It was Phantom meets Vegas at Saturday's gala party of "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular."
At every turn, phantom-esque touches transformed The Venetian's main ballroom into a red velvetine-draped 19th-century Paris opera house.
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The cavernous room was abloom with 5,000 roses, most of them in table centerpieces, on ornate candelabra at the buffet or attached individually to the backs of chairs.
Overhead, in the center of the room, the star of the party: a massive chandelier formed with 20,000 red carnations.
"It took 13 people three days to assemble it," said David Tapper, catering conference manager for The Venetian.
Overlooking the revelers from one of two opera boxes were phantom royalty, creator Andrew Lloyd Webber and director Hal Prince, seated with comedy icon Carol Burnett.
Wearing a black suit and pink tie, Brent Barrett, Friday's opening-night phantom, worked the room like the phantom, popping up everywhere.
All the bars were built on ice blocks amid ice sculptures portraying show scenes. Phantinis, a pomegranate juice martini with raspberry vodka, were poured down an ice luge that resembled the mask of the phantom.
Guests indulged in a variety of fare from executive banquet chef Oliver DuBreuil's kitchen, including foie gras lollypop with black truffle and macadamia crust; vichyssoise shooters with fried leek; golden fig and marzipan tarts; satchel of duck with apricots; and pear mousse martinis.
Partygoers entered the ballroom through the phantom's lair, a candle-lit "tunnel" with rolling knee-high fog.
"We had the same thing at our convention," cracked Mike Bass, sports editor of the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press, referring to last week's Associated Press Sports Editors convention at the MGM Grand.
The Food Network will air the party later this year on "Behind the Bash."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Defense attorney David Chesnoff, who has represented Britney Spears, Martha Stewart and Celine Dion, won the Light anniversary poker tournament at Bellagio on Saturday, taking home the $75,000 first prize.
SIGHTINGS
Leonardo DiCaprio and his new girlfriend, 20-year-old Israeli swimsuit model Bar Rafaeli, in the middle of a drink-tossing incident Saturday at Light, the Bellagio nightclub. A member of DiCaprio's posse tossed a drink on a female fan who was trying to take a photograph of the couple. Security was called, and the would-be photographer was removed from the area. ... "Sin City" star Jessica Alba and pals, demolishing many tins of Persicus caviar at Prime (Bellagio) Saturday. ... At Light's anniversary party at Bellagio on Saturday: Recently divorced Shannon Elizabeth and Jonathan Schaech, arriving together on the red carpet, Michelle Rodriguez of "Lost," Nicky Hilton and Kevin Connolly, Lukas Haas, Mekhi Phifer, Criss Angel and Hank Azaria. ... Illusionist David Blaine, getting a haircut at Amp (Palms). ... Mike Tyson, ringside Saturday at the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace for the Calvin Brock-Timur Ibragimov bout. ... At Pure (Caesars Palace): NBA stars Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce and Jermaine O'Neal and ex-champ Lennox Lewis. ... New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and girlfriend Bridget Moynahan, dancing thisclose in Tao's VIP section Saturday. ... At The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel): ultimage fighters Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock.
THE PUNCH LINE
"I don't want to say a lot of people were not into this game, but both Pete Rose and Wayne Gretzky's wife forgot to bet on it." -- Jay Leno on the Carolina Hurricanes' 3-1 win over Edmonton to win the Stanley Cup
