That honor goes to Derek Jeter, at least for today.

Because last week it was Magic Johnson.

And next week it will be former President Bill Clinton.

In case you haven’t noticed, the stars are shining on Trenton. The Capital City is becoming a hot destination, for celebs and out-of-town visitors alike.

"We are quickly changing the perception of what Trenton is and people are focused on what it could become," Mercer County Executive Bob Prunetti said. "Trenton used to be all about steel, rubber and pottery, they were our three major industries in Trenton’s heyday.

"When they left, the only industry was government. Now what we’re trying to do is spark a new industry -- entertainment."

Though it’s a relatively young enterprise for Trenton, entertainment in the city is flourishing. Sovereign Bank Arena and Waterfront Park have become A-list spots for big-name stars, and Manex Entertainment film studios, the XArena Motor Cross and the South Broad Street development hold promise for the future.

Some are calling it a revitalization, while others say it’s been a long time coming for Trenton. But regardless of the name, people are thrilled with the results.

"The bridge says ‘Trenton Makes, the World Takes,’ that was from the Industrial Era," said Mike Scanlon, general manager of Sovereign Bank Arena. "But now we’re offering people from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and even Delaware a place to come to, to be entertained, to feel safe, to have a good experience."

And people are coming. Scanlon said the arena is about to celebrate its two-millionth attendee, though it’s been open for only four years.

The arena keeps records of where its ticket-holders come from, and Scanlon said about 50 percent of the guests come from outside Mercer County.

"This shows the perception of Trenton is changing," Scanlon said. "People are coming from Burlington County, Bucks County, even Middlesex County. They’re seeing Trenton as a destination."

Trenton’s transformation has not been an overnight success, and Scanlon said people have to be patient with the results.

"The city didn’t fall into its current condition overnight," he said. "It happened over years. To build it back up is going to take some years too. But we’re refocusing, we’re getting away from the industrial age of the city and focusing more on the entertainment age."

Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, who has overseen the transformation of the city, said all the goings-on are simply a first step.

"There’s a second wave to come," Palmer said. "Three years from now, we’ll have market-rate housing downtown. Manex will be up and running. The new train station will be built. Plus, it will be a much safer city."

Palmer sees a marked increase in private investment coming over the next few years, leading to more business and more people -- and more time.

"Trenton will become a city that doesn’t close at 5 p.m.," he said. "It’s again becoming the great shining capital it once was."

The return to glory can be traced back to 1993, when construction started on the baseball stadium.

It’s been rolling ever since, with the arena, the stadium, the Marriott and the war memorial all integral parts of the formula.

Combined, these attractions are turning Trenton into a "gem," said Prunetti.

And he agrees with Palmer’s assessment that new housing in the works is only going to help.

"Any city that’s rebounded today, that’s the recipe," Prunetti explained. "People have to come to be entertained, they have to come to work and they have to come to live."

Scanlon agreed and said affordable housing will develop in the coming years as young professionals move back into Trenton.

In five years, Prunetti expects people will be able to see a triangle of success downtown. The area inside the triangle, from the state capital to the Roebling complex and the waterfront, will be completely redeveloped. And it will be totally hip, he said.

If Trenton’s change isn’t enough, a professor at Rutgers said the good news isn’t exclusive to the capital. Michael Aaron Rockland, a professor of American Studies at Rutgers, said New Jersey as a whole is going through a renaissance.

"The things that have happened in Trenton are part of something larger," Rockland explained. "This larger thing is a general sense of well-being that we’re not perfect (in New Jersey) but we don’t hide from our defects and there’s a lot to celebrate about life here."