young does the now 84-year-old feel currently?

"This is one of the best times of my life," Hefner says. "It is connected to the fact that I am in a very good personal relationship."

Hefner is dating Playmate Crystal Harris. The two began dating shortly after girlfriends and Girls Next Door stars Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson moved out of the Playboy mansion. He says the relationship with Harris is so strong that he hasn't ruled out the possibility of one day marrying the 23-year-old, a strong departure from previous remarks he'd made about never wanting to remarry.

There's no rush, though, even at his age.

"There's a huge difference between love and marriage," Hefner says. "I don't want to screw up what is a wonderful relationship right now."

For now it's good enough to simply feel young and celebrate his birthday with two decade-themed parties. First, his yearly tradition of having a screening of Casablanca on Friday at the mansion, complete with '40s costumes, champagne and caviar. Then, a roaring '80s-themed public party at Playboy Club and Moon nightclub inside his "second home," The Palms.

Don't expect him to dress up in spandex for that one, though.

"I'll be wearing a suit," he confirms.

— Originally published on LasVegasWeekly.com