Iris Smith called it Mission: Impossible. But it was Mission: Accomplished Saturday night in Las Vegas. More than 300 people surprised her husband, former Denver oil man Michael Smith, at his 50th birthday party. The lavish soiree in the ballroom of the new Wynn Las Vegas hotel probably cost $2 million, according to guests who searched for words to describe the fete.
The headline: After a dinner of lobster and filet mignon, Stevie Wonder took the stage for a 60-minute set that included “Happy Birthday” to Michael.
From the elaborate invitations that came in metal briefcases (with a DVD player and DVD invite inside) to the Sunday morning Mother’s Day brunch overlooking the hotel’s pool, guests say the party was “off the charts.”
The surprise fete started with hors d’oeuvres of shrimp, crab and sushi as the crowd was serenaded by Rat Pack impersonators. The adjacent ballroom was all white furniture, white candles and thousands of white orchids. Iris and her daughters Tara and Kaily toasted Michael – and wrote personal thank you notes to every attendee in parting gifts.
The lucky crowd included Barry Hirschfeld, Norm and Sunny Brownstein, Steve Farber, Terry Vitale and John Head, Craig Andrisen and Grayson Walden, Jim and Shery Galbreath, Neal and Terri Groff, Carylyn Bell, actor/comedian Tom Arnold, Bob and Kalleen Malone, Dr. Lynn and Lisa Taussig, Bruce and Amy Karpas, Nancy Davis, Jack and Viki Thompson.
Opera moves on
No fat ladies sang at Opera Colorado’s “The Marriage of Figaro” on Sunday, but it was over for the company at Boettcher Concert Hall. Since 1983, the in-the-round hall was home to the company. In the fall, it moves to the new Ellie Caulkins Opera House, opening with “Carmen” starring mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.
At the end of the opera Sunday, Peter Russell, Opera Colorado’s general director, called OC founder Nat Merrill to stage for a standing ovation. They cut a cake and the chorus sang “Auld Lang Syne” as the audience exited. Everyone went home with a cupcake – plus some great opera memories.
House hunting
The NY Post reports that Barbara Davis, widow of former Denver oil and entertainment magnate Marvin Davis, has moved into two bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel – one for her, one for the servants (three maids, a cook, a butler, a driver and security). The NY tab says she sold her pad for $80 million, a record, but a Davis spokesman says that number’s not right.
City spirit
Av’s Adam Foote hosts Full House Celeb Poker Tourney Friday night at Mile High Station; $250 gets you in the game with the likes of Foote, Joe Sakic, Chris McAllister, Mark Randall, Susie Wargin, Ryan Sutter, Michael Floorwax, Irv Brown. Call 303-419-1339 … My mailbox is filled with messages from listeners who miss Jamie and Danny on KFMD, but it looks like history for that duo in Denver … Rocky Mountain Rollergirls hold their final recruitment night 7 p.m. Thursday at Benders Tavern … Nina Storey performs at the Juvenile Diabetes Dream Gala May 21 … Sez who: “I may have my faults, but being wrong isn’t one of them.” Jimmy Hoffa
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
