Tuesday, April 21, 1998 | 9:02 a.m.
Dressed in their very best -- with manners that matched -- some of the students participating in the 1998 Inner City Games were charming greeters at a recent fund-raiser at Chinois in the Forum Shops at Caesars.
Earlier in the day, a group of students participating in the Inner City Games Art and Writing Contest and Youth Ambassadors program had a rare opportunity to cook with celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, and design an art project with architectural designer Barbara Lazaroff, Puck's wife and business partner, who designed the smashing, new Chinois restaurant.
The lively mini-workshops took place upstairs at Chinois. The kids were still talking about the workshops when they circulated among the guests at the reception. The students I chatted with were articulate and enthused. They had had a wonderful time with Puck and Lazaroff and were still enjoying the afterglow.
Arnold Schwarzenegger founded the Inner City Games in 1991 as a response to the challenges and problems inner-city youths face on a daily basis. There was no plan initially to include Las Vegas as one of the host cities for the games until the formidable team of Elaine Wynn and Yvonne Atkinson Gates came along. They now co-chair the Las Vegas games, which take place over nine months and provide numerous free sporting and educational events that benefit all involved. Both knew how such a program could make a major contribution to the lives of students and they never let up until Schwarzenegger agreed to let Las Vegas participate. After gathering a group of national and local sponsors for financial support, the games began.
More than 200 benefactors, corporate sponsors and volunteers attended the Chinois reception and dinner. During the reception, guests got to know the students and enjoyed a sumptuous array of hors d'oeuvres. They also got to know the Spago's and Chinois' staffs. Puck, Lazaroff and company are dedicated to supporting local charities in the communities where they do business -- their generosity is legend. Also on hand were Spago's and Chinois' managing partner Tom Kaplan, partner/chef David Robins and pastry Chef Mary Bergin.
Dinner, served family-style -- the Chinois way -- took place in the upstairs dining room. Included were a new version of their Chinese chicken salad with sesame-mustard dressing (to appear soon on the menu); Shanghai lobster with ginger-curry sauce and crispy spinach; charcoal-grilled Szechuan beef; crisp, sesame coated green beans; savory and sweet braised eggplant; an assortment of desserts and sparkling and still wines.
More than 13,000 children ages 7-17 are expected to participate in the Inner City Games program this year. For information about becoming a volunteer with the games, call Joyce Walker or Linda Hopkins at 382-5447.
S'wonderful
Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme packed the Circus Maximus showroom at Caesars Palace for the last of their weekend performances on Sunday night -- as it was for all three shows. Singing the timeless songs of Cole Porter, the Gershwins and Irving Berlin, as well as contemporary offerings, the appealing couple was a sensation.
Singly or together, they're tops. And they're funny, too: Steve is a great storyteller; Eydie is a master of repartee.
After a few days at home they'll take to the road for more appearances. When will they perform again in Las Vegas? Dates are not yet set, but it can't be soon enough for their many admirers.
"Hello dere"
For the first time, Laughlin show-goers heard funny man Marty Allen say those stirring words, "Hello dere."
Allen is appearing at Cody's Saloon in the Gold River Casino with his talented spouse, singer Karon Kate Blackwell. She's also a fine straight (wo)man to his hilarious shtick.
The Allens, like the Lawrences, make their home in Las Vegas. Marty's favorite pastime is reading (he's a generous sharer of books he likes) and Karon's is composing music. He reads while Karon plays the piano -- it's a lovely way to spend an evening.
Until the next time, it's "Goodbye dere." Allen and Blackwell close their run at the Gold River tonight.
Planet Hollywood
Film star Patrick Swayze will make a personal appearance at Planet Hollywood (he's a shareholder) Saturday from 2-4 p.m. The hunky star will meet with fans and donate memorabilia to the ever-growing Planet Hollywood collection. Swayze starred in the blockbuster movies "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost."
Fans and autograph seekers should arrive early for the best vantage point. For more information about Swayze's appearance, call 791-7827.
Almost toast
Most accidents happen at home -- including mine.
Sunday morning, I set a pan on a hot stove and added enough olive oil to make a fritatta. The phone rang. Without turning off the heat, I mindlessly went to answer it. Within minutes, billows of thick, black smoke filled my apartment. The heat and smoke were so intense I could barely see my way into the kitchen to turn off the stove.
In just a few minutes the kitchen had become a soot-laden disaster. The walls, ceiling and appliances were black; the stove was a mess. It is now barely useable. There wasn't an inch of the kitchen that escaped the devastation from just a few spoons of olive oil. Lucky for me, the amount wasn't enough to cause any flames.
Of course, I set off the fire alarms in the building. (At least I found out that they work!) With the help of two maintenance men, Ziggy and Jorge, I cleaned the mess for the better part of the day. It was a sobering, emotional experience.
Yesterday, when I turned on the kitchen light, I discovered there was still soot on the blades of the fan and the lighting fixture. It's a small reminder of the havoc one thoughtless lapse can bring about. It's a lesson I'll not forget.
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