Not one tiger fighting a unicorn in sight. (Photos by Hew Burney | HewmanBeing.com)

Faded red T-shirt over a gray hoodie and a pair of jeans. It isn’t how we expected Christian Audigier to be dressed when we met up with him at Project inside Mandalay Bay yesterday. But the 51-year-old designer behind Von Dutch and Ed Hardy is pushing something new that’s a departure from the logos, foil and rhinestones.

The same guy is his newest line, with its emphasis squarely on minimalist, plain, everyday design. The T-shirts are soft and faded, mostly muted solid colors, a few stripes and the occasional swirling the same guy logo, vaguely reminiscent of ’60s psychedelic posters. Of course, there had to be a little touch of ego — on the back of the shirts that bore the logo is emblazoned “The Most Famous Brand in the World.” Each shirt bore an embroidered American flag — shaped like an outline of the United States, a star, a hear or a peace hand sign. It was a curious touch that Audigier said just reflected his love of America. Hey, if we sold that many $100-plus T-shirts, we’d be caught up in patriotic fervor, too.

The tags on display at Project were also lower than expected for Audigier clothing — some T-shirts were marked at $15 and $26 dollars, though some shirts will retail for as high as $92.

Audigier will be at Eve inside Crystals tonight and appearing at his eponymous Treasure Island nightclub tomorrow. We took a moment to chat with him about the new clothes and whether they’re a reaction to the Ed Hardy backlash. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Feeling the b-a-s-s bass. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna. Additional photos by Erik Kabik | Retna.)

Big Boi was at Pure inside Caesars Palace Friday night to do a nine-song set of OutKast tunes that included “Rosa Parks,” “So Fresh, So Clean,” “Ms. Jackson” and “The Way You Move.” Unfortunately, he wasn’t wearing the plaid suit from the “Way You Move” video like we so desperately had hoped. Now our only hope is that Don Cherry hosts a club one night.

Big Boi was joined by wife Sherlita Patton and was surrounded by Antoine Walker, Mario Barth and MTV’s Mike “The Miz” Mizanin. Mizanin was earlier at Christian Audigier the Nightclub inside Treasure Island where Jonathan Sadowski, Aaron Yoo and Nick Mennell from the Friday the 13th remake were hosting a well-timed Friday the 13th party.

That’s a remake of the original, not the one where Jason was in space. You don’t remake Citizen Kane, you don’t remake Gone with the Wind and you don’t remake Jason X. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Separated at birth from Sonic the Hedgehog.

Singer/songwriter Ryan Cabrera and John Vesley of Secondhand Serenade did Saturday night at Audigier inside Treasure Island. Just a couple of acoustic balladeers out on the town, Cabrera partying like only a guy whose first album was produced by Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik can. Oakland wideout Arman Shields was also in the house. Teammate Michael Huff, a free safety, was at Pure on Friday.

LAX at Luxor had poker players David Williams and Jean-Robert Bellande for the second time this week. Former Broncos wideout Mark Jackson was also there. Tabu at MGM Grand, meanwhile had former Sunset Tan girl Molly Shea in for her 23rd birthday dancing on the tables with her friends.

By Jason Scavone

Growing Pains had a character named Boner, and Thicke is here AVN weekend. It’s too easy.

Alan Thicke and wife Tanya Callau were at The Bank inside Bellagio Saturday night with Christopher McDonald — Happy Gilmore’s Shooter McGavin. We’re pretty sure Kirk Cameron would be horrified that Thicke was in town this weekend, especially if the ranty Jesus guys outside the Sands Expo Center were any indication. And these dudes were fired up about the CES portion of the convention — they hadn’t even worked up to AEE yet.

Jesse Jane was also there after the AVN Awards. Penthouse CEO Marc Bell was at Audigier inside Treasure Island along with Penthouse’s 2007 Pet of the Year Heather Vandeven, pets Shawna Lenee and Aria Giovanni, as well as starlet Clair Dames and adult video producer Rodney Moore, who really didn’t seem all that excited about the idea when we asked him if he was the John Carpenter of porn because he writes his own music for the movies and was up for Best Director for a horror-themed film. Cincinnati Bengals safety Kyries Hebert and Miami tackle Vernon Carey had separate tables.

Pure at Caesars brought in Wicked Pictures girls Kaylani Lei, Jessica Drake, Kirsten Price, Mikayla Mendez and Alektra Blue did their third party of the week. Former Baywatch actor Jeremy Jackson was there, while Maria Conchita Alonso was in the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Kim seems to be trotting out her new Cher look. (Photos by Scott Harrison | Retna)

Pure at Caesars Palace was the staging ground for Pure Management Group’s New Year’s Eve festivities, bringing out Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, the Kardashian sisters and Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt before everyone decamped to host their individual parties at Pure Management Group’s other properties, LAX at Luxor and Christian Audigier the Nightclub at Treasure Island.

Simpson and Wentz, who recently adopted Mowgli from The Jungle Book (Internet reports that they simply named their child Bronx Mowgli are erroneous), led the countdown before taking a spot on the terrace outside where they fed cake to each other. There will be a Fall Out Boy song about this.

At LAX, Kourtney, Khloe and Kim were joined by mother Kris Jenner and brother Robert Kardashian as well as Reggie Bush, Bruce Jenner, Brittny Gastineau, Girls Gone Wild ex-con Joe Francis, Bobby McCray of the Saints, former Saint and current Brown Dante Stallworth, Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and Rashad McCants of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who’s dating Khloe Kardashian. Kourtney, feeling left out, is expected to be scouring MLB and the NHL for a boyfriend this coming year. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

She kissed a cake, and she liked it.

Former Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, the 2006 tiara-winner who once got Miss USA Tara Conner forced into rehab by Donald Trump, celebrated her 21st birthday last night at Christian Audigier the Nightclub inside Treasure Island. She also did Trump’s Pageant Place show, which should put her in line for Celebrity Apprentice Season 13 where she’ll be thwarted at every turn by the oldest Jonas Brother.

Earlier, Blair dined at Social House where Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson were dining with a group of six. What, no DJT for Blair?

By Jason Scavone

Rampage agrees to punch anyone who didn’t like Believe.

UFC honcho Dana White and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson set up shop at LAX inside Luxor after Rashad Evans wrecked Forrest Griffin in the main event of UFC 92 Saturday night, where they were joined by Wilmer Valderrama, Pink, Joe Rogan, Criss Angel and Holly Madison. Rampage took out Wanderlei Silva in his light heavyweight bout, and was reportedly so thrilled with the win he spared sidewalk pedestrians and only drove on the street.

Valderrama and Pink had dinner at Company American Bistro before heading into the club, where UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta dined with White.

Jackson also spent some time at Wasted Space inside the Hard Rock Hotel with Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson. Club co-owner Jason Giambi stopped by to congratulate Jackson on his win, and to see if he could put in a good word with an AL ballclub with a chance to contend looking for a DH. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

We were so close to sealing the deal, but they wouldn’t throw in rust-proofing.

Former New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin is going to buy Treasure Island from MGM Mirage for $775 million. Ruffin dumped the New Frontier on El-Ad for $1.2 billion, so the guy clearly knows a little something about buying low and selling high.

It’s unclear right now what this will mean for Christian Audigier the Nightclub and Mist. There hasn’t been any immediate word of changes at Audigier, but the transaction isn’t scheduled to be completed until the second quarter of ’09, according to reports.

By Jason Scavone

We like to think this is what all cowboy-related stripping looks like.

Christian Audigier the Nightclub inside Treasure Island is doing Save a Cowboy, Ride a Pole tonight with Audigier clothing as prizes for first, second and third place. It’s nice to see someplace finally stepping up and putting National Finals Rodeo to good use. Other than as an excuse to shotgun Pabst, we mean. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

From Johnson & Johnson.

Former Tribe Called Quest frontman Q-Tip was at The Bank inside Bellagio last night, which also saw New Kid Danny Wood drop by. 1991 was in the house all night long.

Meanwhile, Sunday also saw DJ Eric Cubeechee celebrate his birthday at Christian Audigier the Nightclub inside Treasure Island. He spun along with DJ Hollywood, stopping only to blow out the candles on his cake. Usually cake should be worth a good 10-minute break. That’s dedication, right there. Seattle Seahawks’ Jamie Sharper was there for the party.

By Jason Scavone