Low ‘skunk’ stole Lola’s Saints flag

OK, who's the "skunk" who ruined Lola Pokomy's long-awaited Super Bowl celebration?

Two of her lifelong dreams became reality in the last four months: The New Orleans native opened Lola's A Louisiana Kitchen restaurant in October and she saw her beloved Saints win the Super Bowl on Sunday.

But someone, "a skunk," in her words, stole her Saints flag from the outside wall of her restaurant in the old Holsum Building on First Friday, Dec. 5.

She had just brought it back from New Orleans.

"That was so low. I'm incredibly sad I can't even fly my flag proudly," she said by telephone from her Cajun eatery.

On the 3-feet-by-6-feet flag were the words "This is Saints Country." It disappeared between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Pokomy, who moved to Las Vegas 20 years ago, spent much of Sunday catering but finished in time to watch the entire game.

"Only thing I didn't do, and I'm mad about, is I didn't tape it. It would be like a good movie."

CHASING FAME

Leonid the Magnificent wants to take his fabulosity to a reality show.

One of the most colorful entertainment figures to hit Las Vegas in a decade, the outrageous Russian has been busy promoting his eccentric act back in New York City.

He spent several years in Las Vegas as the flamboyant sword balancing headliner in "Beacher's Madhouse" at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Since returning to New York, he's landed a role as the blacksmith in Verdi's "Il Trovatore" at the Metropolitan Opera and had a four-week contract as a Dracula character for the Times Square Halloween show "Purgatorio." He produces his own cabaret show in Queens every Saturday and Sunday, with a cast of 10. It's appropriately titled "Simply Magnificent."

Plus he hosts "Russian Night" every Wednesday in Manhattan.

But Leonid, whose persona in "Beacher's Madhouse" included showgirl headdresses and white mink tails attached to his short shorts, said in an e-mail that his next goal is to star in his reality show. He's already completed a pilot.

SIGHTINGS

Bar Refaeli, the 2009 Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl, made two appearances Thursday, her first of the models' Las Vegas visit. She was at the Hard Rock Hotel's Vanity nightclub, host site of the signature event of the Las Vegas junket, and at Tao (Venetian) for an after-party. Organizers said she was a no-show earlier because she was "under the weather" not because she was unhappy that she didn't regain the title. ... U.S. women's soccer legends Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly at Tryst (Wynn) on Thursday. ... Atlanta Falcons' tight end Tony Gonzalez, dining at T-Bones Chop House at Red Rock Resort Thursday night. ... Comedian Carlos Mencia, joining Flamingo headliner George Wallace on stage Thursday night for some stand-up.

THE PUNCH LINE

"The three drunkest cities in America: Fresno, Riverside, and whatever Mel Gibson is driving through." -- Craig Ferguson

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.