Downhill Partying

At Frothy Club Bud, Merry Medalists and A Scowling First Daughter

TURIN, Italy -- Before we have the privilege of chatting with presidential daughter Barbara Bush -- or, before we attempt to chat with her while she gives us a withering, Medusa-like stare -- we have the privilege of standing in the cold outside a place called Club Bud, where we have the privilege of shouting questions at a woman who is apparently well-known in Italy for being a showgirl.

Where would we be without the Olympic party scene? No doubt we'd be resting up for the endless bus rides that define the Olympic experience.

So many parties. On this particular night, Club Bud is celebrating the recent victories of the U.S. snowboarding team. In case one prefers a different sort of beer, there's also a Heineken house that constantly throws parties. There's a "surprise" bridal shower planned on another night for a member of the U.S. women's curling team; reporters receive advance notice in the form of press releases. There's a swanky, champagne-filled party at the National Museum of Cinema, which we realize is too posh for us when we are eating what we think is sorbet but turns out be raw meat.

There is even a party of sorts outside the main press center one night, when word comes that naked people have shown up.

They are two of PETA's "sexy 'Leopard Ladies,' " protesting fur, wearing only panties and cat ears. A whole bunch of adolescent Italian boys are very happy that night.

Club Bud promises to be a great time. We are promised luminaries such as Nancy Kerrigan and all the spontaneity of red-carpet interviews. We can't wait. And we are not disappointed. For example, right now outside the club on the red carpet is a really tall, really thin blond woman. Her handler says she's a "showgirl."

"She's pretty, but I don't care," says one of the cameramen, lowering his equipment.

There are also two Italian snowboarders, each sporting a rumpled, dorky look, each with an arm around a gargantuan model type wearing an impossibly short skirt. We ask the dorks if the lovely ladies are their girlfriends. Just as one of the dorks says yes, one of the model types is shaking her head.

No?

"Friends," says the other model type.

The best arrival, as always, is Shaun White, he of the shaggy red hair and laid-back personality, who won the men's snowboarding halfpipe on Sunday. His rather tense publicist tells him to wait right here , next to the red-carpeted stage, so he stands with his handlers, waiting to ascend the stairs, wearing that dopey-cute Shaun White grin.

He puts his hand in the pocket of his jacket.