Spring has sprung and as the temperatures rise here in the desert, everything just gets hotter, literally and figuratively. Whether you're coming in for the Final Four or just want to see what's happening in 'America's Adult Playground,' you should try one of the hottest things happening in Vegas right now:

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: H-Hef vs. K-Fed?
Vegas Heat Index: 119

Celebrity birthday parties in Vegas are common. The drill is pretty standard now: celebs land huge fees to host their party at a Vegas nightclub which, by the way, is the very definition of having your birthday cake and eating it to. The clubs recoup the large fee with the additional audience the celebrity host should attract and of course the incremental and pricey cocktails and bottle service that the additional crowd drinks on their way to euphoria.

It gets interesting when two celebs plan bashes on the same night. If one paid attention to such things, the final attendance tallies should be able to tell you which celebrity is more popular.

When I found out that Hugh Hefner and the 'Playing With Fire' rapper, Keven Federline were both ringing in a new birthyear on the same night, I went to the sports book to see if I could get some over/under action on the party attendance, but alas, the answer was no

If the photos from day one of Hef's weekend celebration are any indication, Hef's party appears to have the advantage. Here's how the two parties compare on three key metrics -- length of party, guests and location:

- Hef has an entire weekend while K-Fed's party only lasts one night -- Advantage: Hef.
- Hef's party will have three of the hottest girlfriends one man could have individually, much less at the same time. The VIP list at K-Fed's party was filled out with searchwithkevin.com competition winners -- Advantage: Hef.
- Hef's party will center around the Palms and the Playboy Club and Kevin is having his party at Pure -- Advantage: tie.

To be fair, Hef does have a 52-year head start on just being a badass so K-Fed started with a disadvantage.

Interesting note reported on LUXE LIFE, K-Fed planned to host two parties, one in LA and the one here but had to cancel his LA party when media companies balked at the $25K exclusive coverage fee.

The Big Deal: It's the first time since moving into his fabled home that Hef will not host his birthday party at the Playboy Mansion. Can the infamous Grotto be replaced with a sky-high Infinity pool?

UPDATE MARCH 26: Which party reigned supreme? Draw your own conclusion with party pics from Hef's party and K-Fed's party.

Criss Angel to Star in Cirque du Soleil Show
Vegas Heat Index: 122



Brooding hottie illusionist Criss Angel joined Luxor prez Felix Rappaport and Cirque du Soleil brass to announce their new production show featuring the 'Mindfreak' TV star.

For Criss, the show allows him to add more fuel his buzz fire, gives him more money to 'buy more bling' and fulfills a 15-year dream. Plus, it will give fans, including the Loyal, a place to see him other than the television.

For Cirque du Soleil, it's their sixth Vegas show and the most recent one after launching the blockbuster 'Beatles LOVE' Up next is an Elvis-based show to debut at the new MGM City Center in a couple of years.

For the Luxor, it's the first step in a re-branding the Egyptian-themed resort that may include a name change as new dining and new nightlclubs open, including a club heavily funded by Christina Aguilerra's and a Nick Lachey steakhouse.

The Big Deal: Criss+Cirque du Soleil+Luxor=Magic, literally.

'Surreal Life:Fame Games' Finale
Vegas Heat Index: 116


VH1's Surreal Life" Fame Games, hosted by our own Robin Leach, has been 10 weeks of televised trainwreck celebrity watching: highs and lows, glory and absurdity and the finale on Sunday, Mar. 25 is the icing on the cake.

The last two eliminations, Playboy Playmate and the newest addition to Playboy's Sirius morning show, Andrea Lowell and Verne Troyer, have been some of the emotionally toughest to date, but have set the stage for the fireworks for the last episode. Traci Bingham, Ron Jeremy, Rob Van Winkle and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton are the 'final four' remaining in the show.

I tracked Robin down on his Antiguan holiday to get a preview for the finale: "The down to the wire tension will be extraordinary with one person from the final four betraying another to make it down to the final two head-to-head combatants. Stand clear because the explosion set off to reach this ending is one fiery ball of flames.

In the show, I take them on the ride of their lives, literally - and they wind up in a dark frightening alley where one last unbelievable challenge awaits before they walk through the doorway to either disaster and destruction or the doorway to regain fame as an A-lister forever.

It's a shocking and surprising end to a midnight journey filled with last-minute fear and dangers. One special guest-star plays judge, jury and executioner in the sudden death rout!

Who will be man or woman enough to conquer all? Who will slink away in the darkness? Who will win acclaim from the paparazzi as ultimate winner of all the fame and fortune? All I can say is stay tuned right to the last final seconds because it's an absolute heart-stopper."

The Big Deal: Shot entirely in Vegas, the show has been a hit and really showcased a lot of the cool stuff to do in Vegas that you may not find in your typical travel book. The second season gets underway in May.

Pool Season Is Here
Vegas Heat Index: 122

The pool at the Palms (pictured above) broke the seal on the 2007 pool season, which promises to be one of the biggest and splashiest ever. Euro-style (read: topless) hotspot Bare at the Mirage is already open which is sure to usher in the era of 'pitcher service.' The similarly adult-friendly Venus Pool Club (pictured below) at Caesars from the Pure Group is open for line-free tanning as well.

While rehab is becoming very trendy with the celebs, the fun Rehab -- the Sunday Ritual de la Flesh at the Hard Rock pool -- kicks off in a couple of weeks, but the buzz has been building for weeks. Any casual glance at photos or video from the pool party held on the Lord's day will reveal the appeal, and a whole lot more.

Finally, the creators of TAO are opening their own adult oasis at the Venetian called TAO Beach.

The Big Deal: When it's 115 degrees, pools are a big deal, plus it's like a real-life 'Girls Gone Wild' which naturally gives me the idea to produce 'Girls Gone Wild: The Musical.'

Even the Nights Are Better
Vegas Heat Index: 119

Up until the last month or so, it seems the last gigantic Vegas nightlife addition, or at least the most publicised, was when the Playboy Club opened last October at the Palms. Quietly, over the last few several weeks some new players have thrown their party hats into the nightlife ring for your liver's consideration.

The Griffin downtown is easily one of the coziest-but-hippest spots this side of its West Coast location and I think that's what Vegas is missing: dark, small rooms where 100 people pack the place and the energy is as electric as an overflow crowd at PURE. Any club or bar I've ever worked with, the secret to success is creating critical mass and small rooms don't get enough credit in a land where bigger (buffets, boobs and clubs to name a few) is always better.

Not so quietly, new spots like Lucky Strike Lanes, Triq, Polly Esther's and after-hours or after-hors d'ouvres (ha ha) at at Cafe Martorano have opened, thus increasing the booty-shakin' square footage in Vegas significantly.

My only caution is that with this increased inventory means thinning an already tentative DJ talent pool. There are some really good varsity DJs in this town, but the half-assed mash-ups need to go and the more rooms, I fear, means more people from the JV squad buying some some headphones and calling themselves DJ.

It is OK to let a song play for more than 90 seconds. The secret is programming or knowing your audience and delivering a soundtrack that will help drive liquor sales and customer satisfaction. I actually tense up when I'm in a club and a song is playing and the crowd is into it and the DJ decides to prematurely evacuate a song after 90 seconds and the crowd boos. But I digress.

All of the new places are offering a different flavor and diversifying the nightlife scene, which is always good. Lucky Strike Lanes is bringing sex-appeal to the bowling alley with an updated '50s feel and cocktail menu which should fit in nicely with the healthy retro-burlesque scene in Vegas.

Located at the Stratosphere, Polly Esther's will go a long way to connect the nightlife bridge between the Strip and Downtown as the nightlife sprawl of Fremont East attracts more drinkers Downtown. Triq is combining the best of Vegas nightlife and should anchor night duties at the new Planet Hollywood Casino along with Krave.

Also of note, one of the biggest things happening in Vegas nightlife is the exporting business. Vegas has been at the emotional center of nightlife in America for sometime and part of that success has been importing other cities' top clubs and bars into Vegas in addition to indigenous concepts that have stood the test of time, in nightlife years anyway.

Now, Vegas is physically exporting venues like Pure Management Group opening a PURE in Miami and Aura at Atlantis in the Bahamas.

You can read more about the Vegas nightlife exporting business as well as the overall future of Vegas nightlife in Jack Colton's guest column for LUXE LIFE.

The Big Deal: Nightlife is a critical component of the Vegas experience and diversification from the standard hotel bars and massive clubs increase the customer base for tourists and locals and we could all use a drink.

Also Pop-ular in Vegas Right Now:
- LUXE LIFE: Jenna Jameson's War of Words
- LUXE LIFE: Girls Next Door Get Celebrity Star
- AOL Vegas: Pussycat Dolls Casino in Vegas

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