September 7, 2024

Columnist John Katsilometes: On the Rhodes of Rhodes Ranch who does not golf

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at [email protected] or at (702) 259-2327 or (702) 812-9812.

Developer Jim Rhodes is wont to slip into golf talk -- if it involves developing a golf course. But don't ask him what he shoots.

He doesn't.

"I don't golf, ever," said Rhodes, the founder of Rhodes Homes and developer of Rhodes Ranch Golf Club. Rhodes was on hand at Wednesday's fundraising reception at Ermengildo Zagna at the Forum Shops at Caesars for the La Concha Motel restoration project.

Rhodes said it has been several years since he's swung a club in anger.

"I have played three or four times in my life and the last time I played was 20 years ago," he said. "I can see myself picking up the game and becoming obsessed, playing four hours a day. I don't have that kind of time." Or, probably, a desire to cut divots out of his own property.

NoteMart

Attic talk: Spotted a sign atop the Attic vintage clothing and merchandise store on South Main Street on Friday: "For Sale, Call 388-4088." Manager Sophye Politis-Wagner said the building, not the business, is for sale and has been for a few weeks. The store will likely move to a new location once the building is sold.

The Attic is home to all sorts of funky clothing, furniture and knickknacks (including several vintage rotary phones). The store enjoyed national fame a few years ago when it was featured in a Visa commercial ...

Little Mac: The Las Vegas Hilton announced Friday that Reba McEntire has signed a multiweek engagement to perform at the hotel when Barry Manilow is weekending in New England. The sprightly McEntire met the press Friday afternoon at the Shimmer Theatre and said that her first visit to Vegas was as a performer.

"It was 1983, at the old MGM Grand (now Bally's) and I was opening for the Statler Brothers. I saw this town and went, 'Whoa,' " said the 50-year-old McEntire, who then slipped into a pretty good Elvis impression, "It was, "Bright lights, city, gonna set my soul, set my soul on fire.' I really felt I'd arrived. Today it's the same feeling -- I'm reaching fans far beyond my normal fanbase, which makes it a challenge." McEntire's first set of dates begins May 3 ...

Right at Holmes: Occasionally I catch Clint Holmes at the gym, multitasking while chatting on a cell phone, pedaling away on an exercise bike and watching a ballgame on a monitor overhead. But that is not the item. This is:

Thursday night at the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place, Holmes is hosting a benefit to launch the Clint Holmes Foundation for the Performing Arts. According to a news release, Holmes will introduce artist K.C. Reiter and will hold both a silent and live auction of Reiter's work, "including autographed paintings of Strip legends, headliners and other celebrities." The mission of the Clint Holmes Foundation is to help fund art programs in Clark County public schools ...

We're so toast: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is busting out of his shell to help ring in the new year -- and break the Guinness record for the world's largest toast. Goodman will join more than 12,000 wine connoisseurs at 11:50 p.m. on Dec. 31 under the Fremont Street Experience for what is billed as "a once-in-a-lifetime event." ToastStock is being sponsored by the city of Las Vegas and Beaulieu Vineyard Wines (BV Wines, in shorthand). So, here's to us ...

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