Wednesday, July 28, 2004 | 8:15 a.m.
"Island Mountain Days: Discovering Nevada's Chinese Miners," a one-hour documentary film based on a project concept developed by UNLV professor Sue Fawn Chung, was shown to an invited audience July 19.
Written by Shelan Davis and produced by KLVX Channel 10 and Reggie LaFrance, the film is third in a series about Nevada's Asian heritage. Island Mountain, a tiny mining community in Elko County, flourished from 1873 to 1917, then was abandoned and forgotten until recent years, when it was re-discovered by a U.S. Forest Service archaeological project.
Screening of the documentary, a special event hosted by KLVX general manager Tom Axtell and his team, included Axtell's special praise for donors and sponsors, including banker Wing Fong; UNLV; the Nevada Humanities; the Forest Service, represented by Fred Frampton; Asian Chamber of Commerce; the William "Bill" Endow Foundation; Las Vegas Chinese Cultural Foundation and Bonnie Springs Ranch.
The hosted reception at the St. Tropez included a dinner buffet provided by Chleora Bergquist of Diamond Events and Catering, with support from Ray Sudaholnik of United Rent All. Nils and Jill Flanzraich of Adventures in Advertising created the commemorative mugs for each guest, while Las Vegas Sweets provided the golden coin chocolates to fill them.
Attending the popular affair were Dr. Clifford and Rozita Lee, seen with Fong and Charlotte Jularbal and Aurora and Buck Wong, as well as Barbara Slivac of the Nevada State Museum, KLVX trustee Andras Barbero with wife Iruka, Sharon Lazar and Jeri Packe.
Supporters of the cultural gathering included Rene and Leo Diamond, Wayne Tanaka, Sara and Ralph Denton, Neil Kornze, state Sen. Sandra Tiffany with Jim Marsh and university Regent Thalia Dondero. Enjoying the film and the question-and-answer session led by Dr. Sue Fawn Chung were Gary Horkey, Greta Brunschwyler, sculptor Stephen Lourgauri, Kurt Hanson, David and Devon Drake, Mike and Suzi Lantz, Bob Stoldal and Victoria Napolee, joined by Janet and Harold Maesaka and Rob and Nancy Solomon.
"Island Mountain," with a production cost of more than $130,000, will be used in multi-ethnic and historical studies throughout the Clark County School District. Previous documentaries in the series were selected for national distribution on public television, with this one expected to follow suit in the coming year.
Memorable dinner
"Think Pink -- Come and Taste the Roses," a lavish, romantic, beautifully compelling and exquisitely presented dinner offered July 21 at Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, will long be remembered by all in attendance.
Jointly hosted by Southern Wind & Spirits of Nevada President Larry Ruvo, Tom Tait, vice president of Lake Las Vegas Resort and a key player in the Russian Heritage Highway Foundation, and former Gov. Bob Miller, the occasion celebrated the American introduction of rose juice for health and refreshment. Already popular in Japan and Europe, both at spas and sporting centers, this almost mystical beverage has uses in foods, cocktails and as a daily beverage.
Dr. Ted Jacobs spoke on the long-recognized medicinal use of rose juice, referring to its ancient origins with both Egyptian and Chinese cultures. His wife, Dr. Parvin Modaber-Jacobs, followed with recipes gleaned from her own family's traditional uses in Persia for both food and skin care.
Copies of the recipes were distributed to all attending. Adding their own commentary on the cultivation and harvesting of the rose petals for juice were a group of Bulgarians representing the the rose region of their country where roses have continuously been cultivated for the past 2,500 years.
Those arriving at the event stepped out of the elevator and onto a field of rose petals, a rosy, fragrant carpet of sorts, progressing to the executive dining room at Southern Wine & Spirits. Awaiting them was master mixologist Francesco LaFranconi, who offered "Bohemian Rhapsody" -- champagne, rose juice, lemon and gin, in addition to other well-celebrated refreshments to match the delicate appetizers offered prior to the dinner.
Richard Cottor, Mike Del Gatto, Harvey Stern, Jason Sloan and Shalom Stella were among the invited guests to first view the breathtaking use of fresh roses to adorn the dining room, each place setting and the chandeliers above the massive table.
Dressed in petal pink to complement her striking rose creations was Sandy Peltyn, designer of the ever-so-romantic setting, who worked closely with Anna Cohen and Michael Severino to present the dinner affair. Taken with the magic of the evening was Chef/managing partner David Robins of the Wolfgang Puck Dining Group, as well as Joann Takahashi, Luis DeSanto, Leticia Gonzalez, R.J. Peltyn, Paul Friedman, Liz Edwards and key executives from Southern Wine & Spirits.
Dinner, with a menu delicately flavored with rose juice, included an arugula and melon salad, risotto with veal broth and cheeses, Hawaiian snapper and a dessert of sorbet, all with accompanying wines. A tour of Southern Wine & Spirits' state-of-the-art warehouse facility followed the meal. Departing guests were given rose jellies and juices, as well as a rose calendar, all packaged with fresh rosebuds.
Music and art
Designed by celebrated architect Rem Koolhaas, the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at The Venetian provides more than a dramatic setting for exhibitions. It has also become an ideal venue for musical events.
Thursday the Las Vegas Chamber Music Society presented the first of five events within the museum's spacious galleries. The group began with pianist Awadagin Pratt, a former Liberace Scholar and noted recording artist, who enchanted the audience with his performance of "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky.
Supporters, among them Christopher and Anita Murray with Rami Schwartz, Pamela and Chip Lowe, Patricia Dwyer and Maggie Winn-Jones, arrived to enjoy a first look at the new "Pursuit of Pleasure" exhibition. Presented by the Guggenheim Hermitage through January, the collection of 37 pieces was introduced by Elizabeth Herridge, the museum's managing director, to guests Patrick Chapin with Mandy Fetters, David Kasdan, Jennifer Hedden, Kenneth Sherman, Sharon Christal, Martha Presser, Gordon Ball and Owen Harriel.
Interestingly, placement of Pratt's piano for performance was amid the pieces in the "celebration and cafe society" grouping with a painting by German artist Marc Beckman titled "Paris Society," giving the sense of an ongoing cocktail party in progress just beyond his stage.
A hosted reception followed with fine foods from Executive Chef Francesco Schintu of Zefferino (a restaurant in the Grand Canal Shoppes) and wines provided by Bob Cranston of DeLuca Liquors and Wine. Family Music Centers and The Venetian also helped sponsor the event.
Participating in the festive evening were Jeanne Howerton with Merril Lloyd, who had previously seen Pratt perform in New Mexico, as well as Michael and Sean Handy, Philip Koslow of the Las Vegas Philharmonic with Karen Haid, Bob and Jory Stewart, John Clare, Shakeh Goukasian, Robert and Kathie Hurt, Thomas Lyons, Harry Heideman and Luarie Larsen.
Future events and membership information are available online at www.lvcms.org.
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