Wednesday, May 12, 2004 | 8:19 a.m.
Balmy skies, premium wines and spirits, and a lush array of entrees and delectables from our city's finest restaurants created a memorable evening for Grand Tasting, a benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas on Friday.
The opening event for Bon Appetit magazine's Wine and Spirits Focus weekend proved a leisurely walkabout. Conversing with chefs and wine experts were guests John Schadler and fiancee Anne Yendrek, Ron and Kitty Boeddeker, Pat and Brad Nelson, Anna Cohen with David Robins and Stephanie Wilson, John and Rene O'Reilly and Steve and Ann Shapiro.
The affair, which spread into the picturesque streets of MonteLago Village, had a feel of Tuscany, a soft sense of departure from the commonplace. Couples relaxed at tiny bistro tables or sat on the edge of gentle fountains, visiting with passersby and sipping wines.
Amara Staffanell of Bon Appetit magazine, Bonnie Crail of the Ritz-Carlton and Jennifer Tuttle, executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nevada, welcomed guests Mike and Beverly Mykisen, Blake and Jennifer Bradley, Brian and Debbie Munch, Jan Crosby, Bucky and Giana Buchanan, Howard and Sherry Ickes and Casey Smith.
ICE benefit
ICE, a nightclub known to late-night revelers, opened its doors May 4 for Girls' Night Out, a benefit evening organized by the Friends of Shade Tree, to support this much-needed shelter for women and children.
A crowd of more than 400 women bought $150 tickets to enjoy entertainment including Kevin Cornell, Bryan Cheatham, Nathan Minor and Charlie Wade of the Chippendales dancers. Between appearances by the dancers and other "eye-candy" performers, Christian Kolberg auctioned show and travel packages, the services of a fine chef for a dinner party, and designer handbags and clothing.
Heather Couthard chaired the over-the-top fund-raiser, and with Shade Tree Executive Director Brenda Dizon, explained to the boisterous crowd how the shelter would benefit from their generosity.
Glimpsed with friends was Sharon Winter, regional vice president for Chase Mortgage, with Ellen Bramble and Heather Berkley, Linda Casey, Lynn Hunter and Pattie Crockett with Vivica Marshall, Marilyn Moran and Janice Bowman.
Stephanie McGuiness, Regina Schrieffer, Gina Cox, Stacy Hertz and Christine Warner mixed and mingled as they bid at the bountiful tables of silent auction items.
Already discussing the techniques they would use to encourage friends to attend next year's Girls' Night Out were Denise Cashman and Camille Ruvo, as well as Solveig Thorsrud, Laylee Tafreshi, Laura Herlovich, Kelly Iriye, Tracey Kreiling and Lydia Zeller.
Getting into the spirit of the evening of fun and entertainment were Leanne Saxe, Laurie Druesch, Cynthia White and Candy Wilson. Assisting with the event was Robert Urichuk, director of catering and sales for ICE.
Auction a hit
Laura Mulkey and her husband, Dr. David Mulkey, came away as the top bidders at the Las Vegas Philharmonic's gala and auction, taking home a glittering, 6.5-carat sapphire-and-diamond bracelet -- created for the occasion by Brian and Melanie Williamson of Gemesis Jewelers -- for $11,000.
Held Friday at the Stirling Club, the elegant evening honoring Richard and Wendy Plaster drew an influential crowd of Philharmonic supporters including Doris and Ted Lee, Denise and George Mehocic, JoAnn and Richard Sturm, Jacqueline and Mark Juliano, Lynn and Bill Weidner, Susan Molasky and Kathy and Ernie Becker with their family. Flying into Las Vegas from Hawaii for the gala was special guest Susan Tompkins, founder and first president of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
Newlyweds Jim and Glynda Rhodes, who wed last month in private ceremonies held in Hawaii, found themselves bidding $18,000 when auctioneer Nate Tannenbaum fired up the crowd for a fabulous Crystal Cruise. On Sunday Jim surprised his mother, Betsy Rhodes, with the cruise as her Mother's Day gift.
In similar fashion, Victor and Toni Chaltiel spent $4,000 for a painting by Jim Stallings (Stallings will create the piece as a quartet from the Las Vegas Philharmonic plays) and dinner for eight, prepared by Pat Marcy, co-owner/executive chef of Benedict's Fine Bistro. The package was donated by Barbara Lee and Bruce Woollen, owners of Art de Vignettes Gallery at the Fashion Show.
Sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue, the event included a fashion parade of spring and summer designs under the direction of Abby Geyer, Saks' special events coordinator.
Arbor ardor
Going one step further to assist the Boys and Girls Clubs' mission to inspire and empower all young people to develop the skills, self-esteem and self-reliance necessary to become productive, responsible and caring citizens, the Community Associations Institute (CAI) hosted a special Arbor Day event.
Gathering at the Lied Memorial Boys and Girls Club facility, 2850 S. Lindell Road, on April 30, the CAI members gave the children a sense of history while explaining the valuable environmental purpose behind Arbor Day.
And then, with assistance by the children, they planted six donated trees at the facility. The Lied Memorial Boys and Girls Club is one of a dozen clubs in the Las Vegas Valley, helping to serve 12,600 children annually.
Working on this worthy project were William Huebsch and Rod Smith, both CAI members representing the Groundskeeper Company, and Mark Blackwell from Service Masters Landscape and Maintenance. Bringing their shovels and efforts as well were Jon Lattie, 2004 president of the CAI-Nevada chapter, joined by Angela Quinn, president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas with fellow officers Steve Hill (chairman of the board), Cathy Barnes (vice president) and Laura Fritz (vice president of development).
CAI educates community association managers, neighborhood association board members and residents at both the national and local levels.
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