Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003 | 10:46 a.m.
It's busy season again for conventions in Las Vegas. Or, a busier season -- a cursory VegasBeat tally of the list of September confabs around town comes to nearly 200.
The list of conventions includes everything from a Wayne Newton fan club to international homicide cops to Polish travel agents to a major gaming show that is bringing everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Bob Denver to Las Vegas.
There are also conventions for tall people, General Motors employees, American Bankruptcy Institute, Western Carwash Association and battalions of former military personnel.
"Las Vegas is clearly an appealing place for any kind of convention, and incoming conventions mean commerce for our local businesses," said Catherine Levy, public relations manager of Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. "I also think it is a positive that the National Hairweavers Association and the Wayne Newton International Fan Club aren't booked for the same week (the former begins on Sunday; the latter starts Sept. 22).
"Who knows what could have happened there?" Levy joked.
Among the names arriving for the Global Gaming Expo from Sept. 16 to Sept. 18 are Denver and all the surviving "Gilligan's Island" cast members -- Tina Louise, Dawn Wells and Russell Johnson -- who will introduce a new "Gilligan"-themed slot machine.
Other machines being rolled out feature cartoon characters L'il Abner and Top Cat, the "Iron Chef" television show, Ed McMahon, Jeff Foxworthy and Taylor.
A relatively new entry on the meeting sked is the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons -- the revolutionary medical practice of using tiny video cameras to explore the body, a process that leaves fewer surgical scars.
In the Ruffin
Phil Ruffin, the multimillionaire owner of the New Frontier, and Vegas dealmaker Jack Wishna played some golf over the Labor Day weekend at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. Club namesake Donald Trump also took part.
The trio are working together to build Trump Tower Las Vegas on the Frontier property across from Fashion Show mall on the Strip.
Wishna says they will start pre-selling the superluxury condo units next year.
Sterling Stirling
A new upscale evening destination, Nightlife at the Stirling Club, debuts tonight. The new club plans live entertainment six nights a week.
Also, new Tuesday night B.U.S.E. (Business Professionals, Up & Comers, Socialites & Entrepreneurs) parties at the posh Paradise Road club have been very well attended.
Things have really started to swing there since Richard Femenella -- chief executive of the Charlie Palmer Group -- and Palmer himself started the club's culinary and social makeover this summer.
A true Odyssey
The Odyssey Lifestyle, the weekend festival celebrating good living, food and wine, is returning to Las Vegas Nov. 6 through Nov. 9.
Among the activities are a martini tasting with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a lobster bake and beach party at Lake Las Vegas, a "Hamptons- inspired luncheon" and the first "Culinary Art Show."
The event highlight is the Masters Dinner, where 10 celebrity chefs prepare a five-course meal for the ages.
Among the chef pairs preparing this year's feast are Michael Jordan and Joseph Keller; Gustav Mauler and Carlos Guia; Terence Fong and Roy Yamamguchi; Stephen Marshall and David Feau; and Luciano Pellegrini and Arnauld Briand.
Great cause
Area uniforms will come together Saturday to raise scholarship money for the children of police officers and firefighters who died Sept. 11.
The Police and Fire Emerald Society of Nevada will have a fund-raising 5K Fun Run/Walk at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino starting with registration at 7 a.m. at the hotel amphitheater.
The walk starts an hour later. It is open to all who want to participate.
For details and more information, call (702) 644-7337.
Look out, world
Thirteen-year-old Kyle Fisher-Hertz made his Las Vegas comedy club debut this week at the Plaza's Comedy Zone.
This weekend he is traveling to Los Angeles to appear on a segment of a new show called "Live in Hollywood"; he came to the attention of producers when he was competing to be on "Star Search" in February. Next week he has a meeting with a talent agent.
His grandmother, Las Vegas Sun office manger Gail Perry, is very proud, as are the rest of her office colleagues.
VegasBits
Having fun: "Married With Children" actor Harold Sylvester -- he worked with Ed O'Neill's Al Bundy at the shoe store -- spent Tuesday evening at the weekly EDEN (Erotically Delicious Entertainer's Night) party at Studio 54 (MGM Grand) ...
In town: TV and radio analyst and former Georgetown Hoyas hoops coach John Thompson dined with a few friends at the Tony Roma's branch on South Decatur Boulevard over the weekend ...
Funny: Carrot Top opens a two-week engagement this evening at MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre. This morning he was scheduled to be a guest on "The Wayne Brady Show" on KTNV Channel 13 ...
Guest: Football broadcaster and NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw will be the featured speaker at the Faith Lutheran Scholarship Endowment Dinner at Monte Carlo on Oct. 9 ...
Call me: VegasBeat is back for its weekly radio call-in bit with "Las Vegas Today" host Andy Vierra on KNUU 970 AM (K-NEWS) today at 4 p.m. Call the studio line at (702) 735-6397 and we'll dish. Also, we're back with Melanie & Tom on LITE FM, KMZQ 100.5-FM on Friday at 7:30 a.m.
From Sun wires
Unidentified sources told the New York Daily News and Us Weekly magazine that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck will finally tie the knot Sept. 14.
Very close "friends" and an incredibly intimate "source" told the newspaper and the magazine, respectively, that the couple plan to exchange vows near Santa Barbara, Calif.
Welch recovering: Raquel Welch broke her arm in a car accident Saturday in Los Angeles and is recuperating from surgery, her publicist said Wednesday.
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