Partners Jason Strauss, Rich Wolf, Marc Packer, Noah Tepperberg and Lou Abin with cake made by Sesame Street’s Count.

The difference between the Tao of three years ago and the Tao of today are vast. Mainly, three years ago, Mickey Rourke wasn’t around for the club’s opening. Tao 2008, 1; Tao 2005, 0. Rourke, who’s generating Oscar buzz for the Darren Aronofsky flick The Wrestler and friend of fighter Joe Calzaghe, knew he’d be watching the boxer’s fight with Roy Jones Jr. on tape before hitting up the Staurday night party at Tao — and wouldn’t let anyone tell him who won beforehand.

He also said when asked what he thought about his Oscar chances, “I’ll be pissed if I don’t win.” Mind you, he said this while wearing the shiniest suit we’ve ever seen. He had food brought up to his room while he was hanging out with Evan Rachel Wood before the party. The fact that there aren’t cameras following Rourke around filming a documentary about how you get to be that cool is a crime against humanity.

Also turning out for the anniversary party were Aronofsky, John Enos III, also of The Wrestler, The Office’s Jenna Fischer, Lindsay Lohan, Taye Diggs, Amanda Bynes, Denise Richards, Grey’s Anatomy’s Ellen Pompeo with husband Chris Ivery, Greg Bello, Holly Montag, the Alizma triplets, Hill Harper of CSI: Miami, Private Practice’s Kate Walsh with husband Alex Young, Richard Kind of Spin City, Robin Thicke, Perez Hilton, Roger Cross of 24, Roger Cross, Shawn Hatosy and Stacey Keibler, who brought along a group of friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone