Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Tropics lent the theme to LV Hilton’s ‘Social’

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, June 16, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

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

Only the finest of comments and accolades were heard in praise of the Las Vegas Hilton for its efforts in presenting "The Social." Incredibly, this spectacular evening was even better than the first. Using a tropical ocean theme with Cuban and South American influences, the resort lavishly decorated 70,000 square feet of its vast convention complex, including a water and sand-encircled stage for the reggae band and elevated areas for the 11-piece Cuban orchestra and its quite-glittering dancers.

Guests -- among them Bernie Stanton, Timothy Bock with Candace Noah, Steve Heller, Chris Angelo from "Star Trek: The Experience," Jim O'Connor and Gerri De Reszynski -- arrived to find a richness of selections for gourmet dining from premiere restaurants including McCormick & Schmick's, the Hilton's own Andiamo, Coyote Cafe, Garlic Cafe, Quark's Bar and a lush preview of Paris-Las Vegas, to name just a few. Interspersed with serving stations and tiny groves of tropical trees with cozy groupings of bistro tables were serving islands offering martinis of every description, fine wines, bourbons of great vintage, single-malt scotches, liqueurs and mixed drinks provided by Deluca, Eagle Vineyards, Nevada Liquor and Labatt distributors.

Every guest was gifted with a commemorative wineglass, cigar cutters and spacious gift bags for the collection of more than two dozen fine cigars distributed throughout the evening by Macanudo, Montecristo, Te-amo, Playboy, Punch and Don Diego, to name just a few. Lighting up with pleasure as they received their favorites from the cigar makers were Gary and Martha Mynott with Bally's chef Carlos Fernandez and his wife, Sara, as well as Hilton executives Ben Keeton, Gus Mosher, Alan Hopper and Andy Maiden, joined briefly by Hilton's food and beverage manager Maureen Myers. Nearby, discussing the finer points of cigars and fine dining, were Mel Carter and Michael Workman, as well as Judge Nancy Oesterle with John Bielinski. Enjoying the festive evening were Rochelle Hornsby, Kathy Harney and her sister, Stephanie Bodnar, with Kathy Parraguirre and Laura Herl ovich, as well as Hailey Hertz and family, Tom Bruny, Mike Leonard, Louie Louie and Esther Quisenberry.

An added attraction to the congenial evening was the expansive offerings of the American Red Cross auction, led by volunteer Shenandoah Merrick, which garnered more than $20,000 for local Red Cross efforts.

To the Derby

Derby Day, done Southern Nevada-style, was well celebrated when Planned Parenthood's Council of Advocates gathered with other supporters of the organization for a Triple Crown Race Party at the home of newlyweds Nancy Allf and Dave Thomas. Guests were treated to traditional Kentucky Derby fare: mint juleps, bourbon balls, ham and biscuits plus smoked salmon, wine and cheese. Lovely sprigs of fresh mint, grapes and other fragrant herbs decorated the spacious table.

Guests Dr. Richard Morgan, dean of UNLV's Boyd College of Law, and his wife, Tina, were seen in the Winner's Circle of prizes, as was Christine Winterson and Carl Marcello, who will dine at Lawry's The Prime Rib. Brian and Anne Menzel will be tempted royally by their prize of a year's supply of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, while Nelson and Millie Clark will enjoy a stay at the Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort. Council of Advocate chair Richard Fitzpatrick and his wife, Laura, were seen relaxing at the party with Le Riggle, Kathleen England, Laura Cyr and husband Jeff Vilardi, and Kathleen Paustian.

Longtime Planned Parenthood advocate and former board member Ann McNamee attended with daughter Ross Lee, and was seen cheering on her favorite horses. Lee Plotkin will soon be a star on KTV Channel 63, thanks to winning the prize of a half-hour live program on the station. Other guests included the host's parents, Don and Frances Thomas, as well as Nancy Taplin, Laura Deitsch and Stan Jacobson. Taplin serves as vice chairwoman of development on Planned Parenthood of Rocky Mountain's board of directors, the governing organization for the local Planned Parenthood agency. Adding a sweet touch to the day were the clever business card cookies provided by Michael Levine of the Great American Cookie Company.

Nuptials celebrated

Several Las Vegans recently made the trip to Phoenix for the wedding of Dawn Lowman, who attended local schools including Bonanza High School, and is a chemical engineering graduate of the University of Arizona. The daughter of Jim and Marcia Lowman of Scottsdale -- both of whom grew up in Las Vegas -- Dawn married Trent Baker of Tucson, who is a patent attorney.

Attending the romantic event held at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens were Richard and Linda Larsen with daughters Trina and Caroly, Mary and Zel Lowman, grandparents of the bride, with daughter Freda, Ken Lempenau, Rosemary Pollard and daughter April, and Chris and Lali Publow -- all of Las Vegas.

With tree leaves dancing in a gentle breeze, a full moon overhead and saguaro sentinels standing tall on the hill behind the wedding party, Dawn was escorted to the altar by her father. Attendants were Dawn's sister, Jillian, a recent graduate of Arizona State University, and Trent's brother, Ted Baker. Parents of the groom are University of Arizona geology professor Dr. Victor and Pauline Baker. Dawn's uncle, Bill Lowman, his wife, Carolyn, and son, Nate, former Las Vegans, were present from Idyllwild, Calif.

Birthday feast

While my daughter Alicia lives on tiny Pelican Island in Galveston Bay, Texas, in easy view of fishing trawlers and sports fishermen, she declares the selection and preparation of seafood in Las Vegas is far superior to the Texas offerings. A senior at Texas A&M University-Galveston and newly elected student body president, she was recently home for a short break.

Among our dinner destinations was Sunset Station's Costa Del Sol, where the new "wild side" menu was a definite hit with our small group of family and friends. The most delicious dinner began with a superb house specialty gumbo of lobster, crab and shrimp ordered from "The Grotto" menu. Then, in a most leisurely fashion, we progressed to mesquite grilled ahi tuna and Chilean seabass with tasty side trips to the salad bar where fresh dishes, hearth-baked breads and soups were offered in abundance with our dinners. Helping us by providing a 21st birthday toast for Alicia was Costa Del Sol's chef, Daniel Ellis, who created the eatery's "wild side" menu.

Variety of gifts

Best wishes to Connie Ross and Ed Crispell -- director of advertising and publicity and general manager, respectively -- of the Imperial Palace, who were presented with the International Variety Club's Presidential Citation Awards at Variety Club of Southern Nevada's recent Summer Membership Cocktail Party.

Held at Manhattan restaurant, the event celebrated the generous allocations to children's charities on behalf of Variety Club, including Ronald McDonald House ($10,000), Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer ($10,000) and St. Jude's Ranch for Children ($10,000). Sunshine Coaches (mini-buses) were also presented to New Vista Ranch, Nevada's Children's Center and Catholic Charities, and displayed for the preview of guests in the parking lot of Manhattan restaurant.

Also recognized for their efforts on behalf of the local Variety Club were Susan Anton, KFMS 102-FM, the Henderson Fire Department, Metro Police Department, the Stacy Darling Tennis Classic Committee, Big Picture Studios and the Meadows mall. Variety Club of Southern Nevada is committed to improving the quality of life for children with special needs.