Strip Tee
LAS VEGAS Sept. 14
Britney Spears surprised a crowd of 1,800 at the Palms Casino's Rain nightclub when she showed up at 1 a.m. to give an unbilled performance. During a brief set the singer performed two new songs from her upcoming CD and showed off a mysterious backside message (right): "No BS."

Reading-Material Mom
LONDON Sept. 14
Flanked by her kids, Rocco, 3, and Lourdes, 6, Madonna read her new children's book, The English Roses, at a launch party. Wrangling a fidgety Rocco, Madonna said, "As you can see, my son doesn't like to sit still.

Street Smart
WASHINGTON, D.C. Sept. 12
"Wish us luck. I'll be drinking in the corner if you need me," joked George Clooney, who drew a crowd of female well-wishers (doesn't he always?) at the Palm steak house during the premiere party for K Street, the new HBO series set in the world of political consultants, executive-produced by the actor.

To Sea and Be Seen
CAPRI, ITALY Sept. 13
A crisply dressed Liz Hurley and her boyfriend, Indian businessman Arun Nayar, enjoyed a boat ride together during their Mediterranean vacation.

BABY BOOM

Stork Contrasts
Expectant stars aren't hiding their mother natures: Former pro volleyball player Gabrielle Reece (left) showed off her shape to a pal (Dad is pro surfer Laird Hamilton); Kate Hudson (lower left and below, with Kurt Russell) let her shirt proclaim a contented state of mind; Molly Shannon looked pretty in pink (lower right); and Heather Wills carried that weight while strolling with husband Paul McCartney in London.

Drew Love
NEW YORK CITY Sept.9
At the premiere of the comedy-drama Lost in Translation, actress Drew Barrymore cozied up to her rocker boyfriend, Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti.

Score!
CORAMBA, AUSTRALIA Sept. 14
Russell Crowe (center) was having a g'day, mate, when the Orara Valley Axemen, a rugby team sponsored by the actor, scored against the Macksville Sea Eagles during a league final. The Axemen ended up losing 30-23.

Circus Act
LOS ANGELES Sept. 13
Tom Cruise demonstrated all the right moves—a smile and a shake—while greeting fans at the Cirque du Soleil show Varekai. Cruise brought his son Connor, 8, and daughter Isabella, 10, to the event.

Boogie Days
MALIBU Sept. 13
"The older I get, the more I like a sport where you get to lie down," says boogie-boarding aficionado Ray Romano, who made waves during a beach outing with family.

Bag Lady
NEW YORK CITY Sept. 11
Ever the vision of downtown chic, Gwen Stefani strolled through SoHo while carrying the Small Hella Hobo bag from a new line of pocketbooks that the singer designed, Gwen Stefani-L.A.M.B. for LeSportsac.

ON THE SET

Face Lift
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND Sept. 11
Jude Law got cheeky to amuse a young costar on the set of the as-yet-untitled remake of Alfie, the 1966 comedy. Earlier the English actor hopped on a Vespa to film a scene (below).

Arts Work
L.A. Sept. 13
Matthew Perry and sweetie Rachel Dunn looked spiffy for the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Perry presented several music trophies.

Night & Day
L.A. AND MALIBU Sept. 13 & 14
Jennifer Garner, a glam presenter at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmys (left), turned track star the next day, running four miles for her celebrity relay team at a triathlon that raised over $160,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Job Opportunities
DEAUVILLE, FRANCE Sept. 12
Mark Wahlberg gave pointers on how to make an entrance (Tip No. 1: Arrive with a dazzling Charlize Theron on your arm) at a screening for their crime caper The Italian Job.