Columnist Joe Delaney: Entertainment abounds at ethnic festivals

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 8:23 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursday and Friday. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@ lasvegassun.com

Columbus Day can be celebrated four weeks early this weekend by attending the San Gennaro Feast and LV Street Fair at Valley View and Flamingo, across from the Gold Coast, continuing through Sunday ... Television personality Tony Sacca serves as entertainment director, and you can be sure that every entertainer of Italian descent in town will appear and probably perform.

Also be assured that the food will be authentic, tasty and worth the visit itself ... Gates open at 4 p.m today and Friday, with an 11 a.m. starting time on Saturday and Sunday ... The theme is predominately Italian, but there will also be special observances of Mexican Independence Day and a Hawaiian connection featuring the LV Hilton's Society of Seven.

Mandalay Bay will be the main center for Mexican Independence Day traditional ranchero artist Pepe Aguilar, Saturday in the Events Center.

St. John Greek Orthodox Church ground will be the site of the 29th annual Greek Food Festival Sept. 21-23, a food, drink, music and dance celebration ... Admission is $3 with a 5 p.m. start Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday ... Admission at the San Gennaro Feast is $5, with children 55 inches and under admitted free ... At the Greek Festival, ages 12 and under free is the rule.

Mexicans actually began this year's holiday observance with the 11th annual Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival at Mandalay Bay last Saturday, with a goodly crowd enjoying Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Mariachi Mexico de Pepe Villa and Mariachi Los Reyes de Mexico with Francisco Gonzalez plus "El Puma" Jose Luis Rodriguez, Ana Barbara and Ballet Folklorico de San Juan.

Reminder: Please place your order early for the best possible table at the sixth annual Old-Time Reunion Party, Oct. 7 in the Stardust Convention Area, with the emphasis on good friends who have lived here 30 years or more getting together ... There will be dinner, drinks and entertainment starting at 6 p.m. ... Call Ken Johann Realty at 382-6336.

Star-policy rundown

It's Bill Acosta (Flamingo Las Vegas); David Brenner, 8 p.m. and Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King, afternoons, and Clint Holmes, evenings (Harrah's); Blue Man Group (Luxor); David Copperfield, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand); Paul Anka and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage) and Pablo Francisco (Monte Carlo).

Plus Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Righteous Brothers (Orleans); Ronn Lucas, afternoons and Scintas, evenings (Rio); Michael Holly, afternoons and Steve Wyrick, evenings (Sahara); John Davidson (Suncoast); Don Rickles and Lorna Luft (Stardust); Beach Boys (Stratosphere); Rick Thomas (Tropicana) and Melinda, First Lady of Magic (Venetian) ... Recommended: Sandy Hackett headlining this week (Riviera Comedy Club).

Mea culpa

When the Righteous Brothers played here the last time, we mistakenly wrote that they once played the Frontier in the early 1980s, backed by a Russ Gary Orchestra ... My fairly accurate memory failed me ... It was the Four Freshmen who played those dates with Russ Gary ... Also in that column, I never did say that Bobby Hatfield was not the only solo voice on "Unchained Melody."

The annual Bobby Hatfield Charity Golf Classic, a benefit for Lupus International, was the beneficiary as a make-good for my error ... As for the Righteous Brothers' association with Phil Spector, if Hatfield finds this annoying, I suggest he revise his own press release and ask Rolling Stone and others do likewise ... Spector's label was a major contributor.

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" was co-written by Spector and recorded for his label along with "Unchained Melody," "He," "Ebb Tide" and "Just Once In My Life." ... The Righteous Brothers are at the Orleans through Sept. 23, back Oct. 31-Nov. 11, then move to the LV Hilton in 2002.

Speaking of reunions, it is good to see Gus Mancuso rejoining Carl Fontana on the Marv Koral All-Stars who will be at the Jazzed Cafe Friday evening, giving jazz fans two good stops tomorrow night; Pogo's is the other one ... Singer Laura Taylor is the Monday Jazz Night attraction at the Riviera ... See you Friday.