Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Caesars welcomes ‘Happy Holiday’ fashion event

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999 | 9:48 a.m.

Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoytsimmons@prodigy.net.

A"Happy Holiday" luncheon at Caesars Palace, hosted by the Nevada Opera Theatre Guild, will be Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The fashionable event promises the finest music from the Cameriata String Quartet and Nevada Opera Theatre Artists as well as a champagne reception and gourmet luncheon. Holiday fashions of the most tempting sort will be shown from the collections of James Reva, The Alley and Juliana Collezione with fashion notes from Toni Reiser.

Advance reservations are necessary. Call 734-6338 or 227-0888. Proceeds from this annual luncheon will go toward the presentation of "La Traviata" at Artemus Ham Hall at UNLV in February.

Celebrity waiters

Kenny Kerr, a beloved Las Vegan with a true flair for the dramatic, will preside over the high-spirited "Celebrity Waiter Gala Dinner" at the Four Seasons Hotel on Monday. A first event for the Leukemia Society of America, Las Vegas office, the affair promises to be both delectable and delightful.

Food gurus Charlette and Elliot Krane are chairing the evening, and with Jim Reis, director of catering and convention events at Four Seasons, have selected a most tempting menu. Earlier this week their team of celebrity waiters was given in-depth training at Bacio Organico in the Mark I Tower. Mario and Dee Ferrari hosted the wine and cheese party and added their own expertise to the training session. Contact Duffy Gold, executive director of the Luekemia Society at 436-4220 for details and reservations.

Christmas Box

The Christmas Box, a new event to benefit the extensive outreach programs of Sunrise Children's Hospital Foundation, provided an elegant start to the holidays. Held at the Las Vegas Hilton, the event was chaired by Dee Ladd, president and chief executive of the foundation with honorary dinner chairman Gerri Groubert helping. The black-tie gathering sparkled as guests explored the silent auction packages, each with treasures designed to capture the hearts of bidders. In the array were boxed-themed auction packages representing such programs as Pediatric Diabetes (Magic Box ); PIRC -- Parent Information and Resource Center (Soap Box); Baby Think It Over -- teen pregnancy prevention (Sewing Box); Starlight -- a computer network for hospitalized kids (Cigar Box), to name a few.

Bidders crowding the auction tables included Dr. Kathy and Tom Mahon; Christopher Key; Joanne Evans; Tony Nation; Sue Collins; Donna Matson; Bill Noonan and Mike Ross; Sheila Stanley; Somer and Peggy Hollingsworth; Candy and Bruce Krausman; and Keith and Darlene Hannah.

Chatting with Christmas Box sponsors Teresa and Michael Minden was Sunrise Hospital's chaplain, the Rev. Jerry Blankenship, joined by Sue Brandt, vice chair of the Foundation and Barbara Stout with Dominic Ciociola. Nearby Vic Salerno, chairman of the foundation's board was with Kathy Ochs, Carol Lucan, Henry Williams, Ann Lynch and Kevin Orrock. Also mingling with friends were charity auctioneer Christian Kolberg, wife Laura and his parents, Wally and Carol Kolberg.

Dinner, served by Hilton's best staff, was enjoyed by Debbie Vergis and Alan Montoya; Frank McRae; Jacque and David Matthews; and Sue Strand, president of the Clark County Classroom Teachers Association. Strand, who spent Thanksgiving in Minnesota with her family, shared a table with Carol Bellmyre and Bay Area Biscoti Co. owner Arlene Damele, who recently moved her bakery and business headquarters to Las Vegas. Joining the group was Marie Menzagopain, representing El Portal Luggage, a true corporate angel to the Sunrise Children's Hospital Foundation. El Portal has chosen to feature the foundation's Millennium ornaments in itst widely distributed catalog of leather goods and accessories.

On the auction block after dinner were treasured packed assortments entitled "The Doll Box," an enviable collection of precious dolls; "The Boulevard Mall," an assortment of goods complete with a $1,000 gift certificate and luggage for transporting it all; and lastly, "The Christmas Box,' containing a luxurious array of gifts designed to please everyone on this year's list. Spirited bidding was spurred along by Ken Ladd who served as "spotter" and chief cheerleader of this good cause.

Celebrating holiday

A time for dear ones and family, Thanksgiving is also a time to celebrate the bounty of friendships. In this spirit, Helen and Jim Sax, with their son, Ryan, hosted a post-Thanksgiving open house. Guests such as actor-producer Bobby Rodgers; realtors Paul and Wende Bell; Norm Johnson; Judge Bill and Nora Jansen; Boyd College of Law Dean Richard Morgan with wife, Tina, daughter Emily and son Andrew; and Linn and Daryl Thome relaxed in the Saxes' West Charleston home, enjoying the pleasant mood set by the open fire in the hearth and genial conversation. Slipping in for a short stay were newlyweds Nancy Allf and Dave Thomas with his parents, as well as Judy Robinson; Mary and Jim Crotty; Rene and Bruce Story; and Connie and Ryan Waite, with tiny son, Issac.

Mel Carter, who has just taken on marketing director duties for Las Vegas Conference Suites and Services as well as Almost Heaven Mountain Retreat, was seen discussing business with Dennis Hetherington, director of public relations for the Reserve resort. Sharing a slice of wry commentary on the challenge of raising teenagers were Dr. Charles and Nancy Vinnik with good friends District Judge Mark and Alice Denton, who attended the party with his parents, Ralph and Sara Denton. Alicia Foyt, goddaughter to the Saxes and current Student Senate president of Texas A&M University at Galveston, attended with sweetheart Alex Strogen of Maersk Shipping, who were introduced to Mike McCartney, KTNV Channel 13's morning traffic guy, and his wife, Melissa, who's just moved to the Mirage as room reservation supervisor.

Sampling the dinner buffet were Adrienne and John O'Donoghue; Ira Sternberg with Gina Palumbo and Judy Hetherington, now on staff with Nevada Controller Kathy Augustine at her new Southern Nevada office.

Festival of Lights

For over a decade the Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada has launched the season for children of all ages by presenting its Festival of Trees and Lights. Operating as a wonderland for Jews and Christians alike during Thanksgiving weekend, the festival opened with a splendid dinner and auction. Trees and their bountiful surrounding packages are offered by both silent and live auction to attending guests, then displayed throughout the festival before home or office delivery.

Themed "Mystic Memories," this was a year for wonderous trees, exquisite wreaths and fanciful centerpieces and charming gingerbread creations, all enjoyed in the spacious ballrooms of Paris Las Vegas. Donated by individuals, civic groups, churches and businesses, each reflects the generous spirts of the willing hands who fashioned them. The end result of many hours and donations by groups as diverse as the LDS Curtis Park Ward, Boy Scout Pack No. 205, the Disney Stores, the Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts, Sons of Norway and JOANN ETC., as well as Grandparents Against Child Molesters, the Darling/Ritzo 7-Eleven Stores, Ralph Jones Display, the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Diana Gustafson of The Venetian, just to name a few.

Children withe Down syndrome were volunteers as well as student judges and helped to host the evening gala. They welcomed Connie Larsen; Nick and Kristy Willden; Fred Redfern; Dr. Jeffrey and Linda Johnson; Keith and Rachel Zorros; Debbie Gephardt and Eric Weisberg of Paris Las Vegas. Other attendees were Paul and Kristen Truman; Brian Beckner; Christine Winterson; and Jeff and Sherry Ortwein.

It was a family endeavor for many involved such as gala chair Lois Khoury, who gave great responsibility to husband Ron. Co-chair Sandy Windom wisely recruited her own husband, Rex, to serve as festival photographer and daughter Lisa as judges' coordinator. Windoms' elder daughter Jennifer and her fiance, Brian Thomas, assisted in the creation of the family's "Starlight, Starbright" tree.

Dinner was an elegant five course meal enjoyed by Chuck and Kathy Hughes; Mike and Laurie Myers; designer Jeff Nelson from Ralph Jones Display; Becky Flippin; Fern Adair and associates; Joel Douglas; Margee Purdue and Tim Purcell, local director of public relations for the U.S. Postal Service who attended with his young daughter, Sydney.

Proceeds from the festival remain in Southern Nevada and are used to assist members of the Down syndrome community through outreach programs including both speech and physical therapy.