VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: CPK crowd is more than upper crust

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 8:21 a.m.

Not sure why a pizza parlor, albeit a fancy one, needed such a grandiose party Sunday night.

But this is Las Vegas, and every other store in the Fashion Show mall had a party last week, so why not California Pizza Kitchen?

The usual list of Vegas luminaries attended, from Robin Leach to dapper KLAS Channel 8 weatherman Mark Pfister (who batted out a pretty solid version of "Louie, Louie" on the keyboard when the band took a break).

But as I learned from Jimmy Breslin -- who famously interviewed the man digging President John F. Kennedy's grave instead of the suited dignitaries who were in Washington, D.C., after the assassination -- the best journalists try to look beyond the obvious.

Anyway, the CPK staff wore name tags that included their hometowns, so I absent-mindedly asked one of the waitresses from Modesto, Calif., if she knew that town's (least?) favorite son, Rep. Gary Condit. "Oh sure. I used to be one of his interns, in Washington, D.C."

Whoa.

Alas, she said no, she didn't really know Chandra Levy. No, she never had an affair with Condit, and no, she didn't want to talk about it any longer.

Another waitress, this one from Las Vegas, said she loved her new job at the restaurant because of the uniforms. Especially the shoes.

"Finally a work outfit that covers me," the woman said. "And comfortable shoes. I hated those high heels I always had to wear."

Mile high

Police responded to an unusual incident at McCarran International Airport on Sunday afternoon.

According to both airport and police officials, a couple waiting for their flight to board decided to practice for inclusion in the Mile High Club before the plane took off.

They were given summonses for having sex in a very public place, on some chairs on the esplanade in the main terminal.

Envelope please

Sadly, VegasBeat was unable to attend the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards Sunday night -- in Hawaii.

Bellagio placed 25th in the world and seventh in North America. It was the first Las Vegas entity to crack the top 10 in the prestigious poll.

Some of the world's most discriminating travelers make the choices, and the award carries tremendous weight within the industry.

The Venetian rated 23rd in North America and 82nd overall.

Frankly, it is hard to imagine there are so many hotels on this Earth better than The Venetian.

Planning ahead

OK, next election cycle.

VegasBeat was seated next to Uri L. Clinton at a Friends of Nevada dinner last weekend honoring University of Nevada, Las Vegas Culinary Arts Director Claude Lambertz and to benefit Poverello House.

"Yes, I plan to run again in 2004 for the same (state Senate District 4) seat," Clinton, 29, a corporate attorney in Las Vegas, said.

In 2000 incumbent Sen. Joe Neal got six votes more than the majority he needed in a tight Democratic primary to avoid a runoff with Clinton.

What will Clinton do differently this time to win?

"Start earlier -- with fund-raising, campaigning and doing everything and anything it takes to win."

His first fund-raiser is already scheduled for early 2003.

Switching sides

Angelica Urquijo, who was a KVVU Channel 5 news anchor before she abruptly left the station 18 months ago, has resurfaced in Los Angeles.

She is a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Crocodile juice

My ears perked after hearing a radio ad the other day for Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.

Featuring Orenthal James (O.J.) Crocodile, the ads from Las Vegas agency DRGM Advertising & Public Relations appeal to children, clearly hoping they will promptly bug their parents to take them to the exhibit.

The voices in the spot for the "cute crocodile with an attitude" include former "Saturday Night Live" star Mary Gross and actress Nika Futterman.

Anyone notice anything somewhat subversive about a friendly man-eating reptile named after a suspected wife killer?

"I think we have created a monster," DRGM Creative Director Bernice Bamburak said.

Bling bling

"Parure" is a French term for jewelry. "Parure Nympheas: Necklace and Earrings" is English for "One of the most expensive things you can buy in Las Vegas."

The exclusive FRED Paris store inside the Forum Shops at Caesars recently put a limited number of Parure Nympheas on sale.

Retail price: $705,000.

Magic music

Raja Rahman and Jarrett Parker's debut of their new "Classical Magic" show at Starbright Theatre in Summerlin on Saturday was a smash.

The unusual show combines the talent of classically trained pianist Rahman with Jarrett's old-school magic.

The curtain closer -- which included fire, a rabbit and enough knives to fill a Ginsu factory -- brought the crowd, including fellow magicians Darren Romeo, Norm Neilson and The Great Tomsoni, to its feet.

Rahman and Parker are negotiating with several local rooms about setting up permanent shop after their national tour.

Old road

In other news, according to Ira David Sternberg's satirical Las Vegas Notebook, PBS has announced that whether they won or lost Tuesday night, Frank Lautenberg, 76, and Walter Mondale, 74, will team to host a Washington edition of "Antiques Road Show."

Check out ...

Celine Dion performing Tuesday night at an invitation-only concert at Mandalay Bay as part of a new endorsement deal with Chrysler ... Celeb drivers making appearances Tuesday and today at the big SEMA/Automotive Aftermarket Products Show: racers Mario Andretti, Billy Boat, Parnelli Jones and Kyle Petty ... also at the auto show is Jordan Flatt, who runs a chain called Flatt Tires based in Des Moines, Iowa (we saw his ID -- the name is for real) ... pop artist Steve Kaufman presenting a portrait of Pablo Picasso to Chef Julian Serrano at -- where else? -- Picasso restaurant at Bellagio on Monday ... brothers Geoff and George Stults (who star in the WB's "7th Heaven") and actor Sean Patrick Thomas at Whiskey Sky at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino Saturday night ... Lakers owner Jerry Buss giving the Rebels a halftime pep talk at the UNLV-Wyoming football game last weekend.