Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1997 | 10 a.m.
SPECTACULAR, all-encompassing, yet intimate and warm, the recent Clark County Public Education Foundation dinner managed to be all of this and more. The fourth annual benefit dinner, in generous partnership with the Las Vegas Thunder hockey team, this evening was the formal unveiling of our city's loveliest new restaurant, The Range at Harrah's. Entering from the casino level by way of glass elevators, guests were at once entranced by the spectacular Strip views below, looking across to the fountains at Caesars, the ships of Treasure Island and The Mirage's lush tropics.
The Range, both a restaurant and lounge, while quite spacious, is designed to be intimate, with tables of two, four or six only, and tiered for unrestricted views. Harrah's Executive Chef Jeffrey Frederick and Range Chef Daniel Galan were both instrumental in the planning and preparation of the superb meal served to the Thunder players and supporters at the Education Foundation event.
The evening's selections, served with full gourmet treatment, were one-pound New York strip steaks prepared to order and Calistoga hickory-smoked spinach-stuffed chicken breasts, both served with family-style side dishes of garlic mashed potatoes, cabernet mushrooms, sourdough breads and garden vegetables. Later, dream desserts were served with coffee and after-dinner liqueurs.
Sujoy Brahma, director of restaurant operations, explained that guests will normally be offered a full range of choice beef, fish and chicken entrees with special accommodations for weddings, fashion luncheons and other special events. A staff of 75 has been fully trained, with each certified in proper service techniques by Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada, including veteran server James Moffenbier and Range restaurant manager Gene Cataldo.
Arriving guests, greeted by chairmen Doug Sanderson and Bob Strum, were soon absorbed by the magic of the setting and the spirit shown by the generous-minded athletes who met and mingled with fans, including Karen Erickson and Barbara Michalko, as well as Sharon and Ray Brown, Jay and Linda Thompson, Eileen and Eric Horn, Leslie and Judge Ron Parraguirre, John Goolsby, David Griego and Assemblyman Dennis Nolan.
Harrah's general manager Tom Hall, seen with Harrah's chairman of the board Claudine Williams and Education Foundation director Judi Steele, was introduced to Thunder veteran player Patrice Le Febvre and goaltender-turned-coach Clint Malarchuk. Also introduced were team newcomers Rob Pattison (right wing), Rodrigio La Vinsh (defenseman) and Sergei Klimovich (center) and coach Chris McSorley, IHL's youngest ever coach, who has earned an enviable record with the Thunder in past seasons.
Others in the throng included Nancy Houssels, Tim and Barbara Neverett and Thunder equipment manager Doug Tretiak, as well as Bob Murphy, Dorothy Bradshaw, Don Logan, Tonya Kenyon and British Artist Frank McClean, who hopes to relocate to our city quite soon. Owner Dee Stickney, who later addressed the guests at dinner with her son and co-owner Ken Stickney, was seen with Ruth Goldfarb, discussing the joys of grandchildren and recent vacations in Italy.
A brief program, shared with guests by means of special broadcast monitors, explained the purpose of the Thunder's Goals for Kids program, which impacts Clark County's children with direct grants to both schoolwide and specific classroom needs as well as library resources. Each goal scored this season is matched by pledges which create funding to help our children and bridge the many needs of our quickly expanding school district. Over the past three seasons, Thunder's Goals for Kids has raised more than $300,000 with 1,314 goals to date.
Coupled with these efforts were outreach visits where Thunder players adopt schools. Achievements are rewarded with game tickets, and this year will be recognized with a new MVP -- Most Valuable Performance program, a new concept in reading incentives. Speaking on behalf of all educators, Brian Cram thanked the Thunder organization for "putting kids first." Further thanks and explanation of the Clark County Public Education Foundation's goals were made by Doug Sanderson, founding trustee, who relayed the details of the group's 1991 incorporation and the subsequent success of raising $10 million. Complementing these efforts is Harrah's own Kid's Cafe program, which served 17,000 meals to underprivileged kids in our community, giving them a nutritional base for learning readiness.
Lalique premiere
Lalique, a world-renowned firm known for exquisite crystal artistry, recently made its Las Vegas debut with the opening of a Lalique Boutique in the Forum Shops. Drs. Ted and Parvin Modaber Jacobs, longtime Lalique collectors, opened their Desert Inn Country Club home for the champagne reception, attended by leading supporters of Nevada Dance Theater.
Treasures from the Lalique Boutique were displayed, among them five special objets d'art whose sale will benefit NDT, as well as a selection of perfumes, silk scarves and luxury leather goods. Guests Phil and Sharon Bader, Tena Myers, Dema and Kenny Guinn, Laura Fritz and Unversity Regent Tom and Lynn Wiesner met Gerard Tavenas, president and director general of Lalique International, and Yves Coleon, president of Lalique North America.
Nevada Dance Theater president Nancy Houssels was seen with Jennifer Tuttle and Wendy Plaster, discussing NDT's "Nutcracker Holiday Market," planned for Nov. 22-24. Nearby, enjoying the delectables prepared by Spago, were Roger and Sandy Peltyn with Michelle and Michael Berk, as well as Francine Pulliam, Jewel Brooks and Peter and Ginette Jaramillo, joined by Thom and Mari Landers, Sheldon and Dr. Miriam Adelson, Chantal Cloobeck and Richard Plaster.
Departing guests each received a commemorative Lalique piece, done in the distinctive satin finish made famous by the Lalique artisans. An elegant dinner followed at Andre's in the Monte Carlo for special guests, hosted by Lalique presidents Tavenas and Coleon with Mayor Jan Jones, Richard Schultz, Drs. Ted and Parvin Modaber Jacobs, Thierry Lion, Kim Freedman and Las Vegas Lalique manager Madeline Maghsouid attending.
Williams honored
Claudine Williams, the dynamic Harrah's gaming leader, UNLV Foundation founder, fine arts supporter and tireless civic activist, was honored recently. The Women's Democratic Club of Clark County recognized Claudine at its annual Spotlight Dinner. The evening began with a boisterous cocktail reception, attended by Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom and her attorney son Richard "Tick" Segerblom, Karl and Suzanne Nixon, Rose McKinney James, Assemblyman Bob Price, Jan and Leroy Jenkins and Jonathan Levenson, who accompanied his wife Carin Levenson, president of the organization.
With a decidedly political bent, a silent auction was displayed and found to be of great interest by Amy Ayoub, Nancy Walls, Jeanne Greenawalt, Joe Queria, Dan Banta, Charlie Waterman and Judge Jack and Lulu Lehman. Attempting to make their bids as well were Karen Gordon with Joe Coffee, joined by newlywed Paul Bloomfield, George Togliatti, Gary Gray and Assemblyman Dario Herrera. Claudine's dear friends, including Leona Gennis, Kitty Rodman, University Regent Thalia Dondero and Commissioners Mary Kincaid and Myrna Williams, attended as did past honorees Judge Nancy Becker, Barbara Buckley, Eugenia Ohrenschall and Chris Giunchigliani.
Dinner co-chairs Beverly Carlino-Banta and new bride Judy Klein-Bloomfield, who was married just a few short days before this fund-raiser, were complimented on the event by Dallas and Steve Sisolak, Renee and Leo Diamond, Sara Besser, Lou Gammage and state Sen. Valerie Wiener with J.J. Balk. Funds raised at the event will be distributed to Democratic candidates for use in future campaigns.
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