Monday, July 31, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.
On Valentine's Day 2005 Cindy Funkhouser left work at about 9 p.m. and headed for Dino's Lounge, the self-proclaimed "Last Neighborhood Bar" in Las Vegas, which sits across the street from Olympic Garden on Las Vegas Boulevard South.
That day Funkhouser, owner of the Funk House art and antique store and founder of the downtown First Friday arts fair, was featured in a newspaper story focusing on our city's most eligible singles. But she had no hot dates and no plans on Valentine's Day '05, other than to sweep into Dino's for "one beer, then I was going home."
Not quite.
Funkhouser stepped into a lonely hearts club of three other Dino's patrons. One, whom she met that night, was Rick Dominguez, who works installing floor coverings when he's not organizing Dino's special events. Over time the two began dating and have been a couple ever since. On Saturday night, using Funkhouser's 48th birthday party at Dino's as cover and the Bee Gees' ballad "Words" as the soundtrack (it was karaoke night with Danny G, after all), Dominguez floored his girlfriend by proposing.
Dominguez halted his turn at the karaoke mike two-thirds of the way through "Words," (just about the moment you'd start crying anyway) and summoned for a large sheet cake.
Dominguez's proposal was scrawled across the confection, which was adorned with oddball decorations a little chicken and plastic fly were set atop the frosting, along with an open ring box. That's where Funkhouser's eyes stopped. "I didn't even see the writing on the cake. I was completely stunned."
Sitting with her friend and Dust Gallery co-owner Naomi Arin at her side, Funkhouser managed a, "Yes."
No date is set, no plans for a honeymoon have even been discussed. No matter. As Funkhouser said, "It's one step at a time. We are engaged, and we have plenty of time to plan."
NoteMart
Jeff Beacher, left the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel with a flourish on Saturday night. His "Beacher's Madhouse," version of which is headed for the Imperial Palace (lucky them), closed its run at the Joint with a guttural version of "Born to be Wild" by Criss Angel and Vince Neil, a proposal and near live sex-act by two dwarfs, a rendition of "Rock and Roll All Night" by Tiny Kiss and a short visit from a streaker (male, in this case) who was given the bum's rush by unamused members of Joint security. As I noted, somewhat sarcastically, to the nattily white-suited man sitting across from me, "This is the greatest show in the history of Las Vegas entertainment." "Yes, so far," said Clint Holmes, who really did seem to enjoy himself. The show was taped by Fox television, which will likely have to add a couple of full-time technicians just to edit out all the F-bombs ...
Quick-funny gambling line from stand-up Peter Gray, part of the lineup at the Riviera Comedy Club over the weekend: "I think my dad wanted to be a blackjack dealer, 'cuz he hit me 'til I was 21." One reason the adult clubs in Vegas are veritable gold mines: The ATM fees (at least those at Spearmint Rhino) charge service fees at a rate of $5 a shot. ... As the World Series of Poker opened over the weekend, there was no sign of British poker heavyweight Barry Austin. You might recall that Austin, reportedly the world's heaviest man, won an online tournament, the first prize of which was a trip to the WSOP at the Rio. But organizers have not seen his name amid the thousands of entries in this year's event, meaning he probably could not find adequate transportation to Vegas from England for his 700-pound frame. But if anyone spots a 700-pound guy with a British accent bellying up to one of the WSOP tables, please let us know ...
Jenny McCarthy has been confirmed to host the big toga party Wednesday night at Caesars Palace's outdoor Roman Plaza amphitheater. The event stars at 7:30 p.m., with a party at Pure afterward, and anyone wearing a toga gets in free. The event is part of the hotel's 40th anniversary celebration. ...
The renovation project at the Aladdin is taking longer than planned and there's no way the hotel's turnover to Planet Hollywood will be finished by the end of the year, as originally scheduled. Just a minor delay to get the required permits for some additional work on the mezzanine level, is what I've heard. ...
Stay after class, kid: Reader spotted this fraudulent equation on a black Camaro: 2N2IS5.
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