Posts Tagged ‘Jim Murphy’

Heidi Glaus with her parents

I awoke from a nap Sunday afternoon and turned on Duke Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and it dawned on me with a sharp pain, that I hadn’t been getting around much over the last few days. Jumped out of the shower and played “The Blue Pajama Song” – ah, our town’s Buddy Moreno – then headed for Ameristar Casino Resort’s ballroom.  That’s where the Missouri Restaurant Association held its inaugural ball.  While seated at a table with Monsignors Sal Polizzi and Vince Bommarito, hosted by the Missouri Baking’s Gambaro famiia, Msgr. Bommarito said the two clerics would head for Sin City’s MGM the next day for a vacation.  “We’ll be there a week,” said Father Vince to which Father Sal

Msgrs. Vince Bommarito and Sal Polizzi with the Gambaro family

contradicted, “No, we’ll be there for five days.”  Will they gamble?  “He will, but I won’t,” insisted Father Vince, who continued to regal the guests with his story about lunching with funeral directors at Pietro’s.  He said he warns the morticians in advance, “Nobody dies, while we’re there.” He continued to recall a grieving family, who insisted, “We don’t want a mass and let’s just go to the Pasta House after the funeral.”  KSDK’s Heidi Glaus picked up the award as Media Person of the Year and announced, “This is perfect, because I don’t cook and eat out all the time.”  With her were

The Fortels

her parents, educators Jill and Bill Glaus of Ballwin.  The charming and ebullient Shelly Fortel of pizza fame was introed by emcee Jim Holder, who announced her new post as prez of the organization.  In the wings, Fortel tipped her six stores will vend heart-shaped pizzas next month. Headlining the event was the presentation of Restaurateur of the Year to Mark Aizzi, owner of the 54 year-old, 300-seater landmark, Rigazzi’s on The Hill. Confined to a wheelchair, Aizzi, with his wife Joan and their five children, turned to the dinery’s chef, Jim Murphy, and asked him to reveal the upcoming entree – “Cacciatore over risotto and salzizia,” said Murray, who has been with the restaurant for almost 50 years.  On hand for the event were: the association’s prez, Jack Borgmeyer of Grappa Grill;

Roland DiGregorio, Lowell Martin, Jr. Bart Saracino

Bart Saracino of Bartolino’s Osteria, Chris’ and Bartolino’s South; Lowell Martin, Jr., Ameristar’s food and bev guy; Roland DiGregorio; Corey and Sarah Miller; Jim “Socko” Lahrman; Diane and Chris Gambaro; Linda and Dario Gambaro and opera singer Gina Galati, who wowed the crowd with her singing of the National Anthem. Galati is the founder of Winter Opera St. Louis. Asked if there was a great deal of skimming by restaurateurs these days, tax attorney Harry Charles blurted, “I can’t tell you!”

The Aizzi family

Somewhere in her family, Alexis Tucci had to have inherited the genes of Cecil B. DeMille or David O. Selznick.  Only they and Tucci could produce a spectacular such as the Mayor’s Ball in City Hall t’other eve, crafted by Tucci.  Usually the corridors are as empty as an Elaine Viets book signing, but Friday night they were wall-to-wall, costumed party-goers as well as those in formal attire.  Why not? It was the eve of Mardi Gras festivities around town and the guests partied and jammed beyond belief. The aforementioned Dooley and Hizzoner Francis Slay were hugging and recalling how earlier in the day, Dooley pulled off his best joke yet. While Slay and others were at a Hardee’s launching of Heat Up St. Louis, they looked in vain for Dooley, whose presence was expected. Finally, someone caught a side-splitting Dooley at a drive-up window.

Speaking of attending functions, Guv. Jay Nixon was invited to the ball, but was a no-show much to the anger of some power brokers. “He doesn’t even care about St. Louis”, said one of them.  Another Dem chimed in about county exec hopeful Bill Corrigan and pointed out, “He’s been elected to Pulaski Bank’s board.  You know, the bank that has not yet paid back the TARP funds?”

With his wife, Gienne, at  his side,  Parks & Rec. chief Gary Best tipped that a conservancy is being formed to raise money for the Gateway Mall park. Nearby, St. Louis Sheriff Jim Murphy lamented about his nephew, Judge Joe Murphy, another victim of lung cancer. “It’s treatable – he’s now on chemotherapy,” said Murphy. Affable 25th Ward Alderman Shane Cohen enthused over having gotten a grant from the Justice Dept. for his district to cover police and prosecutorial services as well as the neighborhood watch program. Taking it all in were Deb and Cong. Russ Carnahan, who admitted he enjoys listening to Rush Limbaugh whenever possible. Getting admirable stares were the stunning duo of Teresa and broadcaster John Brown, while nearby were Michelle and St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, who expressed comfort about what he described as a “coming together of all factions in the department, but several forces don’t want that.”  A few toasts were raised to Brian Wahby, chairman of the city Democratic Central committee for having pioneered the Mayor’s Ball way back then.