John Katsilometes on the Vegas schtick employed by Rossi Ralenkotter

kats@lasvegassun.com

Friday, Feb. 3, 2006 | 12:30 p.m.

Shecky Ralenkotter?

Not quite. Rossi Ralenkotter is no Shecky Greene. But the LVCVA president did seamlessly inject some Las Vegas brevity into a presentation otherwise heavy with facts and figures Thursday morning at Preview Las Vegas.

As Ralenkotter announced a Lettermanesque "Top 10 Reasons Why Las Vegas Is Successful" from the stage at Cox Pavilion, he was joined by two members of Chippendale's (named Chip and Dale, in a happy coincidence), an Elvis impressionist, a pair of showgirls (who were not toting around Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman) and a member of the cast of "O."

The group assisted Ralenkotter in his top-10 list, which included (from the Chippendales) "More Hooters," a reference to the Hooters Hotel. Elvis added, "More Virgin," a nod to Virgin Atlantic Airlines' busy Las Vegas schedule, and the showgirls announced, "More C.S.I." - which Ralenkotter asked them to repeat because, "I like to hear them talk."

Ralenkotter also introduced a new line of the fabulously popular "What Happens Here, Stays Here" commercials, which begin airing this month.

"It's fun," Ralenkotter said of the Vegas schtick. "It fits with the context of what Vegas is, what we're about. I think people expect it, actually. This is a unique city."

Which was not on the list, but should have been.

NoteMart

Column fodder for when I'm 57: To illustrate Las Vegas' lure as a convention destination, Ralenkotter noted that the LVCVA is booking events as far out as 2023. He said three conventions - the biggies CES, SEMA and ConExpo/Con Agg - have reservations.

Crisis snuffed out: The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana raised a stink with organizers of First Friday. The CRCM is the Nevada ballot action group attempting to pass a statewide marijuana and tax initiative. On Thursday the organization issued a news release claiming First Friday officials had denied the group's request to hand out campaign literature tonight.

Consequently, First Friday organizer Cindy Funkhouser told CRCM campaign manager Neal Levine his organization could indeed take part if it paid the $500 fee required for any nonprofit, nonartistic group or business (such as Hogs & Heifers) to participate. CRCM, which pleaded its case to the ACLU of Nevada, paid that fee and plans to be on site ...

Looking for some auction: Nevada Public Radio's Third Annual Online Auction concludes Saturday. Auction categories begin closing at 10:30 a.m. and the final items will come down at 3 p.m. Items include a 51s bobblehead that looks like my brother ...

Once, twice ... three times a lady: Three of the organizers of the new exhibition "Rubens and His Age: Masterpieces from the Hermitage Museum," at the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum are named Natalya/ Natalia: Natalya Babina, Natalya Gritsay and Natalia Serebrianaya ...

Bryan's song: As I poured a cup of coffee at Preview Las Vegas the man next to me dropped a small container of creamer into a nearby trash container and splashed us both. The otherwise dapper gentleman was former Sen. Richard Bryan, who today is an attorney with Lionel Sawyer & Collins. Bryan related a funny line about Vegas: "It's a small town. Everyone is related by marriage - or divorce."

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. John Katsilometes can be reached at 259-2327 or 812-9812, or at kats@lasvegassun.com.