OK, we give up. When is a $25 bottle of Maker's Mark worth $550?

        When someone really, really wants it, that's when. And when it's one of only 25 in the world and signed by Bill Samuels, son of Maker's founder and now CEO and patron saint of bourbon lovers.

        Oh, and has a red, white and blue hand-dipped wax seal (instead of the traditional red) in memory of Sept. 11.

        It was a silent-auction item last week at Morton's 10th anniversary party, a do for about 100 regulars, suppliers and friends of the Fourth Street steakhouse who scarfed up beef tenderloin, shrimp, crab, lamb chops and imbibed at a plenty lavish open bar. Ups the bids, you know.

        Anyway, Mike Weisenberger — a she — wanted the Maker's enough to get in a bidding war with a couple of other guests, including Rob Samuels, Bill's son and another Maker's exec.

        The biggest spender that night was financial planner J.R. Rose, who eats at Morton's every Wednesday. He spent more than $3,000 on several items, including four Pete Rose-autographed baseballs, to give to favorite Morton's servers.

        The night made $5,500 for Sept. 11 relief efforts.

        All over: Whoa, here's something that hasn't happened in a million years: The Cincinnati Symphony hit Town & Country's Connoisseur's World column.

        Actually it was music director Paavo Jarvi who made it, thanks to what T&C calls his “zesty fare” that “sets ears tingling.”

        Here's something else unusual: The guy's out, about and meeting people. As opposed to a few previous directors who went out to meet people only when they could pry loose a donation.

        Next time he's out is a Party of Note fund-raiser at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club Dec. 2, complete with the 17-piece CCM Jazz Ensemble, the one Rick VanMatre directs, and a ton of jazzy numbers.

        Not something music directors typically turn out for, but Jarvi's different. And plenty charismatic.

        The beauty of this party is no one will stare daggers if you clap before the movement ends.

        Kathy DeLong, Barbara Lowrey, Rebecca Aicholtz and Mick Dennison are hosting at $75 a pop: 793-6469.

        Squash it: We're going to need a round of applause. Clap it for ex-Hyde Parker Tim Wyant.

        He's recently back from Australia and the World Men's Professional Squash Championships.

        A player since age 7, when local coach Don Mills got him involved, Wyant went on to Harvard, where he was four-time All-American and team captain for two years. He turned pro in 2000 and is today ranked No. 4 among U.S. squash players.

        Which should surprise no one: He comes from a family full of squash players. Older brother Jack played professionally after achieving All-American at Princeton. He's in marketing at P&G. Younger brother Chris plays varsity squash as a freshman at Yale. Older sister Missy was also All-American at Princeton and co-captain of her team.

        Tim, meanwhile, lives in England but gets back to town now and then. He spends most of his life on the road.

        Contact Jim Knippenberg by phone: 768-8513; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jknippenberg@enquirer.com.

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