VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Powell’s lunch is a leftover

Friday, May 9, 2003 | 5:31 a.m.

Seems that VegasBeat has a more diverse readership than we thought.

VegasBeat got a somewhat frantic call Friday morning from Peggy Cifrino, the deputy chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

She was inquiring about our item Thursday on Larry Ruvo's Alzheimer's "One Cool Night" benefit at Postrio, which raised $2.5 million.

As we reported, much of the money raised came from a live auction of some spectacular lots, such as spending a day with Muhammad Ali, attending some baseball games with Michael Milken, a few cases of wine personally brewed by Robert Mondavi and lunch with Powell.

That went to The Rio developer and Panevino restaurant owner Tony Marnell, who bid $200,000.

The problem is that, according to Cifrino, it was illegal for Powell's time to have been auctioned off.

When I pointed out to Cifrino that Powell's time had been auctioned off previously, at Andre Agassi's "Grand Slam for Children" event about five years ago, she countered that since Powell was a private citizen at the time, it was permissable.

But as a government official, it just can't happen, she said, no matter how worthy or legit the cause.

Hours later, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called us back, after he spoke to Powell.

Seems that it was Ruvo who had won the Powell lunch at the Agassi event, but they never got together. So Ruvo asked Powell if he could repackage the prize to again benefit a charity.

Powell agreed, but apparently didn't tell anyone in his office.

And since the original deal was made when Powell was a private citizen, the lunch will take place, Boucher told VegasBeat.

Jay Leno on Thursday night: "Did you hear about the new ad campaign they have, 'What goes to Vegas stays in Vegas -- including $8 million of Bill Bennett's money!' "

Also, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was to be on National Public Radio's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" show Saturday. Bennett, problem gambling and hypocrisy were scheduled to be Topic A.

There was not a big country music scene in New York when I was growing up. Few banjo players were among the acts booked at CBGB's, the Palladium or the Bottom Line.

But we're in Vegas now, so we're trying to open up a little bit. Therefore, VegasBeat will be checking out the Sizzlin' Country event at the House of Blues (Mandalay Bay) before the 38th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

The May 20 benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation features performances by Deana Carter, Darryl Worley and Diamond Rio. Gibson guitar chairman Henry Juszkiewicz will receive a Heart of Country award.

The next night is the CBS telecast of the popular show. But we're looking forward to the afterparty in a private Mandalay Bay ballroom, where it is hinted that such attending nominees as Toby Keith, Shania Twain, Phil Vassar, Alan Jackson, Wynnona, George Strait and Willie Nelson may take the stage for some impromptu twangs.

Our item about famed Hollywood Madame Heidi Fleiss and a publicly traded Australian brothel company she works for, The Daily Planet, opening a Nevada brothel, got lots of attention last week.

It was picked up on both the Associated Press and Bloomberg wire services and was subsequently mentioned all over the place.

Fleiss plans a July 4 media event in Las Vegas announcing details on the new venture.

This coming Friday would have been Liberace's 84th birthday.

To mark the day, the Liberace Museum on East Tropicana Avenue is having a series of special events, including some "Play-A-Like" competitions on a piano.

Better that than a dress-alike competition.

The flamboyant Vegas icon died in 1987.