December '06 FIORE Column

F.I.O.R.E. Non-Club Club

"A Different Kind of Affair"

Nelson Sardelli at his best... performing!

The F.I.O.R.E. Club had there annual dinner/dance on Wednesday, December 20^th at the Take 1 Night Club, only this time is was a “Different Kind of Affair”, a formal afternoon luncheon. With over 100 attendees on hand, the gathering brought back memories of how Las Vegas use to be. That’s not to say that the new Las Vegas isn’t great, but it certainly is nice to experience the Nostalgic Las Vegas; with people dressed in tuxedos attending a dinner-show.

We, in our society have lost our sense of elegance and quality time, because of the pace that we are living in. So, perhaps it is time to get back to the basics, as in the case of historic downtown Las Vegas.

The F.I.O.R.E. Club has brought back the nostalgic Las Vegas, with some of the entertainers who helped make Las Vegas what it is today. Babe Pier for one, he is perhaps one of the top ten impressionists in the country, he opened for the late Red Foxx, and currently opens for Frankie Avalon. Babe practically mesmerizes his audience with his impressions of Kirk Douglas, Robert DeNiro, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis… and the list goes on. Nelson Sardelli, president of F.I.O.R.E. Club, sang some old standards and hosted the fun afternoon gala with his comedic yet classy personality. Other entertainers that performed included, Sony Holland, who was flown in from San Francisco as the main headliner, Ms. Holland sang songs from Cole Porter, Richard Rogers and Sammy Cahn. Also performing were vocalist and entertainer T-Fox, our newest "VCO Insider", he will be opening his dinner show January 10^th 2007, also Patricia Welch, Genevieve, and Sweet Louie of the Checkmates.

This and other venues like this is a real plus for downtown Las Vegas and the new entertainment district. We hope downtown continues this positive trend.

Note from VCO columnist Frank Marino: I enjoyed the hospitality and comradely of Nelson Sardelli, Conrad Villella, and all the other Presidents so much that I pledged to become a fellow president and look forward to the luncheons in the coming months where ever and why ever they may be (Even though I am Italian).