Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: 'The Social' sets a standard for social functions

PLANNED WITH A LAVISH, no-expense-spared concept, The Social, an evening of fine dining, cigars and spirits, was spectacular, even by Las Vegas standards.

Hosted by the Las Vegas Hilton, preparations for the lush setting took more than three days, creating the true feeling of Old Havana, complete with tropic plantings, gazebo-covered serving islands and an elevated stage for the 11-piece Cuban band and their scantily-clad dancers. Guests, among them Karen Gordon, Judy Robinson, Carelia Bauer, Laura Herlovich and Rick Fuentes, were gifted with commemorative wine glasses, cigar lighters and spacious gift bags for the collection of more than a dozen fine cigars distributed throughout the evening by premiere companies, among them Napa, Teamo, Battle Born and Hamilton's. Also provided were the latest issues of Smoke and Cigar Aficionado magazines.

Spago, Chinois, Coyote Cafe, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Andiamo and a dozen more restaurants created a dazzling array of dining selections for the crowd of 1,500 guests, who easily met and mingled in the comfort of the Las Vegas Hilton Pavilion. Seen sampling the best were Debra and Steve Shaiken, Eddie Simmons with Frank and Kristen Marquette, Mel Carter, Charles and Irene Walker, Karen Dorsey, John and Liz Mullen, Craig Bjokne and Sonny and LeeAnne Bok. Southern Wine and Spirits, co-presenters of the gala evening, under the personal direction of Larry Ruvo, provided premium spirits ranging from the finest cognac and ports to vintage wines, liqueurs and assorted beverages. Manning a dozen-plus serving stations were Southern Wine personnel, including Bob Fowler, Elliot Krane and Tony Goitia.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Hilton Pavilion, almost creating a-party-within-a-party was "Club Social" where a selection of martinis were offered and the sultry sounds of a jazz band played for listening and dancing enjoyment. Nearby was a silent auction to benefit the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, the evening's charitable center. Working hard to make this inaugural event a true success for locals and visitors alike were scores of Las Vegas Hilton personnel, among them Gus Moser, director of catering, Patricia Schneck, entertainment/public relations, and Ken Deutsch, vice president of food and beverage. Discussion is already underway for future events patterned after this most successful venture.

AIDS quilt

Saks Fifth Avenue first took a leadership role in 1996 as the first corporation to sponsor a multi-site display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. This year, the Saks Fifth Avenue store at Fashion Show Mall will display pieces of this enormous quilt from Thursday-June 24, to coincide with the sixth annual AIDS Day of Compassion observance on Friday. AIDS Day of Compassion, which began in 1993, is a day for entertainment, arts and fashion industries to observe a remembrance of the AIDS crisis.

First displayed on the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C., in 1987 and seen by millions of visitors, the original quilt had 1,920 panels, Today, at 41,00 panels, the quilt has grown beyond the display area of a single site and has been sectioned to be shared and displayed into multiple locations. Each 3' x 6' panel memorializes a friend or family member who had died of AIDS. The local chapter of the NAMES project has provided the sections of the quilt that will be displayed in Las Vegas.

Annual conference

Opening festivities for the Nevada Hotel & Motel Association and the Nevada Restaurant Association annual conference took a decidedly elegant and tasteful note with The Ultimate Epicurean Affair, the eighth annual gourmet dining experience. Held on the surrounding terraces and gardens of Caesars Palace's Garden of the Gods, adjacent to the resort's newly completed tower and pool complex, the gala was a carefree occasion for both members and public supporters. As explained by Van Heffner, president of the Nevada Hotel and Motel and Nevada Restaurant Association, the evening provides generous support for the scholarships offered to hospitality industry students attending Nevada colleges, as well as educational outreach programs for those already at work in the field.

Elaborate serving stations, including a seemingly endless spread by Caesars which put the spotlight on their many restaurants, were created for this single evening by participating resorts and restaurants. Reflecting the special character of the eateries, each with distinctive touches added by executive chefs and other key personnel, these serving areas gave these professionals the rare chance to interact with one another, view new cooking techniques and discuss the finer points of their vocations.

Strolling the grounds to sample from these fine restaurants were Mike and Beverly Mykiesen, Jeanne Hood, Steve Harney, Tom and Eloise Koenig, Ken Deutsch and Gus Moser, as well as Tom Skancke, Chrisse and Gary Waddell, Bill Marion, Kay and Bruce Spottleson, Rex and Jennifer Windom, Nancy Marcellus, Carelia Bauer and Phyllis Schwartz.

Making a family evening of it were Charlette and Elliot Krane, who proudly rewarded granddaughter Jennifer Eskin with Ultimate Epicurean Affair invitations for herself, a dozen friends and celebrating family. The daughter of Darla and Jeff Eskin, Jennifer graduated first in a class of 700 graduates from Green Valley High School earlier in the day. One of 14 to receive the coveted International Baccalaureate Honors Diploma, this bright young woman also excelled in sports and was named as one of the Top 10 Student Athletes in Southern Nevada for 1998 in recognition of her eight-letter efforts in track, field and soccer competitions. Jennifer, who will join the honors program at UCLA in September, was joined by friends and fellow graduates Mark Bemis, Avi Khitri, Jamie Barto and her future roomie at UCLA, Robyn Cohen. Also present were her siblings Jonathan, Emily and Lindy, as well as her uncle, Andrew Eskin, former legislative director for Sen. Richard Bryan, now in private practice in Washington, D.C.

Later in the week the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association and Nevada Restaurant Association announced recipients of the 1998 Nevada Hotelier and Restaurateur of the Year at the 19th annual Las Vegas hotel and Restaurant Show's Hospitality Awards Luncheon. Named 1998 Nevada Hotelier of the Year was Anthony F. Santo, president of the Reno Hilton, while Karen Dorsey, vice president of operations at Ellis Island Casino, received the 1998 Nevada Restaurateur of the Year award. Juanita Wilson, owner of the Econo Lodge, Downtown Las Vegas and a member of the Las Vegas Convention Authority Board of Directors, was given the Nevada Hotel/Motel Association's second-ever Lifetime Service Award.

Sponsored by The Accommodation Program by Philip Morris, Budweiser, Sprint and Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada, the superb luncheon was a joint effort by Emeril's New Orleans Fish House (Chef de Cuisine Sean Roe), Gordon Biersch Brewing Company (Chef Mark Stark) and Mark Miller's Coyote Cafe (Executive Chef Tommy Birdwell). Attendees included executive chefs, hotel executives and noted restaurateurs, among them Michael Ty, Dick Powell, Felix Rappaport, Jackie Monroe, Darwin Stewart, Joan Heffner, Tom Wiesner, Tola and Marcia Chin, Lawrence Welles, Larry Bradley and Irwin Kirschner. Michael French and Don Richardson of The Venetian Resort sat with us at lunch and discussed the progress of the hotel's construction and the many restaurants planned for inclusion. Stopping by to say hello were Las Vegas Convention Authority executives Eileen Freeman, Rob Powers and director Manny Cortez.

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