Wednesday, May 4, 2005 | 8:17 a.m.
This year's "Epicurean Affair" was a sell-out, with more than 4,000 attendees helping to raise money for Nevada hospitality scholarships and education outreach.
The event, presented at Mandalay Bay's convention center by Van and Joan Heffner of the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association/Nevada Restaurant Association, was held as an opening reception for the Las Vegas International Hotel & Restaurant Show.
Attendees included newlyweds Heather and Joe Ham (Vanguard Media Group), Rabbi Mel and Micki Hecht, Phil Hernandez (Neiman Marcus), Sue Strand, Chef Les and Tammy Kincaid, Johannes Diehl (MGM Grand) and Marie and Jacob Clark.
Artist Vital, formerly of "Mystere," was seen talking with gallery owners Barbara Lee and Bruce Woollen (Art de Vignettes), Eva and Georg Paulussen (Wild Truffles), Stephanie Wilson (Barrett Gaming), Tony Cordasco (Red Bull North America), Paymon Raouf (Paymon's Mediterrean Cafe) and Judy Odierna (Montecristo Rums/Coyote Ugly).
Providing ample tastings of their menu favorites were more than 100 of our city's best restaurants and a select group of lounges and nightclubs. Their offerings were enjoyed by attendees Christine Morris, Randy Crown, Wendy and Michael Jordan (Rosemary's), Lloyd Wentzel (Riviera), Executive Chef Charlie Palmer, Bill and Lynn Vick, developer David Atwell, Kathleen Douglas (Little Buddha), Saundra Munley, Maureen Kane and Daniel Kelly (Revere Golf Club).
Tom Kaplan, senior managing partner of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, and Gamal Aziz, president-chief executive of the MGM Grand, were named Nevada Restaurateur of the Year and Nevada Hotelier of the Year, respectively, at the Hospitality Awards luncheon held during the two-day conference.
Other highlights included culinary student competitions, a national job fair, vendor exhibits, a uniform fashion show and educational seminars on health and safety.
Cinderella story
Robert DeMartino, Joseph Manzella and Michael Mirolla, principal managing partners of Sandhurst Development, hosted "Cinderella's Night Out," an evening to benefit Lied Discovery Children's Museum.
Held on Friday, the black-tie affair was a gracious introduction to the developers of Sandhurst Las Vegas, a 35-story residence on Iron Horse Circle, near the planned Las Vegas Performing Arts Center and Alzheimer's Research Center.
DeMartino, Manzella and Mirolla, all former residents of New York City, are high-rise veterans who have a wealth of development experience. Both of the men chose to move their families and company operations to Southern Nevada and spoke at length describing life in their new "hometown."
Held inside a private jet hangar near McCarran International Airport, the party was attended by Dr. Anthony and Diane Pollard (Rainbow Medical Centers), Sharry and Tim Quillin (Q Advertising), Curt and Eliane Miller, Nicole Pure (Sandhurst Las Vegas) and Realtor Don Sherer.
Suzanne LeBlanc, director of Lied Discovery Museum, attended with museum board president Victor Onufrieff and board member Ed Vance (JMA Architects) and past president Dan Anderson (Morgan Stanley) with wife Ginger, joined by future residents of the new tower, Frieda Nastar, Dr. Hooshang Noori, Greg Dutchover, Chris Garcia and Dr. Jerry and Kathy Vonderahe.
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman gave an exuberant speech touting the expansion of Las Vegas and then drew for the crowd the winning ticket for a San Diego fly-away on a Lear jet provided by Jerry Perelman of BlueStarJets.
Cheered as they boarded the luxury plane were Joyce and Tim Johnson, who enjoyed a fine dinner and excursion to the coast while others remained at the party. Seen in the crowd were Jaime Capler, Colleen and Eddie Bevilagua, Sara Mann, Vera DeMartino, Mark and Nancy Thornton, Soon Choi, James Kent and Bill Watson. Viewing the large model of Sandhurst Las Vegas as they enjoyed their cocktails were Vicki and James Shepherd, Eva Mazzarrella, Sam Abdollani and Cherrill Marguiso.
Members honored
"Our Leaders in Philanthrophy," the annual UNLV Foundation dinner, this year saluted new Palladium Society members -- those who have contributed $1 million or more to the UNLV Foundation.
The event, held Saturday at Bellagio, honored inductees Beverly Rogers and newly named Chancellor James Rogers (Sunbelt Communications), Renee and Glenn Schaeffer, Deborah and Alex Shoofey and Ruth and Mel Wolzinger (Wolzinger Family Trust).
Kitty Rodman, UNLV Foundation trustee, organized the dinner along with R&R Partners, Larry Ruvo of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, Ethel M Chocolates and Bellagio.
Foundation Chairman Terry Wright was seen prior to the program enjoying the pre-dinner reception while welcoming longtime contributor Claudine Williams (Harrah's), benefactors Buck and Aurora Wong, foundation treasurer Ted Quirk and wife Maria, Susan Sullivan, Joe and Hope Anstett, Dee and Don Snyder, Jim and Judy Kropid and new Rebel football Coach Mike Sanford and wife Melinda.
Included in the crowd of significant donors were Dr. Leon and Faye Steinberg, Eric and Eileen Horn, Michael Novick and Josh Pianko (both of Morgan Stanley), Realtor Anne Kellogg (Cushman, Wakefield), Carole and Norman Terry and Cari and Brett Bicoy.
UNLV President Carol Harter, attending with husband Dr. Michael Harter, spoke glowingly of students and faculty in UNLV's many colleges. Her speech clearly illustrated the power of private gifts and public dollars used in tandem to create academic progress in many endeavors.
Seen listening attentively to the program were M.J. and Jack Harvey, Dr. Michael and Manetta Braunstein, Mark Jennette (College of Business), Jim Murren (MGM Grand) and wife Heather (Nevada Cancer Institute), as well as Jason Smith (children's charity Variety), University Regent Thalia Dondero, Judge Jack and Lulu Lehman and Brenda O'Boyle (UNLV Foundation) with David Griego.
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