Thursday, March 11, 2004 | 10:28 a.m.
Frank Sinatra was not just a singer, he was an artist -- and in more ways than one.
An exhibition of paintings by the Chairman of the Board and works from his personal art collection will go on display next month at the Godt-Cleary Gallery at Mandalay Place.
"This is not your typical celebrity exhibition," gallery director Michele Quinn told us Wednesday. "First, his work is surprisingly good."
Quinn cited the hard-edge color abstractions of such 20th century greats as Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko and Robert Mangold as Sinatra's influences.
"Sinatra has such a great history in this town," Quinn said. "We thought this would be a nice way to introduce ourselves to the community (the galley is only a few months old) and a great way to show people another side of Sinatra."
She said Ol' Blue Eyes was a "voracious" painter, starting in the 1980s. Eighteen of his efforts are in the show, along with some "traditional American work" he hung on his walls, including paintings by Norman Rockwell.
Also on display will be some never-before-seen Sinatra family photos and gifts he kept from fans.
"The aim of the exhibition is to show a side of him that most people aren't familiar with," Quinn said.
There will be an opening benefit reception at the gallery April 16 for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, which is considered a national model in the treatment of sexual and physical abuse of children.
Founded in 1986, the center at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., is dedicated to breaking the cycle of abuse through programs of prevention, public education and psychological treatment for victims and affected family members.
Barbara Sinatra is slated to attend the event and a private dinner after the opening.
Night win
In case anyone was wondering, Las Vegas nightlife is officially world-class.
Tabu, the much-hyped MGM Grand evening destination, was presented the award for best lounge at the Club World Awards 2004 over the weekend in Miami.
The club also nabbed best video honors for its abstract table- and bar-top projections.
More Las Vegas in South Beach: Alex Cordova and Randy Davila of Clique Entertainment -- it tosses parties at Tabu, Risque (Paris Las Vegas) and elsewhere -- hosted an event called "Pure Diddy" for Sean Combs. The event drew His Diddiness, Carmen Electra, and Tommy Lee and Naomi Campbell, who spent the evening in a lip lock, Davila reports.
Two day
"Chippendales" celebrates its second anniversary this weekend at The Rio.
In honor of its anniversary, for the next few weeks "Chippendales" is inviting Las Vegans "two" celebrate with them. Anyone celebrating a special occasion marked by a "2" (i.e., 22nd birthday, second week at a new job, second divorce, and so on) will receive free admission "two" the show for their entire party.
Accommodations must be made in advance, and can be secured by faxing 696-1996, and mentioning the "Chippendales Terrible Twos" offer.
Tony loss
According to news reports, police in Barstow, Calif., have arrested two women for making purchases with money, credit cards and personal checks found in the wallet of actor Tony Curtis. He apparently lost the billfold in Barstow when he made a meal stop there on a trip from California to his home in Henderson.
Cynthia Ann Devine and Katherine Runge were arrested Friday for forgery, unauthorized possession of account numbers and possession of methamphetamine (which was not in the wallet).
Sgt. Rudy Alcantara of the Barstow Police Department did not say how much of Curtis' money was spent. He said the investigation was ongoing.
Our question is, how do two women pass themselves off as a 78-year-old male movie star? Hmmm. Well, in "Some Like It Hot" ...
Fan fest
"Stars, Stars and More Stars" -- a gathering of athletes, soap opera actors and TV stars -- is coming to the Aladdin nightclub Curve on Saturday night. For a price, you can meet and mingle with them.
Confirmed to attend are Emmitt Smith, John Elway, Eric Dickerson, Sterling Sharpe, Ty Law, Tim Raines and Warrick Dunn, "Big Brother's" Monica Bailey, former "American Idol" contestants Justin Guarini and Corey Clarke, and 25 soap opera performers.
Tickets are $100 and are available at VegasHotSpots.com or by calling (877) 862-3847.
The event, along with a golf outing, afternoon street-style festival and a charity dinner, are fund-raisers for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Reggie Johnson Foundation. The former Florida State and NFL tight end raises scholarship money to "help underprivileged youths bridge the computer divide."
VegasBits
Game: Tuesday night at Bellagio, illusionist David Blaine was pretty much breaking even playing craps -- or at least he was during the 10 minutes our spy was watching him ...
Ball boys: Professional tennis superstar and heartthrob Andy Roddick and NBA great Bill Walton exchanged greetings and chatted for a while when they were both at ESPNZone (New York-New York) with groups of friends on Monday night ...
Punch: Boxer Shane Mosley and three pals had dinner Tuesday night at Charlie Palmer Steak (Four Seasons) ...
It's crazy: The latest pop star to offend someone is 'N Sync-er and Vegas regular JC Chasez, whose new album, "Schizophrenic," featuring a strait-jacketed Chasez on the cover, has been deemed insensitive to schizophrenics, according to E! Online.
From Sun wires
Photos can't be used: Detectives illegally seized photographs allegedly showing R&B singer R. Kelly having sex with an underage girl and prosecutors cannot use them to try him on child pornography charges, a judge in Bartow, Fla., ruled today.
The photographs were on a digital camera seized from the singer's Davenport, Fla., home during a drug raid.
Kelly is also facing 14 counts of child pornography charges in Chicago and has pleaded innocent. Those charges are not affected by Maloney's ruling. Last month, seven of the original 21 child pornography charges against Kelly in Chicago were dismissed.
'Queer Eye' designer newspokesman: Kirstie Alley is out as spokeswoman for Pier 1 Imports. A queer eye is in.
The home furnishing chain has launched a new marketing campaign featuring Thom Filicia, the design guru of the hit makeover show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
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