Guests gather for law firm’s ‘Moulin Rouge’-themed holiday bash

The law firm of Mainor Eglet Cottle had an over-the-top holiday event, which featured a "Moulin Rouge" theme, Saturday at Chameleon Studios.

Guests entered a ballroom decorated in the spirit of the movie "Moulin Rouge," with the Moulin Rouge Club's prominent windmill as the stage backdrop. The firm's law partners, Robert and Tracy Eglet, Robert Cottle, Robert Adams and Bradley Mainor, greeted the 300 guests, including Nevada Supreme Court Justice Michael Cherry, District Court Judges Jessie Walsh and Mark Denton, and Chief District Judge Kathy Hardcastle.

Also Secretary of State Ross Miller and his wife, Lesley, a member of the law firm, Karen Cottle, Ellen Adams, Tiffany Mainor, Emily and Winn Greenwood, Rob Bare, Bruce Hirschfeld, Cheryl and Michael Prater, Anna Lemper, Bruce Alverson, Dan Polsenberg, Bonnie Bulla and Patrick McNulty.

Chefs Georg and Eva Paulussen of Wild Truffles catered the affair. The servers wore cancan outfits as they passed seared sesame tuna, shrimp spring rolls, warm bruschetta, marinated lamb chops, seafood mousseline in potato cases with orange glaze and fried ravioli. Cooked-to-order buffets offered a mashed potato station with a choice of garnishes, a wild mushroom and seafood risotto station, and a carving station of peppered filet mignon and sliced chicken.

A French damsel wearing a large table roved about offering French pastries. High-boy tables and the buffets were decorated with miniature Eiffel Towers.

The evening's entertainment was introduced with a tango dance performed by dancers Allyson and Gabriel Manta, followed by a stage performance by Irwin Productions that featured the "Moulin Rouge" characters Satine, played by Jen Spraul, and Christian, played by Taylor Albright, singing a selection of songs from the movie. A chorus line performed, and guest singer Szylvia sang "Who Can I Believe In?"

The Press Band entertained as guests danced throughout the evening. Seen among the guests enjoying the holiday spirit were Donna Detommaso, Sharon Crystal, Jeffrey Raskin, Jeri Winter, Victoria Boyd and Holly Angaran.

Low-Country dining: James Beard Award-winning Chef Louis Osteen recently opened two new restaurants in Las Vegas' Town Square.

Direct from Pawleys Island in South Carolina, Osteen has opened Louis's Las Vegas and Louis's Fish Camp, offering updated renditions of classic regional recipes such as fried green tomatoes, corn-fried oysters, crab and lobster cakes, stone-ground sausage grits and Charleston she crab soup.

Osteen personally welcomed invited guests to Louis's Las Vegas, a 70-seat restaurant in Town Square, offering gourmet dining within elegant, inviting surroundings that showcase cotton from South Carolina fields woven into the overhead frames and cypress milled in South Carolina.

Across from Louis's Las Vegas is Louis's Fish Camp. Fish Camp is a casual, high-energy 350-seat restaurant and bar that also offers many Southern specialties, such as an oyster BLT and pan-fried baby flounder. Fish Camp has two bars, including Zelda's Bourbon Bar, which featured mint juleps and flavored teas on the night of their grand opening party Dec. 5.

Guests including Linda and Bob Faiss, Gary Jacobs, Rino Armeni, Heather and Jim Murren, Janet and Andrew Blumen, Rene and John O'Reilly, Theresa and Michael Minden, Diana and Kevin Orrock sampled shrimp scampi, grits, pork pate, fried oysters and barbecued pig. All admired the colorful mural by Kevin Harrison that helps to tell the low-country story, and various pieces of artwork from South Carolina, including 115 crab pots.

The Fish Camp debut featured a live performance by Deas Guyz, bringing their sounds from South Carolina for everyone's listening and dancing pleasure.

More guests included State Sen. Joe and Lisa Heck, Kitty and Bob Sanderson, Wayne Branth and Rich Worthington. Executive Chef Carlos Guia, formerly of Commander's Palace Las Vegas, serves as executive chef.

Both restaurants will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week and a Sunday brunch will be featured at Louis's Las Vegas. Fish Camp will offer a wide range of Southern sounds, frequently hosting live music.