The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

It was Mardi Gras madness in Costa Mesa as the Orangewood PALS joined

forces for a Saturday night swing. More than 250 guests converged upon

The Clubhouse restaurant at South Coast Plaza, turning the massive dining

room into a bit of New Orleans on the West Coast.

Costumed performers on stilts welcomed the crowd, issuing passports to

the wildly dressed revelers affording a tour of three “themed” rooms

within The Clubhouse, decorated to the hilt by group organizers. The

rooms were created in the moods of Rio, New Orleans and Venice to reflect

an around-the-world party, Mardi Gras style.

Skyy Vodka sponsored a martini bar in the Rio room, which also

featured a deejay in a Voodoo lounge setting complete with Tarot and palm

interpreters. St. John Home, an upscale furniture and home accessories

boutique, did the decor, and it was smashing. In the New Orleans room,

the Stonebridge Jazz Band wailed and a Hurricane bar served scrumptious

appetizers. Finally, the Venice room boasted faux gambling with casino

tables along with a wine bar and cigar lounge.

Orangewood PALS, an auxiliary of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation,

is comprised of young professionals dedicated to making a difference in

the lives of neglected and abused children in Orange County. The Mardi

Gras party raised funds and social awareness as part of an annual

networking agenda created by PALS to make a difference for the children

and for the more fortunate young adults able to give back.

* * * *

In another social arena involving children, costumes and dedicated

volunteers, Katherine Bentley of Los Angeles, longtime press advocate for

Las Floristas, will announce the upcoming 2002 Las Floristas ball. Las

Floristas is a support wing of children’s charities including Rancho Los

Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.

The massive event, set for April 19 at The California Club in Los

Angeles, is being organized by Newport’s Marlene Chumo working with event

chair Linda Cappello of Brentwood and Sue Talesnick of San Pedro. The

Southern California ladies will host the 19th Floral Headdress Ball under

the theme “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

For those unfamiliar with the spectacle, 10 floral designers will

create elaborate floral headdresses in keeping with the Shakespearean

theme and worn by Las Floristas members, known as mannequins. Another

Newport gal, Beth Lane, will serve as a mannequin liaison along with

Karen Fredericks of Brentwood. Lane has been a very dedicated and active

supporter of Las Floristas.

Others involved include Alice O’Neill Avery, Las Floristas President

Julie Pejsa and additional ball chairs Sandy Wessel and Jade Higgins,

both of Orange County. The ladies expect to raise more than $300,000 from

the event, making it one of the most significant children’s charity

fund-raisers on the Southern California social calendar. For more

information, call (310) 607-8495.

Photo captions

1. Liz Marek and Keri Dugan pal around at the Orangewood PALS Mardi

Gras fund-raiser.

2. Enjoying the Mardi Gras event were Bob Miller, Joy Sabado, Wendy

Drake, and Marty and Richard Dutch.

3. Janelle File, Christi Collier, Megan Newman and John Nolan at spent

time together at the Mardi Gras fund-raiser for Orangewood Children’s

Foundation.