News of shootings stuns Miss Arizona

A "devastated" Miss Arizona Katy Bulkley recalled the day she showed up at the Tucson office of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to meet her mentor for the Miss America Pageant.

"I would have been happy with 10 minutes. She gave me three hours," Bulkley said Saturday during an interview at Buca di Beppo, site of a Miss America dinner gathering.

They met in early December.

"She helped me prepare for the interview portion of the competition.

"I grieve for the community," said Bulkley, who attends the University of Arizona.

She heard the news after rehearsals and called her parents.

"I was in tears," she said. "I'm just devastated."

NOW, THE BIG QUESTION...

MSNBC talk show host Chris Matthews had a crucial question for a table of Republicans on Friday while dining at Wynn Lakeside Grill (Wynn).

He was in the company of former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden and her husband, Paul, and Lynn and Bill Weidner, whom he had met when he judged Miss America four years ago.

The big question? "Chris Wanted to know if Rush Limbaugh had done as good a job judging Miss America last year as HE had done in 2007," Lynn Weidner said.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Tweet of the Week comes from the Twitter feed of @LVCabChronicles, who said he picked up a fare at the airport this week who "actually brought his empty yard margarita (container) w/straw BACK to vegas because 'refills are cheaper.' " Now that's a new species of bargain hunter. ...

Overheard at Jaleo restaurant during The Cosmopolitan's grand opening weekend: "Do you know who that is?" a Jaleo manager asked baseball star Alex Rodriguez. "No," said A-Rod. "He's the Babe Ruth of the culinary world." It was super chef Ferran Adria of Spain's elBulli, long regarded as the world's best restaurant.

SIGHTINGS

The Miss America contestants, at Barry Manilow's show (Paris) and backstage. ... At Marquee (Cosmopolitan) Friday: 50 Cent hanging with rappers Lloyd Banks, Jeremih and Tony Yayo, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Darrius Heyward-Bey of the Oakland Raiders. Also spotted at the club: Marion Barber and Andre Gurode of the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers Patrick Crayton and Darren Sproles, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry. ... Cast members of Jabbawockeez (Monte Carlo) and Lion King (Mandalay Bay) all at Boyz II Men (Flamingo)... Corey Harrison of "Pawn Stars," buying a yearlong membership in the Stirling Club silent auction item at the Canon USA Canon4Kids fundraiser (Bellagio) Friday. ... At the Palms on Friday: guitarist Dave Navarro, porn star and actress Tera Patrick, musician Ryan Cabrera, actor Clark Duke, mixed martial artist B.J. Penn, comedians Pauly Shore and Andy Dick. ... Comedian George Lopez, taking in Santana (Hard Rock Hotel) on Friday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"The weather outside is 36 degrees, with a 20 percent chance of falling birds." -- David Letterman

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