Sunday, April 2, 2006 | 7:24 a.m.
Still bounding through my head at this writing are the rhythmic intonations of auctioneer Christian Kolberg (wegot-a-nineteenthousandoverhere, doihear-a-twentythousandoverthere!?)
The tireless Kolberg and his auction sidekick, KTNV Channel 13 weatherman Nate Tannenbaum, helped raise thousands of dollars Friday night at "An Evening of Elegance and Style," an annual gala at the Venetian's Lido Ballroom to benefit the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
Honored for her long history of supporting the LV Phil was Saks Fifth Avenue Vice President and General Manager Mari Landers, who was presented the LV Phil's Golden Baton Award by Music Director Hal Weller.
A crowd of about 300 turned out for the program, which included Angela Missoni's unveiling of the Missoni Fall 2006 Women's Collection, a line the company describes as "fashion-motion." Such an unveiling is a first for Las Vegas, noted event producer Bill Marion of Purdue Marion & Associates. The clothes were shipped from Milan to Vegas last week and were headed back by Saturday.
Also unveiled was the new Missoni fragrance for women, created by an invaluable assemblage known as "Italy's weavers of seduction."
Las Vegas newsmakers, celebrities and scenesters I spotted included legendary vocalist Phyllis McGuire; developer Jim Rhodes and his wife, Glynda; Vegas attorney and star of "Las Vegas Law" on Court TV James "Bucky'' Buchanan and his wife, Gianna; jeweler Morcechai Yerushalmi (owner of The Jewelers of Las Vegas, which has 16 local stores); another jeweler, Michael E. Minden (owner, obviously, of Michael E. Minden & Company Jewelers); and art critic and author Dave Hickey and his wife, Las Vegas Art Museum consulting executive director Libby Lumpkin.
Working on behalf of the LV Phil were dinner committee co-chairs Wendy Plaster and Lynn Widener; also recognized by Philharmonic Executive Director Phil Koslow was outgoing President Lou Emmert.
NoteMart
Shearer genius: Comic genius (in our opinion, at least) Harry Shearer was a guest Friday morning with Kahuna, Dennis Mitchell and Jim Tofte on KKLZ 96.3-FM. Shearer was promoting a new CD called "Dropping Anchors" in which he pays tribute to the great TV journalists of our time.
Known primarily for his long stint as the voices of Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders and Smithers on "The Simpsons" (along with his roles in "This is Spinal Tap" and "A Mighty Wind," and as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live") Shearer said he was originally cast to play Eddie Haskell on "Leave it to Beaver." But he was taken off the show after the pilot episode by his parents, who wanted him to enjoy a "well-adjusted" childhood ...
Poker night: It used to be a poker room would just sort of open. No more. The Venetian is celebrating the opening of its poker room tonight with a VIP reception at Tao; red-carpet arrivals start at 7 p.m. At 9 p.m. is a celebrity poker tournament (hosted by the ubiquitous Robin Leach) at the Venetian Poker Room. The competition is expected to draw Doyle Brunson, Annie Duke, Johnny Chan, Shannon Elizabeth, Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, Howard Lederer, Lis Lieu, Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, Jeremy Piven, Chip Reese, Joe Reitman, Jennifer Tilly, Willie Garson and Nick Stahl. The winner will receive a new Lotus ...
Escalate good times, come on! A few Roman statues stand near the escalators at the Strip entrance of the Forum Shops at Caesars. One such statue was originally posed with its arm outstretched and right hand open near the railing of one of those escalators. Shoppers were reaching up and grabbing that hand, giving it five and so on, so it has been repositioned - today it rests against the statue's body ...
Lot going on: The RV park at the Silverton is no more; the hotel's expansion plans will take over that space ...
Sole train: Construction equipment rental company Inquipco is donating more than 900 pairs of shoes and 1,500 pairs of socks to the children at Child Haven public shelter, which houses abused, neglected and abandoned children from ages 3 to 18. The company will use trucks and assorted equipment to deliver the stacks of shoes and socks; all of this happens Wednesday at the Child Haven facility on Pecos Road ...
Blowout! One of those person-shaped balloon-type promotional gimmicks designed to catch the wind and move around like a large person disrupted traffic at the corner of Paradise Road and Quail Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
The high winds blew the large person-shaped balloon-type gimmick into the street, where he (she?) blocked the right turn lane ...
Don't know, not sure I want to know: Reader and ace plate spotter Ruthe Beard checks in with 6MEN4ME.
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