Posts Tagged ‘Shane Cohen’

Amy and Amrit Gill, restorers of architectural treasures, have been focusing on their born-again Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport, IA., about which Amy described the inn as “becoming a destination for same-sex marriages and we have one tonight to the tune of $10,000. Out magazine has named the hotel one of the 10 best in the nation for those marriages and receptions.”  The cost includes photography, cake, flowers, etc., she pointed out.  The Gills were at Saturday night’s “Red 2011: Lighting the Way” benefit for Doorways at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  Doorways provides housing for those affected by HIV-related illnesses and require 24 hours nursing.  Award-winning KMOX talk-show broadcaster Charlie Brennan and his wife, Beth Stoher were special guests. He joked, “I have a hearing problem and went to an audiolgist and I don’t know what he said.” They beamed about their son Charles and daughter Lyn, who attend Captain School.  Our town’s glammy Kristin Hart, a costumer,  and General Motors engineer Patrick Marcus announced their engagement and said they met on an airplane a few years ago.  Carl Hoagland and state Sen. Joan Bray were all aglow over the festivities as were Dr. John Daniels and Lance Cimarolli, who were cornered by WashU’s Glenda Wiman and hub, Al.  While AmerenUE may field criticism at times, the utility may best be described as a totally dedicated sponsor of community activities such as Doorways.  It’s topper Tom Voss and wife Carol served as co-chairs of the gala along with Richard and Kathie Winter.  And, AmerenUE presented the event.  Faces in the crowd included: Bill Donius, who told the columnist, “Don’t write about me!” (Oh, if the walls at banks would only talk.); FOX2′s Kevin Steincross and KSDK’s Jeff Small; famed cardiologist Dr. Robert Lehman; ophthalmologists Drs. Mark Spurrier and Randal Nake; Terry Kite; St. Louis Ald. Shane Cohen; attorney Joseph Perez; Doorways’ resident manager Opal Jones with hub-firefighter Robert; Eric Plume; caterer to the stars Bryan Young; David Nations; Burley Minton with Kevin Johnson and Doorways’ chairman Chuck Miller, who said that about $100k was raised, including the auction. A jewel in the auction was dinner and entertainment for 25 in the Chase-Park Plaza penthouse of stockbroker John Russell and Darryl Redhage for an estimated value of $7,000.

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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.