No doubt party hats, presents, and novelty cakes were all over NYC’s restaurants this week as they played host to a slew of big celebrity birthday parties. Disney star Demi Lovato marked her 18th with dinner and a party at Buddakan, where guests included family, friends, and ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas. And after a blow-out party in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she’s currently filming Scream 4, Hayden Panettiere continued her 21st birthday celebrations in Manhattan with friends — a meal at Koi before cocktails at Avenue. For her 23rd, however, Blake Lively kept it casual at Public’s intimate wine bar the Monday Room.
Ajna: Russell Brand’s shabby-chic attire almost saw him stopped at the door of the meatpacking bar-restaurant, but “status” trumped the dress code. [Page Six/NYP]
Asia de Cuba: Atlanta met New York as Real Housewives NeNe Leakes and Ramona Singer got together for gossip over wine at the Morgan’s hotel restaurant. [People]
Buddakan: The guests at Disney starlet Demi Lovato’s 18th-birthday party included her younger sister Madison (Desperate Housewives’ pre-tween drama queen Juanita Solis) and the full set of Jonas Brothers. [Splash News Online]
Da Silvano: For this week’s seemingly obligatory Rihanna sighting, she was back to one of her regular restaurant faves. Just to switch things up a little, though, she brought along her younger brother Rajad. [Bauer Griffin]
Juliet Supper Club: Drake, Chris Brown, Idris Elba, and Lil Jon began a boys’ night out with dinner at the Chelsea lounge, where they were swamped by girls. [KBS Radio]
Koi: Part of Hayden Panettiere’s 21st NYC birthday party plans was a dinner with friends, including Entourage actor Kevin Connelly and model Jessica White. [Page Six/NYP]
NYY Steak: Tyra Banks dined light again this week, eschewing the Yankee restaurant’s signature steaks for a watermelon salad and shrimp cocktail. [Page Six/NYP]
Public: Blake Lively celebrated turning 23 with a low-key dinner; attendees didn’t include too many of her Gossip Girl co-stars — though both Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford were at the table. [Page Six/NYP]
Scarpetta: Martha Stewart and friends considered themes and topics for her daughter Alexis’s new TV show over dinner. [Page Six/NYP]