Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: High-tea afternoon benefits local HELP agency

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001 | 8:19 a.m.

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

Tea, Trends and Tranquility, an annual afternoon of high tea featuring fashions from Saks Fifth Avenue and a special silent auction devoted to items of tranquility, including spa packages, will be held from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Four Seasons.

Linda Robinson, wife of University of Nevada, Las Vegas football coach John Robinson, will serve as honorary chair, while Sidra Kain and Ruth Urbanke share chairman duties. Lending their strengths and talents as committee members are Ceres Morris, Tory Cooper, Abby Geyer, Jane Armstrong, Stacy Bloom, Terri and Kelli Maruca, Lola Heftman and Janina Cole, as well as Jennifer Robbins, Stacey Anderson and Kari Kuh.

Proceeds from the elegant afternoon event will benefit HELP of Southern Nevada, a local agency operating many programs, among them weatherization of older homes for seniors, family resource centers, travelers aid, community alternative sentencing, displaced homemaker and emergency resource services. Jane Jaensen at HELP (369-4357, ext. 238) is handling reservations.

Philharmonic soiree

The Las Vegas Philharmonic celebrated its first soiree of the 2001-2002 Cartier Connoisseur Series with the appearance by internationally recognized musician Orion Weiss at the massive Lake Las Vegas home of Evonne and John Allen.

Scarlet-clad Cartier pages welcomed guests to the spectacular evening, which began with a champagne reception to meet the young -- and very talented -- pianist Weiss. Weiss' performance of Robert Schumann's Carnaval Opus 9 was given in the acoustically ideal setting of the Allen home, with guests comfortably seated in the living room and on the crown of the home's sweeping balcony.

Weiss, the winner of notable honors and a much-favored student of Emanuel Ax at the Juilliard School in New York City, was enthusiastically received by Las Vegas patrons, including M.J. and Jack Harvey, Dan and Lydia Soriano, Jerry and Alice Reeves, Michael Tobey and Bob Vernon.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic, with the sponsorship of Mariam Afshai and Cartier of Las Vegas, has planned each of this season's four soirees with an eye toward recreating the private, exclusive settings intended by the classical composers and their royal patrons.

Also present for this intimate musical evening were Brad Nelson, Kurt Reinecki, Mari and Thom Landers, Sheila McKay and Denise and George Mehocic. Kitty and Ron Boeddecker, host to a previous soiree -- also at Lake Las Vegas -- were seen with philharmonic conductor Harold Weller and board trustee Bill Marion. Hostess Evonne Allen, with the very able assistance of her husband and host, John Allen, shared personal recipes as she served Pacific Rim appetizers to attending patrons.

Seen enjoying the evening were Jerry and Alice Reeves, Phyllis Roberts, Brenda Yarbrough with Kevin Turner, Lynn Kaufman, Cindy Thom and Marilyn and Rod LaRocque. Laura Hulbert, a new addition to the Las Vegas Philharmonic as marketing director, explained that the Cartier Connoisseur Series has three more events slated, with details and reservations available by calling 258-5438.

Polo gathering

In our busy lives we sometimes take the glamour and excitement of our city for granted. Not so for the recent delegates to Polo America, the multifaceted conference for those involved in all aspects of this elite sport.

Attendees, from horse breeders and saddle-makers to premiere riders and avid sportsmen, embraced the many pleasures of our city -- particularly the ever-delightful shopping opportunities.

Fred Paris at the Forum Shops, exclusive jewelry sponsor of Polo America, hosted an elegant reception to introduce a select grouping of extraordinary jewels from the Au fil de l'eau collection, brought to Las Vegas for this occasion. This water-inspired collection, with each exclusive design piece, makes most generous use of flawless diamonds and precious metals. Creating quite a stir with both men and women were necklaces of utmost beauty and romance, the rosee du matin (morning dew) and reve d'eau (dream of water) pieces.

Polo America guests, who came to admire, compare and buy lavishly, were transported to the reception in a pair of vintage Bentleys, where they joined Las Vegas residents, including Ada Cohen, Donald Krevosh, Walid Sayegh, Michael Parker, Sally Hooper, Andrew Merritt and Sandy Herron. Hosting the sparkling event was Farid Matraki, general manager of Fred Paris in Las Vegas, with his wife, Rochelle, and special guest Walid Ghandour, director of Fred Paris in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Army event

The Women's Auxiliary of the Salvation Army of Las Vegas recently presented its annual luncheon and fashion show at Monte Carlo. Dillard's provided the stylish array of fall and holiday fashions under the direction of special events coordinator Shantelle Harding with Abby Ripes. Ida Grieco, auxiliary vice president, chaired the fund-raiser for the furnishing of the Lied Dining Room and Chapel facility, operated by Salvation Army.

Phyllis Roberts, auxiliary president, also served as coordinator for the silent auction, kindly welcoming members and attendees as she introduced special guest Lt. Colonel Jan Mowery of Phoenix. Luncheon centerpieces were cobalt blue vases filled with an array of long-stemmed white flowers. Each centerpiece was the handwork of committee members Jeanette Giannosa, Kay Turturro, Connie Puertollano, Florence Kalish and Maryanne Romano.

Old-fashioned hoedown

A rip-roaring good time was enjoyed when Joe and Elizabeth Castellano, the owners of Color Reflections Las Vegas, hosted their annual hoedown for their many friends and clients. With their children Lauren and Jay, the couple welcomed a veritable sea of guests to their western-themed party.

Many tried their skill on the mechanical bull while others ogled the cancan girls, watched feats of daring by stunt men and danced to the lively band. A chuck wagon circled the corral to serve barbecue and all the trimmings, while wild and woolly characters in period costumes strolled through the crowd.

The highlight of the evening was the appearance of Mayor Oscar Goodman and wife Carolyn, who addressed the crowd and noted the western movie posters plastered around the party corral. Each one -- including "The Outlaw Josey Wales," "High Noon" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" -- featured a classic scene from the film, but with Mayor Goodman's head superimposed on them. The mayor was presented with a set for his own collection.

Charmed by the casual good times at the party were Mick and Heather Hall, Jim McCoy, Merrill Virgin, Mary Smith, Alan Toma, Gina Polovina with Ira Sternberg, Jody Mack and John Milkie, to name just a few.