A Brush with Celebrity

If your plans for New Year's Eve aren't special enough for you, try spending the night with a celebrity.

Several Strip nightclubs are partnering with famous people who will spend the evening with paying guests, counting down the last hours of 2008 and ringing in the new year until the wee hours of early 2009.

For $150 per person, you can celebrate with Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block at Jet at The Mirage. Festivities start at 10 p.m. Your money gets you VIP entrance to the club and access to a hosted bar from 10 p.m. to midnight. Call 693-8300.

R&B recording artist Usher will host a "Love in this Club" countdown party at The Bank at Bellagio, with doors opening at 10 p.m. For $150 per person, you get complimentary champagne for a midnight toast. Call 693-8300.

New Year's Eve will see a reunion of sorts between divorced couple Pink and Carey Hart when the rock star hosts a countdown party at her ex-husband's club, Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel. Pink will perform a concert at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $75 per person. Call 693-4040.

"The Hills" stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt host a New Year's Eve countdown at Christian Audigier the Nightclub at The Mirage. The $150 general admission fee includes a complimentary champagne toast and party favors. Call 894-7722.

Join Kid Rock at the Playboy Club at the Palms from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. The cover charge includes an open bar and passed appetizers from 8 to 10 p.m., a champagne toast at midnight and party hats and noisemakers. Tickets are $200 in advance, $250 at the door. Call 942-6832.

Actress Denise Richards hosts New Year's Eve at Privé in Planet Hollywood starting at 9 p.m. DMC of Run DMC fame will serve as guest DJ. The $200 cover includes an open bar from 9 p.m. to midnight. Call 523-6002.

Ring in 2009 with reality show star Kim Kardashian at LAX at Luxor. For $150 per person, you'll get the company of Kardashian and her family, a champagne toast and party favors. Doors open at 8 p.m. Call 262-4400.

Benji Madden guest DJs at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel starting at 10 p.m. General admission costs $150 per person and includes one entry in $25,000 worth of prize giveaways. Call 693-4000.

Pop singer Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and husband Pete Wentz host Pure's countdown to the new year starting at 8 p.m. Tickets for Pure at Caesars Palace cost $200 and include a champagne toast at midnight and party favors. Call 731-7873.

Recording artist Fergie hosts New Year's Eve festivities at Lavo in the Palazzo. Admission, ranging from $150 to $250 depending on availability, includes an open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres from 9 to 11 p.m. as well as a champagne toast at midnight and free admission into Tao at The Venetian after midnight. Call 791-1800.

Carmen Electra will serve as the mistress of ceremonies at TAO Asian Bistro and Nightclub at The Venetian. Doors open at 9 p.m. The $150 admission includes hors d'oeuvres and an open bar from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. After midnight, guests can take their TAO ticket stubs to LAVO in the Palazzo for free entry. Call 388-8588.

Prices listed are for general admission only. For table reservations, call the individual nightclubs.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.