A whole lotta ballin' going on . . .

R&B star Ashanti, in town for an exclusive private party, is one of many celebs hanging out in Chicago this week.


Be on the lookout for celebs galore running around town this week—beyond the usual professional athletes:

WEDNESDAY

Candace Bushnell's in town promoting her latest chick-lit tome, "One Fifth Avenue," as well as the premiere of the second season for NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" during a private party at Manor.

THURSDAY

R&B star Ashanti performs; celebrity-fave DJ Kiss spins at an undisclosed location for a private party for a high-end liquor company.

It'll be interesting to see how the parties at Le Passage and Underground play out. Janet Jackson, whose “Rock Witchu” Tour makes a stop at the Allstate Arena, is scheduled to host an after-party at Le Passage. LL Cool J is also supposed to make a cameo. And over at UG, it's all about mega-producer Jemaine Dupri—Janet's main squeeze—who's on tap to deejay during his birthday party.

SATURDAY

Hip-hop star and local Chicago boy Common returns home to host a few fundraisers for his namesake charity, Common Ground Foundation. An afternoon VIP bowling event occurs at 10pin Bowling Lounge, with confirmed attendees The Roots, Pharrell, Will.i.Am, Talib Kweli and Bilal.

And at 7:30pm, Common's performing at the House of Blues, and with all these guys in town, get ready for many cameos onstage!