Tilman Fertitta pulls in political power couple with gold machine

Leave it up to Landry' s CEO Tilman Fertitta to pull one out of the hat for the company's annual leadership conference. He did just that this week at his Golden Nugget in Las Vegas with a trio of powerhouse guest speakers that had the 800 GMs, regional VPs, officers and top-tier vendors mesmerized.

The polar-political couple Mary Matalin and James Carville were the first of the surprises, followed by John Paul DeJoria, founder of the wildly successful Paul Mitchell Systems hair care line and co-founder of Patron tequila.

As part of the week's activities, Fertitta unveiled Vegas' first Gold to go ATM machine. That's right, an ATM that dispenses gold bullion. Located in the Golden Nugget, it's only the second such machine in the country, with the first in the United States located in Town Center in Boca Raton, Fla. The very first nifty gold dispenser debuted at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, where else. A handful of other Gold to go machines, with prices updated every 10 minutes, are sprinkled around Europe.

Shake it up baby

That's what Legacy Community Health Services is expecting of singer/songwriter Chaka Khan when she rocks the ballroom at the Hilton Americas Houston Jan. 15 for the annual "Cabaret for a Cure." Gala chairs Lora and Dr. John Clemmons and honorary chairs Anita and Gerald Smith are counting on a lively crowd for this music-centric evening.

It's gonna be a party positive with honorees Kimberly and Frank DeLape, Imperial Sugar CEO John C. Sheptor and Brian Teichman taking bows. 

What's in a name?

Just ask the folks at the former United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Houston, which as of Jan. 1 was rebranded/renamed Easter Seals Greater Houston. 

The new moniker better fits the non-profit's mission of serving the needs of people with a variety of disabilities. As board president Katherine Taylor Dowdell said in a prepared statement, the organization founded 60 years ago to meet the needs of those with cerebral palsy "expanded in the 1950s to include adults and children with all other types of disabilities  . . . the time is right to change our name to Easter Seals to better reflect the full spectrum of our services."

Sight 'ems

Big-time defense attorney Rusty Hardin holding court at Midtown's new Piola restaurant where he and a table of 14 pals feasted on tasty Italian pizzas . . .

Former KHOU sports director Giff Nielsen and wife Wendy hosting voice of the Astros Milo Hamilton to dinner at Tony's . . .

Mary Donna Moceri, Sandra Porter, Regina Garcia, Candy Winter and Theresa Quartaro Smith having girl's-night-out dinner at Brenner’s on the Bayou.