Britney Celebrate Her 27th Birthday

December 2 was a big day for Britney Spears: she performed live on “Good Morning America,” her new album “Circus” dropped, and it was her 27th birthday. Spears celebrated in a way that came as a surprise to some: with a party at Tenjune, a rather trendy Manhattan nightclub.

“She’s been so careful with her image lately, it came as a surprise that she’d turn around and have her party at a club,” said one person in the Spears inner circle. “We don’t expect anything bad to happen, but it just sounds like trouble on the surface.”

That said, “Everyone’s really excited that Britney’s back,” says another person who was privy to some of the party planning. “And it’s not about it (the party) being at a nightclub, it’s about what’s going to happen in the space.”

At about 10:15 p.m., Spears, her parents Jamie and Lynne and manager Larry Rudolph arrived at Tenjune. Some of the VIP friends in attendance: Lance Bass, Rob Buckley from "Lipstick Jungle," Josh Lucas, Heidi Klum, Jeremy Piven and Will.i.Am.

A source inside says that Spears didn't drink, “There was only water on the table,” and that she was in good spirits. “She had a great time. It was nice to see.” Spears and her entourage left a little after 1 a.m.

Before Spears made it to the club, she taped a spot that will air during NBC's Rockefeller Center Tree lighting special, then she and her family had a celebratory birthday dinner at the Rainbow Room.