Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Peltyn surprised with birthday fete at MGM Grand

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003 | 8:16 a.m.

Planning to spend an evening with baseball great Roger Clemens, it came as a surprise to Roger Peltyn to find 100 guests assembled for a birthday celebration in his honor.

Planned by superhostess (and wife) Sandy Peltyn, the evening was flawlessly arranged at the MGM Grand in the space previously used by Olio!

Guests, including Rand and Lexy Capp, Eleanore and Edward Doumani, Dr. Leo and Sandy Spaccavento and Cherie Flanagan, waited behind the thick velvet draperies for Roger's arrival while they enjoyed the first course of the marvelous meal planned by MGM catering executive Carlos Collado.

Relaxing fireside after pressing best wishes on the birthday celebrant were Dr. Joseph and Paula Quagliana; Denise and Michael Severino; Le Reve architect Deruyter Butler and his wife, Gabriella; Nancy Alamo; Isabel Pfeiffer; and Sandy Comito.

Following a chef-prepared buffet dinner, a live band drew many to the dance floor including Frank Schreck and Linda Lee, David and Deanna Chesnoff, John and Teri Daly, Barry and Judy Markam, Morgan and Karen Cashman, Paul and Luci Pusateri, and Brad Friedmutter and Linda Fresh.

Bob Spinelli and his bride, Cynthia, came from Cedar City, Utah, where they are building a home. Speaking after dinner were Drs. Ted and Parvin Modaber Jacobs, Rino Armeni and the Peltyns' sons, R.J. and Michael.

Late-evening festivities included the comedic awarding of door prizes and party favors by both young men with help from Michael's fiancee, Lisa Cote, and R.J.'s girlfriend, Karlisa Charlie.

Epicurean Awards

Splendid food blended with an abundance of high-flying chefs, restaurant owners and patrons to create truly special festivities last week at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino for Las Vegas Life magazine's Epicurean Awards.

Selected by readers, these coveted honors were worth the planning and special program emceed by Clint Holmes. A lavish pre-party in the posh Whiskey Bar found the crowd spilling outside into the balmy evening to admire the resort's splendid reflecting pools and terraced grounds.

In the throng were Steve and Wendy Kalb with Laurie Kendrick, Brad Brennan with Wendy and Michael Jordan and their young son, Ben, and a host of those luminaries who make Las Vegas notable for fine dining.

Super Riviera

Super Bowl magic makes Las Vegas great, and no place seems able to top the annual extravaganza provided for high-rollers and gamers better than the Riviera.

Saturday night, the hotel's ballroom was decked out in Tampa Bay and Oakland colors to set the mood for the Riviera's most elite guests at a pre-event party.

Arrivals met the legendary Deacon Jones of the Los Angeles Rams, Danny White of the Dallas Cowboys and Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers. The trio, each remarkable for their performances in past Super Bowls, were wearing their trophy rings from those events and gladly answered questions about their most memorable games.

Flanked by a bevy of professional cheerleaders, the men graciously posed for photos with every guest. The trio later signed the photos, which were delivered to the guests prior to the massive game party at the property's convention complex on Sunday.

Hosts for the Saturday dinner party and Super Bowl gala included Riviera Chairman Bill Westerman and President Bob Vannucci, joined by leading executives Mickey Salva and Jerry Grippe to name just a few.

George Starsinic, advertising and public relations, served as master of ceremonies for the high-spirited program with commentary by Jones, Craig and White.

MLK pancakes

About 600 happy kids attended a pancake breakfast and play-filled morning at the Clark County Government Center for the Jan. 20 observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The children -- participants in Saturday's community parade organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee -- were thanked for their support and participation by Las Vegas Councilman Lawrence Weekly, who serves as president of the group.

Celebrating its 27th year, this annual "Directions" breakfast merged four years ago into a joint event to mark the beginning of Peace Week. Combined with the meal and awards for students were many games and activities illustrating methods for peaceful conflict resolution.

Caesars Palace's Palatium Chef Jeffery Henderson was the masterful coordinator of the extremely popular pancake breakfast. Henderson brought with him a team of well-trained cooks and helpers, further assisted by the army of volunteers representing Park Place Entertainment properties.

All food, supplies and cleanup chores were donated by Park Place Entertainment in an effort to assist this worthy endeavor.

Lending its support as well, Southwest Airlines recognized six students with Liberty Scholarships. Each, accompanied by a parent or guardian, will fly free for selected weekends to America's historically significant black colleges and universities such as Morehouse, Fisk, Howard, Grambling and Spelman.

Musical notes

On Saturday the Las Vegas Jazz Society and the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center will host a reception and concert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The evening will open at 7 p.m. with an exhibition of jazz photography by Gordon Banz and music by the John Greever Quartet. The reception will be in the lobby of the Beam Music Center.

The concert by the Joe Lano Duo will follow at 8:15 p.m. in the Doc Rando Recital Hall, with a $5 admission charge for Jazz Society members and $7 for nonmembers.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic will present the third Cartier Connoisseur Soiree of the 2002-03 season on Feb. 5. Guest artist Eric Ruske, a notable French horn player, will perform at the MacDonald Highlands home of Rich and Claire MacDonald.

Ruske, who serves on the faculty of Boston University and heads the horn seminar at Boston University's prestigious Tanglewood Institute, will be accompanied by pianist Barbara Riske for this intimate performance. The soiree will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by a 40-minute musical program.

For more information on this and other events to be offered by the Las Vegas Philharmonic, call 258-5438.