Sunday, November 24, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM!: Conger back in Vegas for bachelorette party

Darva Conger is back in town, scene of her sham marriage and annulment. This time she's here for her bachelorette party.

Conger and a dozen of her gal pals took the Club a Go Go bus tour Friday night, hitting Studio 54 at the MGM Grand, rumjungle at Mandalay Bay and The Beach.

Conger, an emergency room nurse, married stand-up comedian-wannabe Rick Rockwell in February 2000 at the Las Vegas Hilton during the Fox TV show "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire."

She rejected Rockwell immediately and got the marriage annulled here two months later on the grounds that she wasn't informed of his history of violence.

Conger is engaged to Jim Arellano, 26, who proposed marriage on Feb. 9, three months after they met in the emergency room of St. Francis Medical Center in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Bonding experience

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., was more than impressed with the villain's megalaser in the new James Bond movie.

"I thought that was still classified," quipped Bryan, a former member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, after viewing "Die Another Day" at the "Bond for the Cure" benefit Thursday night at the MGM Grand.

The event, held to benefit the Nevada Cancer Institute's drive for a new building, included a sneak preview of the film, which was released this weekend.

Held on the EFX Theatre stage, which was designed after the Ice Palace featured in the film, the event pitted a who's who of Las Vegas in a spirited live auction.

After Steve and Elaine Wynn paid $15,000 for lunch with Pierce Brosnan, Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Grand president, forked over $22,500 for lunch with Halle Berry, who co-stars with Brosnan.

Two bidders came up with $22,500 each to have star chef Julian Serrano of Picasso prepare a dinner for 10 at a private residence. That's $4,500 per plate.

Saving a soul

Billy Guy won't be going to a paupers grave, thanks to a collaboration by friends and fans of the former member of the original Coasters.

When Guy, 66, died Nov. 5, no next of kin came forward to handle his burial, so Jerry Copija, funeral director at the Garden Memorial Funeral Home, put the word out in hopes that a pauper burial could be avoided.

"Jerry's one of the real heroes," said Pastor Lezlie Anders of Grace Ministries.

Longtime Las Vegas entertainer Nelson Sardelli helped get the ball rolling, and help came from everywhere: Grace Ministries donated $500 from a benefit at Goldfinger's on Wednesday. Members of the Coasters gave a 45-minute show during the benefit.

Legendary songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, who wrote many of the Coasters songs, sent word they would come up with the balance necessary for the $4,500 burial, said Anders.

Visitation is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday with burial at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Sightings

Actresses Meg Ryan and Tracey Ullman with their kids at Siegfried & Roy (Mirage) on Friday night. ... At Rain (Palms) Friday: John Corbett ("Sex in the City"), and Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees and his brother Jeremy of the Oakland A's. ... At the Tito Ortiz-Ken Shamrock Ultimate Fighting Championship bout (MGM Grand Garden): actor Vin Diesel, Kevin James of "The King of Queens," baseball great Steve Garvey and Joe Rogan ("Fear Factor"). ... Gary Dell'Abate of "The Howard Stern Radio Show" at the Las Vegas Royals hockey game (Santa Fe Station Ice Arena ) on Saturday. ... At ghostbar (Palms) on Friday: "Real World" suitemates Arissa, Alton and Frank. Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, attending the Marche Bacchus Beaujolais party Thursday. ... Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme and former White Snake guitarist Steve Vai, at A.J.'s Steak House (Hard Rock Hotel) Thursday, checking out Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine.

The Punch Line

"A Porsche with panties." -- Joe Pantoliano, who played wacko capo Ralph Cifaretto in "The Sopranos," describing the Porsche Boxster

Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach him at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.