Columnist Kate Maddox: Postrio home to cash advances

Kate Maddox

Friday, May 18, 2001 | 8:44 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Wednesday night's Alzheimer's Benefit at Wolfgang Puck's Postrio raised about $1 million, beating last year's record by $200,000. Las Vegas' glitterati spent big bucks at the event's live auction, which was hosted by Robin Leach, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.

Highlights included a trip to New York for a walk-on part in HBO's "Sopranos," which went for $60,000. A custom-made suit by William Fioravanti (tailor of choice for Steve Wynn, by the way) was also part of the package.

Paul Anka, in attendance at the dinner, donated an auction item that included a wine tasting with the singer, VIP tickets to his show at the Mirage, a rare Anka CD and a signed original lead sheet of "My Way," that was prepared for Frank Sinatra. (Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson is apparently a huge Anka fan, to the tune of $30,000, the amount he paid for the goodies.)

A first-class trip around the world went for $60,000. Four tickets to the premiere of "Ocean's 11," with party-goer Angie Dickinson serving as the winner's personal hostess for the Hollywood night out, were sold for a whopping $25,000. Another $45,000 bought one guest a gourmet meal prepared by Puck for up to 20 pals anywhere in the world. And two guests purchased the opportunity to co-host on Puck's Food Network show -- for $18,000 each.

Penn & Teller are in New York City today to receive an award for, um, burning the American flag.

The comic magicians, who set fire to Old Glory in their stage act, are getting the 2001 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award from the Creative Coalition.

But before you start writing letters, the duo insist the trick is strictly a celebration of patriotism. "They debuted it last year in Las Vegas," spokesman Glenn Alai said. "It is flag-burning, but they do it in a positive, pro-First Amendment, pro-Bill of Rights kind of way."

Uh, right.

"No really," Alai insists. "In the beginning the crowds were a little uncomfortable, but (Penn & Teller) talk about the trick while they're performing, and the reaction has been good." So good that even Hef took notice.

Not to worry, though. The flag, indivisible once again, magically re-appears at the end of the trick.

Dave Matthews has signed on to one more night in Las Vegas next week, but the $800 tickets have already sold out.

Matthews will give a private concert to guests and VIPs at the Aladdin on May 25, sources say, but the singer won't confirm the top-secret gig. Well, he kinda, sorta won't confirm it.

"I've heard about it," Matthews said slyly in a phone interview. "I think I'm doing a show there. You never know."

Tickets to the concert for 70 or so lucky fans were included in a two-night package deal with the hotel. Tickets to Matthews' May 26 and 27 concerts at Sam Boyd Stadium are still available for $50.50.

What was with the backstage brawl at "Splash" this week? A yelling, screaming cat fight broke out during a performance of the ages-old Riviera production. When the fur settled, four dancers were fired.

The "Splash" love quadrangle reached boiling point when the show's dating rules were violated and the he-said, she-said situation turned ugly. One dancer was dating another, and the other started dating yet another. When Other found out, Another was furious, words were exchanged, sequins ripped, stockings torn, headdresses askew and -- Splash! -- terminations followed.