Columnist Kate Maddox: A party for the (under)ages

Kate Maddox

Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 | 5:18 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column also appears Tuesdays and Fridays in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Britney Spears is hoping a private, post-concert soiree at her place will prevent all that 21-and-over business from raining on her underage party parade.

Spears, 19, who is planning to stay at one of Bellagio's posh villas during her Nov. 17-18 Vegas concert stop, is reportedly putting the finishing touches on an official after-party following the Saturday show at another of the hotel's larger villa suites. The closed-door bash will apparently be all about her, her fellow teen pals and anyone else concert sponsor HBO feels like having along. One invitee said the cast of the HBO hit "Sex and the City" is expected (Brit's a big fan), as is "Sex in the City" costume mastermind Patricia Field (ditto the fan part), and other celebs.

The sexy songstress has encountered trouble during recent Las Vegas visits. She and 'N Sync-er beau Justin Timberlake, 20, have tried to rage at Baby's (they were too baby and management said "no") and C2K, where they were allowed to party, but sans alcohol. Spears will attempt her all-grown-up hostessing duties after her curtain call at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The recent ousting of former Las Vegas Art Museum Curator James Mann has caused quite a stir at the cultural center on West Sahara Avenue. Mann helped open the museum in 1997 and was instrumental in bringing a number of exhibits to the LVAM. He was released from his duties in late September by LVAM President David Carver because of what the museum termed "artistic differences." The LVAM is widely rumored to be struggling financially.

But Mann's departure has caused a massive rift between Carver and LVAM Executive Director Marianne Lorenz (who assumed Mann's duties), and the 20 or so docents who volunteer time, and in many cases money, to support museum activities.

On Tuesday the docents, reportedly against Carver's explicit instructions, entered an LVAM board meeting to read a letter of support for Mann that was signed by museum volunteers, and to ask the board to reinstate the curator. Carver had told group members that if they showed up to the meeting en masse, they would not be allowed inside and would be asked to leave, which the loyal volunteers steadfastly refused to do. One source said board members were "visibly angered" by the docents' interruption and the content of the pro-Mann letter. The board reportedly made no decision regarding Mann's reinstatement as curator; Carver could not be reached for comment Friday.

Some British guy came here, got drunk, married a stranger and is now searching for his missing link so that he can get a divorce.

I hate it when that happens.

James Cripps, a tourist from England, visited Vegas in September and, following a night of drinking and gambling, married an Australian woman he had just met. As for finding her, though, Cripps' trail is cold. He can't even remember what his blushing bride looked like. "It was one of those stupid things," Cripps tells Reuters news service, in what is the understatement of the year. "We were all very drunk and thought it would be a laugh if we got married ... I regret it now." If anyone knows anything about this touching tale of love and loss ... please keep it to yourself and let James learn his lesson.

Attention Mayor Goodman: Stratosphere wants to host the exhibition boxing match reportedly in the works with Don King. Goodman and King recently met to discuss the possibility of a benefit bout, but the mayor was concerned about finding a venue. According to Stratosphere Public Relations Manager Michael Gilmartin, the hotel would like to step into the ring. "(The hotel) recently held a six-bout world-class boxing event on Oct. 20 in its new Outdoor Events Center," Gilmartin says. "The Events Center can be configured for a 2,850-seat boxing venue ... (we) welcome the opportunity to work with the mayor." Mr. Mayor?