Festivities kick off in Vegas today as parties fill the hours until the MTV Video Music Awards go live on Sunday night. (First on our list is today's 2 p.m. Rolling Stone pool party at the Hard Rock.) Revelers (including our correspondent) will be hitting events all over town in the next 72 hours, but here are some trends we're already spotting in the slate of things to come:
Not surprisingly, newer seems to equal better to planners, with MTV itself shacking up at perhaps the most shiny venue, the recently opened Pearl, where the awards will take place. Right on MTV's heels is Christina Aguilera, who's hosting a party at nightclub LAX, which debuted last weekend at the Luxor with the help of VMA opening performer Britney Spears.
Tao, which arrived last year, gets its fair share of business, hosting (among other events) a Halo 3/Mountain Dew-sponsored Linkin Park concert tonight, a Kanye West pool party with Xbox on Saturday, and the Pharrell WIlliams-hosted launch of Samsung's Gleam that night. Another 2006 newcomer, Jet at the Mirage, hosts a Nelly Furtado party tonight, GQ's shindig on Saturday, and Timbaland's VMA after-party on Sunday.The strip's newly christened and luxed-up pool lounges are also a hot commodity this weekend. Maxim holds its Oasis party at Mandalay Bay's Moorea Beach Club on Saturday, the official MTV after-party goes down at the Palms' bungalow-bedecked pool, and the Style Villa will set up camp Friday through Sunday at Caesars' Venus Pool Club.
Finally, if you're in Vegas this weekend and like Kanye West, you're in luck—he's everywhere! Making a serious run for the title of the hardest-working man in VMA business, West is performing at the show on Sunday, and on Saturday he's hosting the aforementioned pool party at Tao, being toasted at Planet Hollywood, and performing for Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary party at the Joint (although, if previous celeb-hosted VMA parties are any indicator, hosting duties apparently don't always include actually showing up).
How ambitious will production be? With a few exceptions, such as Maxim's Oasis and Rolling Stone's birthday bash, we're not expecting massive buildouts and elaborate decor; providing a new Vegas club and an open bar might be all that's required to keep guests happy. But hey, we love to be pleasantly surprised, and we'll let you know what we find next week.
Not surprisingly, newer seems to equal better to planners, with MTV itself shacking up at perhaps the most shiny venue, the recently opened Pearl, where the awards will take place. Right on MTV's heels is Christina Aguilera, who's hosting a party at nightclub LAX, which debuted last weekend at the Luxor with the help of VMA opening performer Britney Spears.
Tao, which arrived last year, gets its fair share of business, hosting (among other events) a Halo 3/Mountain Dew-sponsored Linkin Park concert tonight, a Kanye West pool party with Xbox on Saturday, and the Pharrell WIlliams-hosted launch of Samsung's Gleam that night. Another 2006 newcomer, Jet at the Mirage, hosts a Nelly Furtado party tonight, GQ's shindig on Saturday, and Timbaland's VMA after-party on Sunday.The strip's newly christened and luxed-up pool lounges are also a hot commodity this weekend. Maxim holds its Oasis party at Mandalay Bay's Moorea Beach Club on Saturday, the official MTV after-party goes down at the Palms' bungalow-bedecked pool, and the Style Villa will set up camp Friday through Sunday at Caesars' Venus Pool Club.
Finally, if you're in Vegas this weekend and like Kanye West, you're in luck—he's everywhere! Making a serious run for the title of the hardest-working man in VMA business, West is performing at the show on Sunday, and on Saturday he's hosting the aforementioned pool party at Tao, being toasted at Planet Hollywood, and performing for Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary party at the Joint (although, if previous celeb-hosted VMA parties are any indicator, hosting duties apparently don't always include actually showing up).
How ambitious will production be? With a few exceptions, such as Maxim's Oasis and Rolling Stone's birthday bash, we're not expecting massive buildouts and elaborate decor; providing a new Vegas club and an open bar might be all that's required to keep guests happy. But hey, we love to be pleasantly surprised, and we'll let you know what we find next week.
