Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: New business steps up to help local charity

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004 | 8:14 a.m.

In the parade of new restaurants and retailers arriving in our city, some have chosen to use opening festivities to benefit community efforts, among them RA Sushi at the Fashion Show mall.

Its Oct. 23 celebration ran into the wee hours, serving as a boisterous fundraiser to benefit the Las Vegas Inner City Games/After School All-Stars. Elaine Wynn is founder of the local effort, which assists children through sports and learning programs. She was present for the party and lent a hand with an elaborate silent auction.

Guests, among them Sandy Mecca, Dr. Michael Bass (Sunrise Hospital), Richard Amar (Ritzy Cleaners), Tobey Balzano (AMP Salon), William Boyd (Boyd Gaming) and Sam Cherry (SoHo Lofts), were bidding briskly on the Boulder Creek Golf package, full spa treatments at Euphoria, Dolce and Gabbana handbags, fine meals with the Wolfgang Puck Dining Group and other luxury items.

Hosts for the party included co-founder/vice president Rich Howland and fellow RA Sushi executives Aaron DiMaria and Michael Marowski, all of whom supervised the delectable sake tasting bar and the serving of their signature "Viva Las Vegas" sushi roll and sake steamed clams.

Drawing a crowd to dance on the patio to his music was DJ Robert Oleysyck, who presides over the restaurant as it transforms to a late-night club after 10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Sprinkled through the dancers were Inner City Games/After School All-Stars staff Dawnie Sachs, Lisa Goia-Acres, Sal Savini, Ranna Daud, Justine Mroziak and Executive Director Jackie Locks.

Supporters seen in the crowd of more than 450 guests included Anne Jacklin, Brian Hoying, Jennifer Phillips, John Pacci, Trenna Howard, Nanette Miller, Sara Benton (Whole Foods), Michelle Knoll (Monte Carlo), Vicki Lau (AMP at the Palms), Bonnie Hernandez (KB Homes) with husband Phil Hernandez (Neiman Marcus) and John and Susanna Melendez.

Dressing up

Jimmy and Sandee Comito, festively attired as King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, were hosts to a Halloween dinner party Saturday evening.

Guests arrived at their Canyon Gate Country Club home to find the front lawns and garden area had been transformed into an amusing graveyard and giant pumpkin patch.

Carlos Collado (Count Dracula) appeared cloaked in mystery with Nancy Alamo (Bride of Dracula) and young son Diego Collado (Doctor Death), while Drs. Ted and Parvin Modaber Jacobs chose to appear as Uncle Sam and Catwoman, respectively.

Drawing their own admiring crowd were Greg Phelps (riverboat gambler) and wife Katrina (pretty witch), seen on the dance floor with Mona Orr (maharani) and Jim Gould (ace reporter).

Las Vegas newcomers Nick and Norma Neilsen, who met the hosts through their common support of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, came dressed in team attire and were seen with Roger Holgate (Santa Claus) and wife Deborah (a very fetching sugarplum fairy).

Pausing at the punch bowl for a cup of the witches brew was Lee Medick (nurse) with Meredith (Loretta Lynn) and Craig (Howard Stern) Johnson, as well as Mike and Chris Trippeivi, who came as themselves -- the owners of R&R Automotive.

Impromptu entertainment of the finest sort was presented by Grammy Award-winner Dr. Larry Hart, who sang "Georgia on My Mind" and "Misty," followed by Sandy Peltyn, who enjoyed a successful career as a New York entertainer prior to moving to Las Vegas some 20 years ago.

Accompanying these and others who took the microphone were composer-singer Pierre Jovan and his protege Kaffee.

Relaxing at the table with dinner companions, Rhonda Mona (cowgirl) spoke of her volunteer efforts with The Friends of Shade Tree Shelter and the needs of the women and their children who reside there. Listening attentively were Lulu Bubion, Isabel Colon and Adele Zorn.

Delegates hosted

Wayne Newton and his wife, attorney Kathleen Newton, graciously opened the gates to Casa de Shenandoah -- their Paradise Valley ranch -- to delegates attending the International Women's Forum 2004 Global Conference.

Hosted by the Nevada Chapter of the prestigious organization, the elite gathering on Oct. 26 drew representative delegates from 40 countries with careers as diverse as fur designer, astronaut, artistic dance director, scientist, Canada's past prime minister, entrepreneurs and physicians.

Themed a "Wild West Party," with guests encouraged to come casually dressed, the evening quickly became one of great congeniality and cross-cultural sharing. Those who stood in line for the chuckwagon buffet, or listened to the country western band perform, conversed in many languages and spoke of their own lives as women, mothers, leaders and makers of history.

Moving through the crowd were Las Vegas host committee members Nancy Houssels, Diana Bennett, Karen Gordon, Sheila McKay, Linda Faiss, Gayle Anderson, Fafie Moore, Caty Crockett and Jeanne Hood. Program chair Carolyn Sparks had as her special guest Carol Hehmeyer, her college roommate from their days at UC Berkeley.

Mayor Oscar Goodman, attending with wife Carolyn, was introduced by Lou Emmert, IWF Nevada president, and spoke with great gusto about his life in the field of criminal law and later his transition to "the happiest mayor in the world."

Supporting the evening and the four-day conference at Bellagio were local leaders Joanne Blystone, Robyne Brooks Townsend, Mari Landers, Pat Mulroy, Dr. Goesel Anson, Kathy Dalvey-Bonar, Audrey Dempsey, Karen Gott, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Heather Murren and Eileen Hayes, to name just a few. The Wild West Party was sponsored by Boyd Gaming, Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, Biff Daniels and Wayne and Kathleen Newton.

Odyssey begins

Thursday marks the beginning of the Las Vegas Wine Odyssey, a four-day run of culinary experiences with the finest wines and art, concluding with a celebrity chefs' golf tournament at Rio Secco Golf Course and blues barbecue luncheon Sunday.

Now in its fifth year, the Odyssey is an offering by fine chefs and their suppliers on behalf of three most worthy causes: Keep Memory Alive (which supports research, care and educational efforts for Alzheimer's), the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and an ongoing scholarship program for aspiring chefs at Le Cordon Bleu.

Call 257-2345 or go to www.lasvegasodyssey.com for all the details on these charitable events.