The Crowd

B.W. Cook

The month of March surely belongs to the Assistance League of

Newport-Mesa. Actually, the cities have joined forces to make March 31

Assistance League Day, with proclamations expected from Mayor John Noyes

of Newport Beach and Mayor Gary Monahan of Costa Mesa.

The mayors will recognize 60 years of volunteer service to the

communities by area members. The Assistance League is the longest-serving

charitable organization in the Newport-Mesa community.

Three major events are slated for the month. First, the Assisteens

Auxiliary of the Newport-Mesa League is will throw a major fashion show

at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Island on March 26. The auxiliary will call the

presentation “A Star Is Born,” fitting since the show will debut on Oscar

night.

The stars of the Assistance League runway will be good-looking kids

from local schools who have volunteered to model Bloomingdale’s fashions

on behalf of the Assistance League. Funds raised will benefit Assistance

League programs.

The event is in the capable hands of chairs Julie Dill and Terry

Duffield, with the all-important fashion coordination being handled with

style by the sister act of beauties Robin Sanders and Janet Terrell. By

the way, they are both even more beautiful on the inside.

Bloomies General Manager Kathryn McDonnell and her staff members

Christina Cox and Sarah Davenport are pulling out all stops to make the

evening extra special. And to add to the first-class presentation, The

Ritz, The Four Seasons, Pasta Bravo, El Torito Grill and Haagen Dazs ice

cream will underwrite the food.

Good food, great fashion, super kids -- what more could you ask?

Tickets are available. Call Sani Luebke at (949) 721-5758 for more

information.

On March 31, two blockbuster events are planned to honor the league on

its special day of recognition. An anniversary luncheon is planned for an

expected 600 guests at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club.

The event will feature guest speaker Julie Nixon Eisenhower, and funds

raised will benefit the Assistance League’s Children’s Dental Health

Center, The Scholarship Program, Operation School Bell and Kids On The

Block.

The afternoon with Nixon-Eisenhower is being produced by the Las

Reinas and Virginia Castle auxiliaries of the league. Throughout the

evening, a gala black-tie ball will unfold in the spectacular ocean-view

ballroom of the new Clubhouse at Pelican Hill.

Organizers are calling the fest the “Diamond Jubilee Ball,” and they

are expecting a chic gathering of 250 locals in black tie to dance the

night away in honor of the Assistance League.

For more information on both the luncheon and the ball, call Mary Fox

at (949) 644 2482.

Tonight, two very special events unfold for very good causes. In Costa

Mesa, Tiffany and Co. at South Coast Plaza opens its doors after hours to

support the Art Institute of Southern California as the 26th annual

“Color It Orange” juried student art exhibit goes on display.

Tiffany and Co. has participated in the judging for nearly the past

decade. The company, known for design and artistry, is proud to award the

ninth annual Tiffany Selection Award in the “three-dimension” category of

offerings.

Tiffany’s Todd Mangiafico will judge for the company, with winning

compositions being showcased in the store windows at South Coast Plaza

through the end of March. All participating student artists come from

area public and private schools, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.

The in-store cocktail reception will honor students, teachers and local

patrons of the Art Institute.

On the water in Newport Beach, elegant hostess Jeanette Segerstrom

opens her bayfront estate to welcome patrons supporting the Southern

California Children’s Chorus.

The sunset cocktail reception on her waterfront terrace is expected to

attract several hundred locals in support of the music programs of the

chorus and the excellent social and community skills instilled in the

musical participants as well.

A sunset wine tasting will be featured, with proceeds from the $45 per

person ticket benefiting the chorus. Segerstrom’s daughter, Sandy

Segerstrom Daniels, will join her mother for the reception in honor of

her daughter, a member of the chorus.

A musical performance by the group is set for 7 p.m. For last-minute

ticket information, and for more background on the chorus, please call

publicist Madeline Zuckerman at (949) 476-9009.B.W. COOK’S column appears

every Thursday and Saturday.