Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Locals turn out for MGM Grand’s Olio opening

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001 | 9:11 a.m.

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

Olio at the MGM Grand is a spacious, ingeniously designed playhouse of a club, offering multiple dance areas, an intimate lounge, a separate screening room, ice cream and sorbet parlor and several dining options.

Futuristic in attitude, its silver-clad greeters made welcome a select crowd of guests for the private opening festivities recently, among them Toni Reiser with Dr. Gary Kantor, Bud Cranor of Gov. Kenny Guinn's Southern Nevada office, Angela De Los Santos with attorney Von Heinz, Sandi Maathuin, Marcie Bridges and MGM Grand executive Tina Chura, seen with Lollie Limandri and Jamie Delaney.

Architect Jeffrey Beers, who designed Olio with its signature curved ceiling and spacious feel, as well as Mandalay Bay's rumjungle and China Grill, attended as the honored guest of Olio owners John Tunney III and Anthony Capetola. Delectable appetizers were served in profusion by the club's well-trained serve staff to Evelyn Kitt, attending with Dr. Donald Dombrowski; Blake Bradley with Courtney Fuhrman, Bob Shemeligian, Marilyn Tunney, Wayne Nixson and John Civitello, MGM Grand's executive director of Food and Beverage. Olio's handsome DJ -- known only as R.O.B. -- had many on the dance floor including Kelli Maruca with boyfriend Jason Hendrick, Heidi and Jeff Katz, Jeff and Andrea Burbank, John Schadler with Anne Yendrick and Darcy and Jonathan Spears.

Plenty to do

There's no excuse to stay home Saturday when events abound, all for good causes, all carefully planned with an eye to delight.

St. Rose Dominican Hospital and Health Foundation is preparing for its 44th annual Mardi Gras Ball at Bellagio. Chaired by Dr. J. Paul Wiesner, the event titled "2001: A Mardi Gras Odyssey" will honor Sen. Richard and Bonnie Bryan as Mardi Gras king and queen. This most beloved ball will offer an interactive video auction -- the only one of its kind in our community -- as well as truly splendid packages through live and silent auctions. Treasures to be found include a week's cruise in the Caribbean, a planetarium party for 50 guests and a year-old bottle of fine Madeira wine.

Bill and Dee Hunt are Mardi Gras vice-chairmen and reminded us that tickets to the event are $250 per person, with further information and the necessary reservations available by calling the St. Rose Dominican Foundation at 616-7630.

Nearby at the Orleans, Mayor Oscar Goodman and his wife, Carolyn, will be honored as king and queen at the first Las Vegas Mardi Gras. An event to benefit HELP of Southern Nevada, the evening will recognize the celebrants with a grand procession while guests enjoy an evening of true New Orleans-style festivities. A Cajun menu will be served at dinner with spirited Dixieland entertainment, and even a Mardi Gras float provided by Southwest Gas. The Blues Brothers Band will provide after-dinner dance music.

HELP of Southern Nevada is a nonprofit agency that has provided support to persons in need for more than 30 years. Its goal is to help people become self-sufficient and less dependent upon government assistance. Community leaders working on the dinner dance include Ruth Urbantke, Warren Rustad, Stacy Bloom, Sam Lieberman, Dawn Oaks, Christopher McNamara and Michael Sexton. Tickets are $150, with reservations available by calling 369-4357 ext. 238.

Lastly, the 18 Society Foundation, with Chairman James E. Rogers and President B.J. "Burt" Black, will host the 2nd annual Louie Awards Gala at the MGM Grand Convention Center. Honored will be members of the foundation's Class of 2001, among them Stewart Bell (Citizen of the Year), Andre Agassi (Young Leadership), Thalia Dondero, Ann Lynch and Wayne Tanaka (Lifetime Achievement), as well as Mordechai Yerushalmi and Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada (Giving with a Warm Hand). The 18 Society Foundation is committed to uniting people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds in an effort dedicated to further the highest interest of humanity and philanthropy and the support of the arts, sciences and education. Its efforts to assist local organizations are numerous, including funding efforts undertaken by Chefs for Kids, Meals on Wheels, the UNLV library, Holocaus t Education, Indigent Veterans, the UMC Foundation and Help Them Walk Again. Reservations are necessary, so please call 898! -0000.

The name game

And now to address a problem in last week's column when Vicki Wheeler had her name incorrectly listed on the guest list for the National League of American Pen Women luncheon. The innocent mistake was set in motion with a list provided, as are many items, by the organization and made its way into the paper.