Under star sightings umbrella: Rihanna's dog gets pampered on Capitol Hill

When singer Rihanna checked in to the Alexis Hotel with a red toy poodle named Oliver, she asked where she could get her dog groomed. A hotel employee recommended Kristi's Grooming Co. on Capitol Hill, which reportedly stayed open late to accommodate the singer. Rihanna was apparently pleased with the recommendation — she left the hotel employee a personal thank-you note on his desk. ...

RAPPER KANYE WEST hit the Barneys New York store in downtown Seattle two days in a row last week, where he shopped enthusiastically in every department. Store employees described the self-loving celebrity as "very sweet" — especially after he returned to the store to give concert tickets to the salespeople who had helped him. The gift of Kanye: Priceless. ...

THE CRAB YOU'RE EATING at The Oceanaire Seafood Room is kind of famous. The restaurant made an unprecedented boatload purchase of Alaskan king crab from the Time Bandit, a fishing vessel featured on Discovery Channel's "The Deadliest Catch" (9 p.m. Tuesdays). And just to make things more interesting, the estimated 40,000 pounds of king crab clusters acquired by Oceanaire is personal for Chef Eric Donnelly — he was onboard the Time Bandit during its last catch of the season. ...

THE PONCHO GALA AUCTION turned 46 this year, and in keeping with the theme of "Nouveau Glam" featured its first ever best-dressed awards. Eve Alvord of Eve Alvord Theatre won the female category in a strapless silver gown with blue and orange overtones, and man-about-town JJ McKay took top male honors for his Dolce & Gabbana white dinner jacket and black tuxedo pants — although I'm partial to his leopard-print Roberto Cavallis. ...

TODAY IS EARTH DAY, and if you hurry you can recycle your empty Kiehl's containers in exchange for a free reusable canvas tote at the Kiehl's store in University Village, or pick up a free sapling tree at Macy's — because no holiday shall go observed without a consumer-related promotion. ...

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS ROUNDUP: Rapper Pharrell Williams dining at Elliott's Oyster House with a 10-person entourage. The group enjoyed their meal enough to return the next night to pick up a to-go order. Pharrell was also spotted at BOKA Kitchen + Bar eating a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, the perfect meal for a rainy Seattle day. ... "The Hills" star Brody Jenner, in town to see pal DJ Vice spin at Last Supper Club, having a boys' night out at Lucky Strike Lanes in Bellevue ... Comedians Drew Carey and Ryan Stiles eating and laughing together at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse ... Phil Donahue exiting an elevator at Hotel Deca in the U District ... Actor Ed Begley Jr. getting a haircut at Colman Building Barber Shop downtown, where he left a good tip.

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com