Overdose of opulence

At some point this weekend, I think I forever lost the will to drink.

(Alas)

A few weeks ago, I was sitting among the bleachers at a fashion week runway when an exciting email entered my Blackberry inbox - Mohegan Sun was going to have a VIP-invite-only weekend to celebrate the newest addition to their hotel, Casino of the Wind, and hoped I would save the date.

Um, sure….

The event was this weekend, and a very tired, very food-and-cocktail-logged me just returned.

The celebration was just that…a weekend long party, complete with crazy-packed gift bag and too much gluttony. Among the celebrazzi in attendance were Lindsay Price (Lipstick Jungle) - who inspired a fangirl moment in me the second our paths crossed at a cocktail party yesterday, Robert Buckley (Lipstick Jungle), Becki Newton (Ugly Betty) and Chris Diamantopoulos (The Starter Wife), Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty), Maria Menounos, Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Rex Lee (Entourage), Stacy Keibler (Dancing With the Stars), Geoff Stults (October Road), Matthew Settle (Gossip Girl) and Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl). The lot, along with several others, all gathered in the Casino of the Wind’s stunning new Poker Room to play a round of Celebrity Poker to celebrate the launch of the new space.

The cocktail party yesterday was in honor of Tiffany & Co.’s and Mohegan Sun’s new high-roller cocktail, Windfall. The cocktail was “unveiled” by Lindsay, who took the very first sip at Leffingwells Martini Lounge.

In a time of national debt up the wazoo, the steals and deals goddess in me was a little uncomfortable with the concept of the cocktail, which is valued at over $6,000, and includes a Tiffany’s diamond and pink sapphire ring garnish. Those in attendance were all welcome to sample the cocktail as well - but not the ring, alas. (But seriously…imagine ORDERING something of that expense? That’s like…six months rent. Even in my neighborhood.)

However, I was super excited: First of all, because when “Victory Ford” wears something, it is immediately a fashion “do” - and we were (completely by accident!) wearing the EXACT same shade of nail polish. She was also wearing the color and style I predicted to be “in” this season. So pat on my back, indeed.

By matter of principle, I did not actually try the extremely overpriced martini. However, I did have something (actually TWO of something) called the mind-bender. And it was quite delicious. (Yay for pineapple Malibu!)

The celebrations continued with an all-star musical performance from Band From TV at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, whose members include James Denton (Desperate Housewives); Adrian Pasdar, Greg Grunberg, James Kyson Lee (Heroes); Jesse Spencer (House); Bob Guiney (The Bachelor) and his wife Rebecca Budig (All My Children). This, too, was super exciting for me - as a fan of many of these shows! Plus, Greenlee is one of my all-time fave soap bad girls.

Another reason to love from Band from TV: While the casino’s new $6,200 cocktail had all the celebs and press aflutter, while one is a testimony to opulence, The Band From TV donates every cent it makes to charity.

Originally, we were actually supposed to see Janet Jackson - but she had to cancel at the last minute because she was sick. So, Band from TV ended up playing TWICE. It was awesome.

Casino of the Wind offers 64,000 square feet of new gaming and dining space. The new casino at Mohegan Sun features over 650 new slot machines, 28 new table games, and a stunning room dedicated entirely to Poker, providing 42 tables for Poker fans. Now, this is all awesome - and I’m of course, hugely flattered to be invited to take part in this weekend of (fun, festive, and FREE) celebration - but in a time when our nation’s economy is so so messed up, I did feel just a teensy bit guilty playing the part of the jolly glutton, drinking champagne and eating seafood all day every day for three days straight.

Fascinating though was learning the history of the Mohegan people and their tribe - and how nature, and their beliefs works its way into every single item in the casino.

Another fascinating fact: Check out my new friend Bruce Bozsum, who along with the tribe medicinewoman, took us on a tour of the Casino on the Wind. He’s the Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe, but (I think) bears a striking resemblance to a certain Mr. Big!

Following the Band from TV, there was a really awesome super-late-night after party that pretty much everyone stopped by at some point. Here’s some pix:

(Pictured: Robert Buckley, Lindsay Price, Jessica Szohr and guest, Stacy Keibler and Geoff Stults)

(Above: Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Cheryl Hines, and Tracy Morgan)

The weekend was not all fun and games alas. It included awful travel delays (the story of my life), not-so-great duck, too many cocktails, and much confusion! And thus look forward to my crazy but try timeline of my weekend in CT - HOUR BY HOUR - coming later this week (with way more pix!) - alas, none of me. I was on the other side of the camera!