There are members of the Ritz Carlton serving staff who are surely in rehab this week after working the “Dining with the Stars” lunch last Friday. Imagine the Blues Brothers and Laverne & Shirley joining James Stevens‘ staff to serve a meal.
It all started out so properly for the Family Gateway benefit at the Carlton. About 150 guests arrived and Ritz staff lined the entry with trays of wine, champagne and tea. With perfect posture in navy suits with white shirts and ties, the Ritz offered but never pushed. Not one hair was out of place. Heavens, no. Little did they know that soon their surroundings of finery would resemble a raucous Texas-OU bash.
In the meantime, the celebrity waiters were in a warm-up room comparing notes. They looked pretty calm and sedate.
Then Scott Murray took the podium and introduced the day’s lineup of celebrities (pictured front row from the left, Amy Vanderoef, Shaugh Niland, Amanda Mazey, Peyton Wright, Laurie Phillips, Kim Fischer, Shay Geyer and Vaughn Miller; back row from the left, John Niland, Marco Rivera, Russell Maryland and Brendan Higgins) — dazzling blondes, former and present jocks, television personalities and Laurie Phillips (Wade’s wife), who was all dressed up in diner waitress uniform. Why John Niland’s wife Shaughn even joined the group, just for the heck of it. The 150 guests gave a healthy cheer for each. So far it was following the norm for celebrity waiter events.
Then the waters parted and the stiff, upper lip Ritz staff carried on (pictured) despite the class clown celebrity recruits. Without a moment of shock or a hair out of place, the Ritz staff carried on as if Alec Guinness were watching.
But how crazy did it get? Words cannot adequately describe the mayhem that took place. Here’s just one photo of the escapades (pictured Scott Murray and Laurie Philips).
You’ll have to check the rest of the photos on MySweetCharity’s Photo Gallery.
But despite it all the Ritz staff kept a stiff upper lip for the lunch and probably hit the Rattlesnake Bar afterwards talking about
- Polo playing Vaughn riding Brendan on all fours around the dining room
- Marco dipping a lady into a deep kiss on stage (Okay, so it was his wife, but still. . .)
- John and Russell singing Islands in the Stream to each other? Yes, someone did offer to pay them more to stop singing.
- Kim Fischer rapping to Baby Bump with the rest of the gals dancing behind her. Definitely not something that Debbie Reynolds would be doing.
If you want to blame somebody for creating this mega-fun lunch and raising $55,000 for Family Gateway, you need to hunt down Luncheon Chair Kristi Bare last seen laughing herself silly.
Connie Boyd says
What a great event! Full of fun loving, caring people whose contributions will make a difference in the life of a child who is homeless. Love that Kristi Bare!
Samantha says
Lots of fun for a great cause!
Eleanor Latimer says
Having never been to a celebrity luncheon before, I had no idea what to expect. It was a hoot and so much fun. What a delightful way to raise money for a most worthy cause. I understand that the Ritz staff came up afterwards and thanked members of the Family Gateway for what they do. What a nice gesture!
Dena Miller says
I usually dread the boring hum drum luncheons that you attend because a friend is Chairing or on committee and it’s a great cause. But this was such a surprise! The BEST luncheon I’ve ever attended! and, if anyoen ahs a copy of a photo of my husband riding Brendan higgins, please send to me! Our kids school would get a kcik out of that!!!