Houston's social scene is set to be star-studded this weekend, when the NBA All-Star Game brings to town the who's who of professional basketball and a cache of celebrities.
Sources tell CultureMap that Michael Jordan has the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on lock down for his 50th birthday bash and that Shaquille O'Neal has rented out a swanky Galleria-area restaurant for an invite-only affair.
Admission price ranges from $100 to $100,000 — depending upon how many bottles you plan to pop and how many bodyguards you require.
Katsuya (a pro athlete hangout on any weekend) has a party of 20 former NBA players on the books, and local promoters tell CultureMap to expect upscale Galleria shops — think Louis Vuitton and Gucci — to turn into pop up party spots for stars and their entourages.
But even us lay people who didn't get personal invites have the chance to rub elbows with celebs — but you ought to be prepared to shell out some skrilla.
Events start on Thursday with a Welcome to Houston Party at the Drake Houston, hosted by Jas Prince and Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and featuring Trinidad James in concert. Admission is $30 — light by NBA All-Star weekend standards.
Parties and performances throughout the weekend feature Nelly, 2 Chainz, Diddy, Common, Chris Brown, Jamie Foxx, John Legend and more, and range from $50 to $150 per person per party.
Rich's Nightclub will set the scene for Life Styles of the Rich and Famous NBA All-Star Party on Friday night, hosted by Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, featuring a live performance by French Montana and with appearances from a contingent of New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kendrick Perkins, Yung B, and many more. Tickets start at $50 and it's bound to be good, as it will also be shown live on pay-per-view.
Although not quite as A-list, Shaq presents an All-Star Comedy Jam at the Arena Theatre on Friday night with a lineup that includes Gary Owen, Capone, Finnesse Mitchell, Tony Roberts, Robert Parker and Lavar Walker. Tickets start at $65.
Jay-Z has paired up with D'ussé Cognac and Playpen Entertainment for a celebrity bash at Rich's on Saturday, with an admission price that ranges from $100 to $100,000 — depending upon how many bottles you plan to pop and how many bodyguards you require.
Lil Wayne, Bird Man and Bun B will host a postgame YMCMB NBA All-Star Finale at Stereo Live at 9 p.m. Sunday night. General admission runs $50, with VIP tickets running $100 a pop.
This only scrapes the surface — find more here and here and here.
Shaquille O'Neal
