John Katsilometes takes a trip to the 51-year-old Riviera, where questions from the staff abound about the hotel’s sale as the deal is made official

Friday, April 7, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

If cocktail waitresses and bartenders moved as sluggishly as information at the Riviera on Thursday, they would not be serving lukewarm Bud Light for very long.

Thursday was the day the hotel's purchase by a group of private developers was announced, not that anyone working knew exactly what was going on. As a country act at Le Bistro Theatre loudly performed such staples as Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" those who would seem to have answers were left with questions. I heard a lot of, "What have you heard?" while moseying around the casino Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the day it was made official that the property had been sold by Riviera Holdings Corp. and bought by developers who formed Riviera Acquisition Holdings Inc.

The Riviera staff will be interested to know that a news release sent to the media identifies the new ownership team as Chicago developer and casino investor Neil Bluhm, Starwood Capital Group Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Sternlicht, 30-year Las Vegas-based real estate developer Brett Torino and Flag Luxury Properties Chairman and Chief Executive Paul Kanavos.

Joining Kanavos as a managing partner of Flag Luxury Properties is Robert Sillerman, who today is known as the man operating Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. (coincidentally, the famous 1956 photos and footage of Elvis at the piano and Liberace strumming a guitar were taken at the Riv).

That's more information than was provided people who actually work at the 51-year-old Riv, such as the drink slingers, dealers, valets, bellpeople and the guy who shines your shoes. One longtime staffer told of finding out about the sale via e-mail from a dealer (the dealers seem to be the most "plugged in" of the staff). Another said word had spread "through the grapevine, word of mouth" that the hotel was changing hands, but this person had no idea if anyone's job was safe.

Two memos were posted - one in the slot department and another for the dealers - but as of midafternoon there was no meeting en masse for the staff to learn what's next. More than one employee told me, "Whatever happens, happens," and added that a meeting involving "the bigwigs" was going on upstairs, even as we spoke.

At least, that's what he'd heard.

NoteMart

Important, influential people to meet: The Keep Memory Alive organization is holding a think tank of renowned researchers this weekend. The group will work under the direction of Dr. Zaven Khachaturian, a senior research advisor for the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer's Institute.

Researchers from across the country will be on hand at Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada (headquarters of Larry Ruvo) and at the Venetian on Sunday. Discussions will be on the common threads between Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will welcome the participants on Saturday ...

Crocodile Roku: If Elton John is in town, expect a huge to-go order at Sushi Roku at the Forum Shops at Caesars. This week he has made three orders, enough for six to eight people. John's Sushi Roku orders are usually higher than $1,000 and sometimes top $2,000 ...

Tall tale: More from Caesars (and Luxor), "Hairspray" star Susan Anton is such a novice at poker that she needed a 90-minute lesson to prepare for this week's Queer Eye Poker Tournament - but she wound up winning the event. Anton beat longtime poker player David Brenner (who learned the craft at age 6) in the final, winning $10,000 for her favorite charity, Habitat for Humanity. Other famous people participating were George Wallace, Penn Jillette and "Queer Eye" member Thom Filicia ...

Allegiant expands: The commemorative spoon collection of wayward PR rep Tyri Squyres has expanded (or would have expanded, if she indeed kept such a collection). Squyres reports from Abeline, Texas, that her employer, Allegiant Air of Las Vegas, has announced nonstop business between that city and Las Vegas. Flights begin June 9 ...

Save the date: The growth of Southern Nevada, particularly the growing number of resorts featuring swimming pools, has created a shortage of qualified lifeguards to work at such establishments. According to the American Red Cross, MGM Mirage properties alone have 252 positions open for lifeguards.

To address this problem, Lifeguards 2U is holding a lifeguard job fair from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Club Sport Green Valley, 2100 Olympic Ave. in Henderson. Representatives from Las Vegas resorts and municipal pools will be on hand, recruiting lifeguards and pool attendants. Call Maria Moilanen of Lifeguards 2U at 558-1548 ...

What a country: Soon-to-be Las Vegas headliner (she starts at the Las Vegas Hilton on May 3) Reba McEntire is going to host the "41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" telecast, it was announced Thursday. The show is set for May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena ...

Come on down!: The Jubilee Theatre at Bally's production of "The Price is Right - Live Stage Show" is seeking models. The tryout is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the theater. If you've seen the TV show, hosted by the immortal Bob Barker, then you know the drill ...

Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer: Spotted on our roadways, a metallic dark green or maybe even black Mazda RX-8 with a "Hot August Night" commemorative plate and the message RCR X.