Tuesday, August 22, 2000
Practical jokesters return to payback
From our file marked Reasons Not To Leave When Your Practical Joke Victims Are Still Here. Like relentless jokers Rich Eiswerth, WGUC general manager, and wife Susan, Cincinnati Ballet PR director.
He does things like fill offices of vacationing staffers with mountains of packing peanuts. Or rig coworkers' computers to play the Star Wars theme every time they hit the W.
She does things like wrapping desks in Saran Wrap, making it impossible to work. Or dressing a staffer's Robbie Robot in something, uh, startling.
They breezed home from the Outer Banks last week and were horrified to find their Blue Ash lawn decorated for Christmas in trailer park chic — lighted snowmen, Santas, reindeer, angels, battered tinsel, lights.
Given their history, a zillion people could have done it, but he suspects 'GUC staffers because he found gaffer's tape, the stuff they use to tape down wires.
No one has fessed up, but at least one 'GUC-er was impressed: “He expects to come back and find his office trashed. But his lawn? On Pfeiffer Road? Great.”
Batter up: Hmmm. Nice to see Pete Rose made somebody's all-star team. Even if it is a cookie factory. And even if it means playing a bunch of kids.
Rose, see, is a member of the Chips Ahoy All-Star team, managed by Yogi Berra — as in it ain't over 'til it's over — and organized by New York Yankee Derek Jeter to play softball today for Make a Wish Foundation. Rose joins former Red Joe Morgan, strikeout kings Nolan Ryan and Bob Gibson.
They'll play winners of a contest wherein kids sent in entry forms for a random drawing. Among the four winners is 8-year-old Douglas Brewer of Hillsboro. He, parents and the three friends flew out Sunday.
Today, they play in Montclair, N.J. Then, win or lose, Jeter takes them to a Yankee's game before they fly home Wednesday.
Eat hearty: Meanwhile, on the benefit circuit, you hear it every year at this time — Gourmet Sensation is one of the best, what with 20 or so visiting chefs and some exotic wines.
Now comes proof in September's oh-so-august Bon Appetit. The magazine is dedicated to “Our Favorite Places.”
Sensation isn't mentioned, but two of the chefs here for the Sept. 9 gala are — Jean-Robert de Cavel of Maisonette and Tom Flemingof Dallas' Riviera.
They're two of the Top 10 Special Occasion Restaurants. Because, Appetit says, at Maisonette “each dish is a delicious work of art.” And at Fleming's Riviera you get “superbly crafted upscale Mediterranean food.”
At Sensation, Fleming will whip up bouillabaisse with Florida rock shrimp and Maine Scallops. De Cavel will do walleye with spinach crust and shiitakes.
They join such names as Kathy Cary of Lilly's in Louisville, Bob Waggoner of the Charleston Grill, locals Jimmy Gherardi of J's Fresh Seafood and Sean Kagy of the Palace.
Sensation is $175, benefiting Hospice to the tune of about $200,000 a year. 569-6075.
Knip's Eye View appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at (513) 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
