Styler Davidsown, recall, is the Big Pig Gig's multipig creation that mimics Fountain Square. It has been standing in the Westin's atrium, but had to vacate earlier this month.

        Owners Jan Brown Checco and husband Gerald spent weeks trying to find a home where Styler would be accessible to the public but protected from the elements.

        And they have: It will stand on the L&N Pedestrian Bridge, probably in 2002. Architects are working on a dome to protect it from the worst of the elements.

        For the moment, it's in storage, driven there by none other than Ron Hitzler, Shriners Burns Hospital director. He also lent the truck to move it.

        The deal came about when Shari Einsel, director of the Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Association, put Checco in touch with Wally Pagan, Southbank Partners president and the bridge's developer.

        The really cool thing about this whole affair, Checco says, is “I have met so many great people during this search. It will certainly lead to more good things.”

Benjamin

        Party scene: Whew. What a stylish — and musical — way to kick off the holidays! Referring here to a Queen City Club dinner party for 120 tossed by energetic arts supporter Sylvia Benjamin.

        Glittery, glittery crowd, all done up in black tie and beaded ball gowns, including Oscar and Yvonne Robertson, educator Merri Gaither Smith, former councilwoman Nell Surber, arts supporters Lib Stone, Jack and Barbara Hahn, Phyllis Weston and heaven knows who else.

        Oh, and a batch of show tunes from cabaret singer Lori Lee and CCM students Angel Reda, Eric Santagata and Kristi Villani, all way too talented to be legal, with accompaniment from Daniel Chow and Doug Schmutte.

        They did a lot of Guys and Dolls, and there's a reason: Benjamin was in the show here with Gene Nelson and Jerry Orbach at the Shubert in 1959.

        Not just in it, but “a gasser as Salvation Army General Cartwright,” one review said.

        Gasser. Like her party.

        Monochromatic: Elsewhere on the party circuit, tons of people are scrambling, digging through closets looking for black and white party clothes.

        That's because Bravo, the Cincinnati Ballet support group, has retooled its annual Nutcracker Ball into a re-creation of Truman Capote's famous 1966 Black and White Dinner Dance, where everyone wore black and white. Including masks.

        So what Bravo did was send event designer Joe Rigotti, ever ready to push the envelope, to the Hyatt to come as close as he could to re-creating the feel of New York's Plaza Hotel that night 35 years ago. Even the menu has a, uh, different look.

        Campy? Outrageous? Surprising? You got it.

        Anyway, for info on the $150-a-head party, call 621-5219.

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

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