Before MTV’s Video Music Awards take over Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sunday, pop stars will party in Manhattan. To kick things off, Robin Thicke will headline MTV and Time Warner Cable’s official pre-VMAs show at Terminal 5 as a benefit for Lifebeat on Friday, where we hear “Thrift Shop” rapper Macklemore will be a surprise performer. On Saturday, producer Timbaland will host his pre-VMAs bash at Hudson Terrace while Wiz Khalifa will appear at an Avenue VMA bash for the Agency Group and Hennessy and D-Nice will DJ. During the awards on Sunday, EMM Group impresarios Eugene Remm and Mark Birnbaum will preview new restaurant La Cenita as host of Republic Records’ viewing celebration followed by an after-party. And Finale will host In Touch’s Icons & Idols after-party, where Nick Cannon and Travie McCoy will DJ.