Club Nomadic was again a hot spot for Houston Super Bowl parties over the weekend, as "massive lines snaked down several blocks" outside the pop-up venue on Friday night. But inside the club, traffic "flowed relatively smoothly in and out of areas." There was a musical performance on Friday by BRUNO MARS, and the singer and his crew "bounded onstage wearing Houston sports team jerseys." Mars opted for Astros RF GEORGE SPRINGER, while his band wore Rockets and Texans jerseys (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/4). Guests at Mars' concert included singer JOHN LEGEND and his wife CHRISSY TEIGEN, who also took in Saturday's TAYLOR SWIFT concert at Club Nomadic as part of the DirecTV Super Bowl party. Others in attendance on Friday included Pro Football HOFers MICHAEL STRAHAN, TERRY BRADSHAW and STEVE YOUNG, Fox' ERIN ANDREWS and singer CEE LO GREEN. Several celebs also attended Swift's concert, including Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN and actors CHRIS EVANS, VINCE VAUGHN and JEREMY RENNER and LEA MICHELE (CHRON.com, 2/5).
ROCKET MAN: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT held a "private party" Saturday night at the Marriot Marquis in downtown Houston, with ELTON JOHN coming in to "play a solo set." John is a "longtime friend of the Kraft family and has played at past parties they've hosted." Kraft is also a "regular attendee" of John's annual Oscar party in L.A. Other guests at the party included Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI and singer KENNY CHESNEY, who has "become good pals" with Kraft, having "played many sold out shows at Gillette Stadium over the years" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/6). Kraft "hosted the hush-hush affair for 100 or so friends and family." Comedian FRANK CALIENDO also performed at the party (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/6). Chesney also sat in Kraft's box during the Super Bowl last night (THE DAILY).
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER: Saturday's events in Houston included the Playboy Party sponsored by Indian Motorcycle and Effen Vodka. UFC President DANA WHITE made an appearance "just hours after the matches" at UFC Fight Night at Toyota Center. Just after midnight, musical guest FLO RIDA "took to the main stage" and at one point was joined by rapper 50 CENT (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 2/4)....The Maxim Party was held at Smart Financial Centre just outside the city in Sugar Land. Party planners "transformed the performing arts venue into an elegant glowing party mecca." There was a Monster Energy motocross team "doing stunts out in front of the venue" (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 2/5)....Rolling Stone magazine's Super Bowl party took place at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. The event saw musical performances from DJ CASSIDY and DIPLO. Guests included Pro Football HOFer WARREN SAPP, Rockets F SAM DEKKER, actor ANTHONY ANDERSON and rapper BUSTA RHYMES (THE DAILY)....The Univ. of Houston hosted the "sold-out" Taste of the NFL. An estimated "3,000 people attended the event that paired NFL stars and chefs" from all 32 teams (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 2/4).
BRISTOL'S BASH: Friday's events in Houston included ESPN The Party, which featured the interior of a warehouse being "decorated in what can only be described as construction chic with stray cherry pickers scattered throughout next to a full service bars where vodka and Miller Lite flowed." A few "Alfa Romeo sports cars -- a party sponsor -- were parked inside for posing purposes." There were "ridiculously bright" LED screens that "made the front ESPN-branded scaffolding seemingly visible from the International Space Station." Guests included ESPN's CHRIS BERMAN and STEPHEN A. SMITH, Pro Football HOFer MICHAEL IRVIN, Giants WR ODELL BECKHAM JR., Vikings RB ADRIAN PETERSON, former Bills coach REX RYAN, former NFLer TIM TEBOW and Astros P DALLAS KEUCHEL. The event included a musical performance by FERGIE (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 2/4). The warehouse that housed the party was "located just outside of the Arts District in downtown Houston in a space, designed by Event Eleven, to mirror a construction site that reflects the new development" in and around the Houston market (KHOU.com, 2/3).
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: One of the "most exclusive shindigs was at club VrSi in midtown," where New Era Cap welcomed guests to Planet New Era. Celebs were "enticed by appearances" by rapper 2 CHAINZ and chef GUY FIERI. Other guests included Pro Football HOFer EMMITT SMITH, Texans DT VINCE WILFORK, Jets RB MATT FORTE, Steelers RB LE'VEON BELL, Buccaneers QB JAMEIS WINSTON, Packers RB EDDIE LACY and Jets WR BRANDON MARSHALL. New Era was "handing out specially-made hats embedded with twinkling lights." The limited edition hats can be purchased on the NFL Shop site for about $180 (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 2/4)....The "Just The Truth" party took place at Hotel ZaZa in the Museum District of town. The event, which benefited local HIV/AIDS charities had a musical performance by BIZ MARKIE, who "turned up the energy with an infectious set of old hip-hop hits" (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 2/4).
CHARITY GAMES: Super Bowl-related charity sporting events over the weekend included the Celebrity Football Challenge on Saturday at Rhodes Stadium just outside Houston in Katy, Texas. Nearly 8,000 fans packed the 9,768-seat high school stadium. Former NFLer DOUG FLUTIE led one team, while Redskins QB KIRK COUSINS led the other. Bengals QB and Katy native ANDY DALTON came for the coin toss and "greeted throngs of fans along the sidelines" (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 2/4)....Celebs on Friday played in the DraftKings Antonio Brown Celebrity Slam Basketball Game benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston at the Joe K. Butler Sports Complex. Guests included rappers SNOOP DOGG and DJ KHALED (CHRON.com, 2/3).
