Columnist Muriel Stevens: Feasts abound around town this holiday season

Friday, Dec. 15, 2000 | 10:17 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas," by dining out Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Unlike olden times, when the tree wasn't trimmed until Christmas Eve, it's now adorned and bedecked early in the season, sometimes even before Thanksgiving.

So take advantage of all the lovely holiday meals being offered. There are plenty to choose from:

Reservations should be made for all of the fine restaurants.

Showered with love: Alicia Anne Foyt, the daughter of Elizabeth Foyt, Sun society columnist, and John Foyt, were feted at a special shower catered by the Rio. The "Simple Wedding Package" for 50 was purchased during this year's "Chef's For Kids" benefit by hostesses Lisa Windom with her mother, Sandy Windom, and her sister, Jennifer Schmidt. That's what I call savvy planning.

The wedding package, created by Rio's Executive Pastry Chef Brenda Hitchins, included the elegant buffet luncheon, the party room in the Pavilion Conference Center, a scrumptious three-tiered raspberry-filled wedding cake, an ice carving of love birds and the party decor. Chef Jay Frink joined Hitchins in making the shower memorable.

A second shower, a Sunday brunch (the same weekend) was hosted by Debbie Davis, Lexis Allen, Sally McKinney and Carol Carlton Mix. Alicia's grandparents, Ann and B.C. Valder (now deceased), were longtime Las Vegans. Ann was the previous Sun society columnist, working with her daughter until the end. On Saturday Alicia will marry Alex Strogen, son of A. Graham and Linda Strogen of Arlington, Texas, at First Presbyterian Church. My best wishes to all.