Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Charities draw attention at Forum expansion

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004 | 8:14 a.m.

Champagne libations and other delights were offered at the Forum Shops Phase III expansion at Caesars Palace on Thursday evening. Caesars Palace President Mark Juliano, attending with wife Jackie, was among the bevy of welcoming officials in the remarkable three-story shopping mecca.

Temple-like in design, Phase III includes designers and retail stores previously unseen in Las Vegas. Select stores, among them an outlet of shoe designer Guiseppe Zanotti, made their debut with local charitable efforts.

Zanotti worked with socialites Camile Ruvo and Jill Fertitta to create Heels for Meals, which donates a portion of sales to Catholic Charities' Meals on Wheels program. Ruvo and Fertitta hosted a benefit Friday.

Tadashi, designer of evening wear and bridal gowns, attended with company director-attorney Curtis Jung and discussed the Nov. 11 evening to benefit Opportunity Village. Honorary hosts will be Wayne and Kathleen Newton with Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey and co-sponsor Mikimoto Pearls.

Talking over fashions and the event ahead in the Tadashi store were Suzanne Chabre (Bally's-Paris Las Vegas), Karen Gordon (Activity Planners), Judge Mark and Alice Denton, and Rossi Ralenkotter (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority) and wife Mary Jo. Tadashi is the official designer for the Miss Universe Pageant.

Seen enjoying the glittering opening party were Richard and Patricia Wright, Realtors Cathy Bittinger and Susan Houston, Edward and Eleanore Doumani, Phil Reynolds with Brig Lawson, Lou Gammage and husband Fred Schwager, Andy and Janet Blumen, Scott Freshwater, and Arlene and Jerry Blut with Linda and Gary Vause.

Christie Hefner (Playboy Enterprises) was seen shopping, while newlyweds Esther Quisenberry and husband Tom Schneider (Simon Properties) visited with Denise Mehocic, Judy Robinson, Nancy and Bill Urga and Deborah and Robert Stewart (Caesars Entertainment).

Others in the pampered crowd included Anne Kellogg, Pam and Joe Brown, Chantal and Stephen Cloobeck, Jeff Fine and Heidi Gable.

The Harry Winston Salon, also opening with great fanfare, further celebrated its Forum Shops presence with an exclusive "Just Desserts" party at Southern Highlands Country Club on Saturday evening. Hosted by Denise and Dan Reichartz, the no-tie, white diamonds evening assisted the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Stealing the march on opening festivities was Joe's Stone Crab, an import from Miami, which hosted a well-attended dinner on Wednesday night. Present at this "sneak preview" were Paul Pusatari (Venetian), Bernie Yuman, D.H. and Betty Duke, Eric Blank, Larry Spitler (AARP), Laura Herlovich (PR Plus), Norm and Sharon Jenkins, Larry and Camille Ruvo with top executives from Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, and VEGAS Magazine publisher Michael Carr, who was co-host of the evening.

Phil up

Jeanne Greenawalt, newly appointed board member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, was a gracious hostess to supporters of the musicial organization on Oct. 13. Her massive Spanish Trail home was ideal for Soiree One, part of the Cartier Connoisseur Series, featuring the Siberian duo of Mikhail Simoyan (violinist) and Alexei Podkorytov (pianist).

As is customary, the evening began with an artists' reception and champagne, with Ruth and Jack Lillis, Karen Haid, Rob LaGrone, John and Carolyn Palubinskis, Becky Buckley and Dr. Fred and Susan Tofigh among those who met the artists and discussed the musical program for the evening.

Enjoying the dinner buffet prepared by Greenawalt's staff were Caty Crockett, Carolyn Sparks, Sondra Lynch, George Cohan, Susan Houston, and Jane and Ken Kahn. Neighbors James and Persia Golden, joined by Ozzie Adams, John Clare, Valerie Freshwater and Dr. Jim and Sandra Franks, were introduced to Mark Stenroos, new director of development of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

The musical program was followed by a dessert reception with Art and C.J. Woolston, Bill Marion, Phil and Laurie Hagen, Kurt Mische and Marion Afashai (of Cartier at Caesars) seen among the guests.

The Soirees are presented four times yearly in private homes or exclusive venues. For subscriptions and further details, call 258-5438. The next Soiree is Nov. 10 and will feature guest artist Valentina Lisitsa (pianist).