My husband Noel and I took a walk down the Las Vegas Strip to get some fresh air and to check out the closed casinos.  Our heartfelt prayers go out to all of our friends who depend on the many resorts, restaurants, and entertainment venues for employment. Most have been laid off and will need to figure out how they are going to survive these next few months while Vegas is shut down.  We will try to support the businesses by ordering take out, Amazon prime deliveries, and staying HOME to prevent the spreading of this awful virus.  I just pray that the health care workers get what they need in the way of supplies, praise, and rest when they need it.  Here are some photos of this historic closing of the strip:

 

 

 

 

 

 

My fellow Americans…yes…I did my duty to God and my country and attended the 2020 Democratic Debate here in Las Vegas.  I was “wait listed” by the Media/Press folks at the NBC News MSNBC crew so I took a chance and got in as an “audience” member.  I sometimes have no clue how I manage to do it, but I am in a casino and luck was on my side. If I didn’t get in I could always play my favorite BUFFALO OR WHEEL OF FORTUNE games.  After passing through the security screening (did I take that wine opener out of my purse??) I joined the upscale crowd in the balcony.  Actually the seats were great and all of the people around me were dressed to the nines in suits, business attire, trendy  outfits, etc.  There was one crazy lady in a bling hat that had me worried but I was hoping security checked her out.  I am new to Nevada, got a local driver’s license, and registered to vote.  However, I had no idea that they were going to introduce us to so many Democratic leaders up front in the first hour. I don’t think there are any Republicans in Nevada. We heard from our Senators, the Governor, and many other leaders of the Democratic Party here in Nevada.  Harry Reid got a standing ovation from the crowd and seemed to not want to endorse any particular candidate, which was probably a good idea.  My overall impression of the crowd was that everyone was afraid to cheer loudly for one particular candidate during the debate.  You really had no idea if the guy next to you was a rabid Bernie fan and he would take offense if you cheered, gasped or laughed at something that was happening on stage.  Yes, it was rather appalling to me that all of the candidates could say the meanest, rudest, things to each other’s face in front of millions of viewers.  Didn’t their mothers teach them to “HAVE COURAGE AND BE KIND” – like Cinderella?  I actually felt bad at one time or another during the debate for all of the candidates.  I can’t tell you who I thought won but I know FOR SURE who I would not want sitting next to Queen Elizabeth or even Putin for that matter representing our country!   Have some manners!

 

I don’t know if you are like me and do a long list of New Year’s Resolutions that I try OH SO HARD to keep…including that elusive weight loss, saving money, being kind, bla, bla, bla…OH WELL enough about that.  This year my husband actually edited our list and is making me check in QUARTERLY to see how we are doing…good grief!

So far so good on the fun events starting with the Stirling Club’s New Years Eve bash, a fun trip to Newport Beach, staging of our house for sale (41 Ocean Vista, Newport Beach, CA 92660 please buy it) and the Nevada Ballet Gala. By the way, it is the Chinese New Year of the Rat, yes, I was born in 1960 so you figure it out.  We are by the way, 20+20+20 in 2020 and not turning 60!!!!

Here are some photos.

 

My year in review is literally based on my photos because if it was based on my remembering where the heck I was and with whom…my brain could not handle it!  So here are some memories with a label under the photos describing the adventure or scene. xoxo Kathy

 

So I guess I will be visiting Nashville quite often since my daughter Caroline and her new husband Russell are due to have a baby boy December 17. We attended Doctor appointments, checked out her new digs, and went to an amazing church group baby shower! I have so many great memories from my days at Vanderbilt. Of course we ate and drank ourselves silly!  Check out my photos:

 

Kristin Martin has done it again! Her love of cooking, fine wine, decor (her house is unbelievable at Halloween and Christmas), and of course awesome CHEFS allow her to throw the best culinary events in the OC.  No kidding, I have known her since 2003 when we collaborated on “Flavors of Orange County” for the American Liver Foundation and she has perfected these chef events.  You can’t duplicate her sense of knowing when and where to have the event, which charity will benefit the most, which chefs will put their heart and soul into the process, and which friends and fellow philanthropists will show up to support the cause (phew!). Kristin knows her stuff and the magic that happens at these events is proof of the pudding (ha ha). I can’t forget my dear friend Mona Nesseth, whose sweet mom suffers from Alzheimers. She has a heart of gold and makes things happen.  Another miracle worker and true angel, Mona donated the JCB wines AND my favorite Three Sticks Wine from Sonoma.

I am a chef groupie and some of my favorite chefs were at the Chef Masters event in October to benefit the Alzheimer’s Family Center. I got to see Chef Pascal Olhats, Adam Navidi, Donald Lockhart, Keith Prante, and Ugo Allesina.

Check out some of the photos.

 

We had a blast last night at the Stirling Club (Turnberry Place) for a “Halloween” party. Could they possibly have done more? I have been to plenty of parties but this one was over the top! From start to finish (and yes I stayed for Wayne Newton) it was a ton of fun. I was actually scared on the way in by a huge hairy werwolf and other ghostly figures. The decor was fantastic and elaborate with such attention to detail they must have bought out Party City or the local warehouse for event rentals. I have never seen that many blinged out skulls, spiderwebs, and moving wall images, except at Disneyland or Universal Studios. Did I mention photo booths? I think there was a state of the art photo booth in every room throughout the Stirling Club. They handed you a flyer upon entry so you would not miss a thing. Check it out…

Spirits lounge (full bar with specialty cocktails) and Elvis Lederer (Tekno Flamenko Artist), main dining room with a live piano player, wine room with RACLETTE (whatever that is, some kind of super smelly cheese that is not on my diet but looked great…),

Veranda room with spiked coffee, hot chocolate, adorable dessert bar, a gross, disgusting massacre meat station, and a Cigar lounge featuring 12 and 15 year Macallan and prosciutto di parma station (what? did I miss this????)

Stirling room with live performances by Every Woman band, DJ Steve Weaver (see photos of this guy, he was fantastic so I got his card), and yes, you won’t believe this, WAYNE NEWTON!!!

My husband had to go home but of course I stayed for WAYNE NEWTON, who was “in the house” but late. I am sure he was with VIP’s that did not include us. Actually, he was great and for this traditional Turnberry crowd (you will see what I mean in the photos…) it was a blast to see him and well worth the headache this morning! I have to mention that there was intense competition for the best costumes. I think some folks went home so upset or angry when they did not win because they spent hours and a small fortune on those amazing costumes (including the small scary children who I heard were paid actors). Like I said, could they possibly have done more? NO!

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How we helped the Angels win the 2002 World Series.