The story behind Paris' visit

Andrew VanSickle presents Paris Hilton with a painting from his "Weeping Supergirl" series at Bang. (Credit: Graham Lienhart | Special to Metromix)

Paris and friends at Bang

Downtown club hosted some extra star power on Wednesday

So why was socialite Paris Hilton at Bang nightclub in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday night?

She was the surprise guest of her boyfriend, Doug Reinhardt, TV personality (MTV’s “The Hills”), former baseball player and businessman.

Hilton and Reinhardt were brought to Bang by the club’s owner, Nick Grammas of Indian Hill; Los Angeles-based celebrity booking agency RSP Talent, co-owned by a friend of Grammas’; and Cincinnati-based promotions company Fresh Marketing, said Rob Manz, Bang’s general manager.

Bang brought in the celebrity couple to help promote its conversion into a new club called Lush, Manz said. The two-year-old club’s last night as Bang will be July 4, and then it will close for renovations and reopen as Lush in early August, he said.

“It’s time for something new and fresh,” Manz said.

Manz declined to say how much the club paid Hilton and Reinhardt to appear at the nightclub.

Hilton, like many celebrities, regularly makes appearances at clubs for a fee.

About 500 people showed up at Bang amid rumors of the socialite’s appearance. They paid $20 per person or $500 for a VIP table for 10, Bang spokesman Andrew VanSickle said.

Wearing a bright yellow, Grecian-style maxi-dress, she arrived through the front door at about midnight, mingled with club-goers and even got behind the DJ booth to address the crowd, VanSickle said.

“She didn’t have any airs,” VanSickle said. “She was all about fun.”

Other well-known Cincinnatians in attendance included Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory; singers Nick Lachey and Justin Jeffre, formerly of the band 98°; and Bengal Shayne Graham, he said.

VanSickle added that Hilton ate dinner at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse on Wednesday and stayed at the Cincinnatian.