At least Caesars will meet its gravelly quota.

He was just here a month or so ago, but Ja Rule returns today, doing sets at Venus Pool Club and Pure. So if you weren’t sure what Murder Inc. — we’re sorry, just The Inc. — was up to these days, now’s your chance to catch up. Unless you’re a member of G-Unit. Then there’s a pretty good chance you’re not welcome. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

He should lose his medals for the scarf alone. (Photo by Tony Tran | SpyOnVegas.com. Additional photos by Ron Koch.)

Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte did his birthday at Blush inside Wynn Las Vegas last night with Michael Phelps and Phil Hellmuth last night until around 3 a.m. They needed Hellmuth because after Michael Phelps, the world is out of famous swimmers and poker is the next sport down in popularity. If no one who won a World Series of Poker bracelet was available, Phelps and Lochte were going to have to hang out with a guy who trains dogs for outdoors games.

Still, they were all more prominent than what was going on at Pure where Vanilla Ice came in to Pure to do “Play That Funky Music,” “Turn it Up,” “Ice Ice Baby” and we swear we’re not making this up, “Ninja Rap,” which contains the grossest misuse of the phrase “New Jack” committed to song.

But he’s still more likable than Sen. Harry Reid, who was at a private event at the Miracle Mile’s new PBR Rock Bar. Reid, however, still places higher than 2 In a Room. Adjust your lists accordingly.

By Jason Scavone

All we can see is that dude’s creepy backwards-bending finger. (Photos by Ron Koch)

Chingy and Mims both pulled double duty on Saturday when they started out the afternoon at Venus, and then bounced to Pure with a stop for dinner at Social House in between. They turned up with cast members of Bad Girls Club while warming up with vodka and tequila before the afternoon performance. They each did three songs, including “Right Thurr” for Chingy and “This is Why I’m Hot” for Mims. It had to be nice for fans to finally be able to hear that without it coming off a 14-year-old’s ringtone.

By Jason Scavone

(Photo by Roman Mendez | SpyOnVegas.com)

We love boobs too! We have so much in common!

By Jason Scavone

Good. God. (Photo by Denise Truscello)

Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk and mere Playmate Crystal McCahill led a party at the Palms’ Mint High Roller Lounge last night before heading up to the Hardwood Suite to host a screening of their Girls Next Door spinoff The Bunny House. In an unrelated story, we now want to move into the Bunny House.

Also last night, Steve Zahn of Treme was at X Burlesque, while Jeffree Star, the designer and make-up artist, was at Vanity.

Caesars saw Ameriie get on stage Saturday night at Pure to do “1 Thing” for a crowd that included the Blazers’ Jerryd Bayless. Apparently her one thing is to annoy copy editors the world over for not spelling out “one” in accordance with AP style.

Also on Saturday, Catt Sadler from E!’s Daily 10 was doing her birthday at Vanity with Stephanie Pratt, where she posed for a picture with someone who sprang the $100,000 for the Vanity Affair package that includes a stay at Jason Giambi’s place.

By Jason Scavone

Hope and glory. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

If you missed your chance to see Hope Dworaczyk be crowned Playmate of the Year in May, she’s back in town tonight where she hosts at Pure inside Caesars Palace. We’ve seen her up close. It’s so completely, completely worth it. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

They hatin’.

Chamillionaire, who we ultimately have to thank for being indirectly responsible for “White & Nerdy,” hits the stage at Pure inside Caesars Palace tonight to do “Ridin’” and … well, he’s doing “Ridin’.” Isn’t that enough for you? Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

We’re pretty sure that was Brando’s DJ collective. (Photos by Edyta Sokolowska)

The Hilton Takeover isn’t slowing down any. It was Nicky’s turn to host Saturday night at Pure inside Caesars Palace, but that didn’t stop Paris from sharing duties. Also checking out the club were linebacker Brian Urlacher, 2009 World Series of Poker winner Joe Cada and Holly Madison BFF Laura Croft.

Of course, there are reasons Paris has been in town every weekend for a month, but we’re curious to see how the Madison-Hilton dynamic would play out if Hilton starts dominating the spotlight out here again. Would there be a territory fight like two bull moose bashing antlers? Or would they team up to the point where you’d never hear news about anyone else, ever? Actually, we’re hoping for the antler thing. Not metaphorically, either. We kind of want to watch Paris Hilton strap on a pair of fake antlers. Antlers: They’re the new headbands.

By Jason Scavone

If she just strains a little more she’ll be able to graze on the tallest trees on the Serengeti. (Photos by Scott Harrison | Retna)

For a woman whose sole function in life is to be a corset delivery system, Nicole Scherzinger had the audacity to go out wearing something that covered more than just her nipples Saturday night for a Dancing with the Stars-starved crowd. The former Pussycat Doll jumped on stage at Pure inside Caesars Palace to do “Don’t Cha” and “When I Grow Up,” prompting a packed club to spontaneously break out into pockets of paso doble and tango. Or it would have, if they were real DwtS fans.

By Jason Scavone

It’s what a Roman palace would have looked like…if Bootsy Collins was emperor.

Everyone in town has their favorite club or hot spot and that club they absolutely loathe. Very few people agree on which clubs are hot and which are not and the debate rages to this day.

OR DOES IT!??!?!?!?!

Thanks to the New York Post, the authority on all things Las Vegas, we now have a handy guide listing the “Five Must-Hit Clubs in Vegas” and five “Sin City Spots to Avoid.” The list is as follows:

Five Hot:
1. XS
2. Haze
3. Tao
4. Rain
5. Vanity

Five Not:
1. Pure
2. Christian Audigier
3. Prive
4. Voodoo Lounge
5. Mix

No real shockers on the list but we have to say we’re a bit upset that Ovation didn’t make the cut on the Hot list. C’mon, NYP, if you haven’t danced to poorly-covered Lionel Richie songs next to a 70-year-old woman who wants to tell you about how amazing her grandchildren are then you haven’t really experienced Sin City.

By Jared Harmon