Obamas may have two pretty visitors
The occupants at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue may be getting a visit.
Miss District of Columbia Kate Marie Grinold and Miss Illinois Katie Lorenz were two minutes into an interview with this reporter when they realized they had bonded: They were going to miss the presidential inauguration, and it was a disappointment of a lifetime.
"I live six blocks from the U.S. Capitol," Grinold said.
"I live two blocks from Grant Park," said Lorenz, referring to the scene of Barack Obama's Election Night victory rally in Chicago.
"You need to come to D.C.," Grinold said, "and we're going to go knocking on the White House door."
In Las Vegas for the Miss America finals Saturday (TLC) at Planet Hollywood Resort, both said they would love to work with the Obama administration.
Grinold has already gone through the sign-up process through the Internet.
Lorenz campaigned for Obama, going door to door and working the phone banks.
Another Miss America candidate, Miss Minnesota Angela McDermott, already has had a big moment in the national spotlight. In September, she sang the national anthem on the opening night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Two nights later, another one-time aspiring Miss America hopeful became an overnight political sensation. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was first runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant and winner of the Miss Congeniality award, became John McCain's running mate.
McDermott told reporters that she appreciated Palin as someone who "sticks to her guns." She hadn't decided, at that time, for whom she was going to vote, but acknowledged she had voted for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
A Valley High School student will become the 1,000th recipient of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada today at the Hard Rock Hotel. Organizers are identifying her as Diana, a 15-year-old whose heart condition requires her to have a pacemaker. She's being granted the wish of being a rock star for a day. After arriving in a limo, she will walk the red carpet, flanked by bodyguards and a publicist, at Wasted Space, where she will greet her "fans," a gathering of friends. Earlier she will do radio interviews and get a hair and makeup makeover. ...
Look for the Las Vegas Hilton to sign a long-term deal with Monster Circus, a late-night show that will feature rock stars from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s accompanied by a freaky circus atmosphere. A December appearance featured Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, Rudy Sarzo, who performed with Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake and Dio, and Tony Montana of Great White.
SIGHTINGS
Bette Midler's husband, Martin von Haselberg, celebrating his 60th birthday at lunch Tuesday at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars). Midler and von Haselberg, a German-born commodities trader and performance artist, met in 1982 but sparks didn't fly until two years later when they were reintroduced and began club-hopping. Eight weeks later, they drove to Las Vegas and got married Dec. 16, 1984, at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel, with a part-time Elvis impersonator officiating. ... Joining Zowie Bowie on stage at Green Valley Ranch on Sunday for their Rat Pack-inspired show: Clint Holmes, Kelly Clinton, Frankie Scinta and Elvis tribute artist Trent Carlini, the winner of ABC's "The Next Best Thing." ... Eddie Murphy and his new girlfriend, January, among a party of seven at the 9:30 p.m. performance of "Love" (The Mirage) on Sunday. It was Murphy's sixth visit to "Love."
THE PUNCH LINE
"A lot of celebrities are in Washington for the inauguration. In fact, so many celebrities are out of town, over in Malibu they had to close the Promises rehab center for the week." -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
