Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: AGA’s Griffin bash brings out dignitaries

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002 | 8:24 a.m.

Held amid the excitement and action of the American Gaming Association's Global Gaming Expo, American's Gaming Greats awards dinner was an evening like no other in this industry.

Held at Paris Las Vegas and planned by Rino Armeni with Sandy Peltyn, Brenda O'Boyle Haynes, Blair Farrington and Mary Lynn Palenik, the occasion benefited greatly from the talents of Donald Ross, Robert Zitto and Eric Weisberg, all of Bally's-Paris Las Vegas' catering, food and beverage, convention and banquet services departments.

Legendary entertainer and entrepreneur Merv Griffin was inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Entertainment and Gaming. Recognized as well was Shannon Bybee, executive director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute and former gaming executive and industry regulator, who was honored with the Special Achievement Award for Responsible Gaming.

The lavish pre-dinner reception in the foyer of the Concorde Ballroom was an ideal meeting place for gaming leaders including Robert Maheu, Don and Dee Snyder, Jan Jones, Kell and Nancy Houssels, Jeanne Hood, Greg Hnedak, Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., Judy Patterson, Terry Lanni, Marc and Jane Schorr and Punham Mathur as well as Frank Han, Robert Stewart, Kim Sinatra, Michael Coldwell and Harry Hagerty.

Attending with Merv Griffin was Larry Cohen, CEO of the Merv Griffin Group, joined at dinner by Kevin Gallagher and Hollywood public relations guru Warren Cowan.

Entertainment led by emcee Rich Little included appearances by Gladys Knight and Andre-Philippe Gagnon with Farrington Production's "Moulin Rouge" cast.

In keeping with their goal of funding the National Center for Responsible Gaming, the awards evening was entirely underwritten. The reception was provided by the Spago Group along with Aladdin, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Mirage and MGM Grand resorts. Dinner was compliments of China Grille, Treasure Island and Paris Las Vegas, with wines provided by Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada.

Taking part in the Global Gaming Expo and attending the dinner were Ken and Carolyn Sparks, Larry Ruvo, Roger Peltyn, Michael Severino, Debbie and Brian Munch, Rick and Kim Ruston, former Gov. Bob and Sandy Miller, Kevin Stuessi, Albie Collator, D. Taylor and Ellie Hirschfeld representing the Friedmutter Group.

Star Chefs

Celebrating its fifth successful year, Star Chefs of Las Vegas is a sound favorite among those who enjoy the finest foods and the adventure of finding new chefs and choice menus.

Hosted by Chef William Becker and The Rio, with the support of local resorts and restaurants and their talented staffs, the occasion was created to help the local March of Dimes chapter that strives to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

Opening with a lavish, truly over-the-top cocktail hour, the gala event drew a huge crowd which comfortably mingled in The Rio's Pavilion Ballroom. Southern Wine & Spirits supplied fine wines and dispensed martinis made with premium Kutskova vodka to guests, including day spa owners Ronnie and Cynthia Josef, Dr. Frank Nemec and his wife Judge Jennifer Togliatti, Ira David Sternberg with his fiancee Gina Polovina, Michael and Theresa Minden, Heidi Levy and Madeleine Weekley.

Ringing the dining room were well-appointed serving stations from major restaurants, enhanced by portraits of their featured chefs, who also dished up favorites and chatted with attending patrons Craig Johnson, Dr. Leo and Sandy Spaccavento, Tom Quinlan, Annelisa Polk, Cherie Flannigan, Jerry Gillock, Tony Goitia, Michael Schultz, Cork and Carolyn Proctor, John Anderson, Margaret McMillan with husband Dr. Richard Minnear and Kristal Fiorentino.

Sandy Peltyn and Dr. Parvin Modaber-Jacobs, who are busily planning the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow (F.I.T.) gala on Oct. 19, were seen discussing plans with MGM Grand banquet exec Carlos Collado and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt.

J. Windom Kimsey of Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects was chairman of the gala evening that honored Jay Kornmayer, executive vice president of Wells Fargo Bank and current chairman of the board for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, for his community efforts.

Serving on the 2002 Star Chefs of Las Vegas committee as well were Cindy Crookshank, Skip Rohl, Jay Jurgensen, Anna Cohen, Scott Allcock, Mark Fierro, Misha Matorin, Heidi Brumbach, Michelle Polci, Reina Herschdorfer and William Becker. Christian Kolberg, providing auction services for the evening, did a masterful job and even pressed Sheriff's candidate Randy Oaks into service as a "spotter" for the live auction session.

Grand opening

The City of Henderson will celebrate the grand opening of its spacious Henderson Pavilion at Liberty Pointe on Friday evening. The amphitheater and surrounding festival space will easily accommodate a variety of events, the first of which will be a splendid program on Friday night featuring the Las Vegas Philharmonic, as well as performances by Nevada Ballet Theatre and Opera Las Vegas.

The sloped lawns of the new facility have a capacity of 5,000 and will be free to the public on opening night, while the seating sector is priced at $10 per person. Details and ticket information is available by calling 258-5438 or 384-8427.

Stardust memories

The annual Old Time Reunion at Stardust will be held on Sunday evening. Now in its seventh year, the gathering promises to bring back memories of times past for those who lived in Las Vegas during the years when the Dunes Hotel flourished, Foxy's Deli was a dining mainstay and crossing the city took a mere 15 minutes.

This year the Old Time Reunion Party is dedicated to the memory of the late Joe Delaney, an original organizer of the event. Tickets are $35 and include an open bar, prime rib dinner, music and dancing plus plenty of star quality entertainment. Reservations are a must, so please call Ken Johann or Carolyn at 382-6336.