Las Vegas Weekly

February 18, 2009 · 12:07 AM

LRBI cornerstone built on personal relationships — and banana cake

By John Katsilometes

Larry Ruvo addresses the crowd at the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute event yesterday afternoon.

Photo: Tiffany Brown

It felt like Cleveland today as a chilly wind swept through the heart of Las Vegas. But anyone who looked around at the assembled crowd at this afternoon’s announcement that the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is teaming with the acclaimed Cleveland Clinic in its quest to research and treat neurological diseases were certain they were in Vegas.

And it wasn’t because the LRBI building nearly abuts all the casinos on Fremont Street. It was an only-in-Vegas assemblage of humans.

Addressing the audience first was LRBI Chairman Larry Ruvo, the senior managing partner for one of the country’s most successful (and imposing, if you ever have a chance to tour the zillion-bottle facility) liquor distributorships in the nation, Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. Up next was Harry Reid, the pride of Searchlight (and the majority leader of the U.S. Senate). After that was noted veterinarian John Ensign (also a senator, a top-ranking Republican), Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman (famous former mob attorney), former Gov. Kenny Guinn (someone, I think, noted the absence of our current governor, Jim Gibbons) and Councilman Ricki Barlow (who presides over Ward 5, the LRBI site), one of the city’s brightest young politicians.

Ruvo’s mother, Angie, and his wife, Camille, were seated under the exposed beams and tall scaffolding of the under-construction facility. My boss, Brian Greenspun, who has been a friend of Ruvo’s since both were kids, was on hand, so wearing a tie was a smooth move by The Johnny.

Also dotting the crowd (in the order in which I spotted and recognized these folks) were former Las Vegas Art Museum director Libby Lumpkin; Cox Communications executive Steve Schorr; prominent Vegas attorney (and equally prominent Runnin’ Rebel fanatic) Frank Shreck; CityCenter President (and former World Series of Poker champ, and also a fine pool player) Bobby Baldwin; former regent and for years a prominent Las Vegan, Maddy Graves; Kenny Epstein, whose career as a casino executive dates to the 1950s with Jackie Gaughan; Ruvo’s right-hand man at Southern Wine, the reliably dapper Mike Severino; Rep. Dean Heller (showing up late puts even a sitting congressman off to the side); UNLV President David Ashley; veteran political operative Sig Rogich; and longtime Siegfried & Roy manager Bernie Yuman, whose famous duo will be at the Keep Memory Alive gala Feb. 28 (they also are the focus of an ABC 20/20 special scheduled for March 6).

The point here is not to flaunt my ability to recognize a high concentration of Vegas hotshots. But this remarkably diverse, high-achieving group of movers-slash-shakers is all friends, or at least friendly, with the Ruvos. When the Senate majority leader speaks longingly of dining at your family’s restaurant – which Reid did as he spoke of the city’s original Venetian on West Sahara Avenue (which featured one of the really great late-night menus in town, including a heavyweight lasagna dinner for $5.99) – you have made a mark. Or, when that senator’s across-the-aisle counterpart jokes that your mother’s banana cake is so good, it can be used to sway him to kick federal money your way, you also have made a mark. “It’s some of the best banana cake I’ve ever had,” said Ensign, who does seem like a guy who likes his banana cake. It’s just a “feel” thing.

The senator is an ardent Ruvo supporter, regardless, as was everyone on hand; it’s largely a personal affiliation. The LRBI’s Frank Gehry-designed building will be amazing, no doubt, and the medical facilities (especially with the Cleveland Clinic lending its name, influence and resources) will be peerless. But this institute was founded on some long-lasting Vegas friendships, some great Italian food and, yes, even banana cake.

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