Signed, Sealed: The Latest From The Royer Wars

OUT OF SIGHT: Remember back in November when former Seattle Mayor Charley Royer waxed sentimental and went public, indicating he and Rosanne were splitting up?

This is the latest in the Charley-Rosanne Wars. All their divorce records have been sealed by King County Superior Court Judge Lloyd Bever.

Bever said he sealed the records - which prevents public access to them - to "avoid controversy coming into the public eye" and to keep the issues between the two people.

MR. RIGHT? As the Royers unravel their marriage, Times advice columnist Jennifer James and her Significant Other are rumored to have married.

Jennifer wouldn't comment on whether or not it's true, or reveal the name of her beloved. Her friends say Jennifer and company have shared a home on Bainbridge Island for about a year.

"I've seen a whole new Jennifer. She seems serene, peaceful," one friend said.

If she has indeed married, it is the third time for her. She was divorced from Deputy Mayor Bob Royer in 1988 and once was SOs with former basketball superstar Bill Russell.

GOING AWAY: When is a going-away party not a going-away party? When one of the guests of honor doesn't show up. Several nights ago KIRO-TV news types threw a party for entertainment reporter John Procaccino, who's leaving to do a play on Broadway, and news director John Lippman, who has accepted a job in L.A.

Regarded as no Mr. Congeniality by staffers, Lippman was a party no-show.

"Inside Line's" Monica Hart, however, was there and so was her new fiance, attorney Sim Osborn. Osborn is a regular player in the Leukemia Society's "Celebrity Waiter" luncheons.

SAM OPENING, AGAIN: Speaking of social events, there is yet another Seattle Art Museum opening party, Feb. 1.

In invitational letters mailed last November, coordinator Susan Gates calls it "the most glamorous event in the grand opening season."

While she is trying to downplay the society element, donors of $100,000 or more, international guests and leading art collectors, dealers and museum directors are on the guest list, AND the journal of the elite beat, Town and Country magazine, is to be among a elect group of press.

The Four Seasons Olympic Hotel is the headquarters for out-of-town guests.

Total attending: between 450 and 500.

BING, OH: And on the subject of the art museum, a photo appearing to be of Bing Wright, son of SAM director Virginia and Bagley Wright, is among a gallery of folks in artist David Hockney's series of laser-printed, still video photos published in the last issue of Zoom, the trendy film publication.

Bing, who is listed by first name only, has been active in the New York arts world.

Also included in the photo layout are glass artist Dale Chihuly (whose name is misspelled in the magazine) and "Mrs. Dale" Chihuly.

Let's all pause a moment now to mourn the loss of this unfortunate woman's first name - even more unfortunate because Sylvia Peto and Dale Chihuly divorced a few months back. THE WRIGHT FOLKS: Bagley and Virginia are also listed in ARTNews as among the world's top 200 art collectors.

The publication's correspondents around the world interviewed art dealers, auctioneers, art historians, consultants, artists and collectors to compile the list.

The Wrights collect post-war European and American art.

ON CUE: In the "did you know?" category, KOMO's Cindi Rinehart is an ace pool player and will headline the Northwest Burn Foundation's benefit billiard tournament Feb. 2 at Jillian's Billiard Club.

Money raised at the event goes toward a variety of the foundation's programs. For information, call 361-9844.

As for Cindi, she cut her pool-playing teeth while working as a musician.

"I was a musician for seven years and all you do is play pool and play pinball."

THE BEST OF SEATTLE: When KING-FM's Brad Eaton had a Manhattan guest visit recently, she had only five hours and wanted to see the sights that were the real Seattle.

Eaton wisely took her to Pike Place Market and The Dog House restaurant, which, as we know, just got a new lease.

"It's such a kitschy place. There is nothing like it."

ANYTHING BUT KITSCH: Turning upscale now, Phoebe and Lucius Andrew III are hosting a reception in their Highlands home Jan. 25 to honor Dr. Melvyn Goldstein, a leading scholar of Tibetan language, history and culture.

No evening would be complete these days without the ubiquitous silent auction (featuring Central Asian artwork) to raise money for the International Snow Leopard Trust (affiliated with the Woodland Park Zoo snow leopard survival program).

AND ANOTHER NOTE: Manila-born Cecile Licad returns to Seattle for a concert as part of the Ladies Musical Club International Artist Series at Meany Theater. Let's just say she does with a piano what (pick your own favorite artistic genius here) does with a brush. Tickets, 728-6411.

About Town by Nancy Bartley appears Sunday and Monday in the Scene section of The Times.