So, multi-platinum artist Vanessa Carlton was a little peeved that those who attended the AOL "Welcome Party & Concert" were a little too focused on the party aspect to listen to her beautiful modern classical tunes.

The stage at the Mellon Auditorium was set with a grand piano and flanked by jumbo screens that played a montage of player photos or went to live shots of the presentation and concert. The high celings provided a special touch as massive graphics of twirling stars were projected on the gold plated canvas. Nearly everyone was gussied up, entering the grand building on the red, er, blue carpet. That aspect was a little much as there were only a couple of cameras. If security can't hold them back without a roped off "media holding pen," then, well we've got issues.

Anyway, everyone mingled with the bigwig sponsors as the wine and martini's flowed freely with food circling the crowd like kaiten-sushi. The All-Stars were introduced after going through the standard photo session. And a comical moment was when Indiana All-Star Tammy Sutton-Brown tried to scoot away from Houston All-Star Tina Thompson on stage because both were wearing similar outfits - a belted smock top over black pants with pumps. Thompson's top was emerald and accesorized with a beaded necklace while Sutton-Brown wore cream and no jewlery, but they could of been twin mannequins at Nordi's.

Best dressed has to go to Washington All-Star Alana Beard, although Connecticut All-Star Katie Douglas was nearly unrecognizable in her strapless black cocktail dress. You can checkout the looks here.

Beard, who wore a Grecian-inspired cream dress with her faux hawk elegantly slicked back. The team's public relations spokeswoman asked if I still liked her 'do (Beard won this blog's Best WNBA Hair last season) and I had to say yes because of the versatility, but Beard promised to return the funkier look for today's game.

Best nails has to go to Storm All-Star Lauren Jackson, who got a manicure with black polish like Phoenix All-Star Cappie Pondexter, but added a white skull and cross bones design on her pinky nail. She's threatening to get a tattoo of the image, too. Guess that fits with the Marilyn Manson theme she adores.

Players' pick for best dressed actually went to Storm center Ashley Robinson, who attended to hang out with all of her Tennessee and Seattle buds. As she walked away from a cluster of All-Stars gathered in the back of the auditorium, everyone started talking about how gorgeous she is and admired how at 6-foot-4, she doesn't think twice about rocking a pair of 4-inch heels. She wore a green jersey dress and accented it with sparkly green eye shadow. Earlier while she was talking to Vols assistant coaches, I used her height like a submarine periscope to spot Jackson.

Robinson had some hilarious tales - she's one of the funniest players in the league - particularly when she talked about her and Diana Taurasi back in the day. They've known each other since age 13 and when Robinson, 24, would walk around in her cute outfits, Taurasi would sneak up from behind and de-pants her. They cracked up at the memory and then most of the players departed for dinner and the remainder of their evening.

Oh, yeah. Carlton had finished her concert by then, too.