Dining to fill starving artists’ tummies

B.W. COOK

A sophisticated evening at Newport Coast’s Pelican Hill raised

$450,000 for the Orange County Museum of Art. The funds will be

allocated in support of exhibitions and educational programs.

Chaired by Jennifer Segerstrom and Jennifer Van Bergh, the

black-tie dinner event was held in a white tent overlooking the

Pacific and attracted 300 generous contemporary-art patrons. The

fundraiser was produced by Best Events of Los Angeles.

As guests arrived on a balmy Saturday evening, a champagne

reception awaited the glitterati on the massive lawn. Veuve

Clicquot-Ponsardin flowed as white-gloved waiters passed with

fabulous hors d’ oeuvres. Models paraded fashions by Fendi as guests

sampled caviar at a Tsar Nicoulai caviar bar.

If that wasn’t enough glitter and glamour, the well-dressed women

were treated to an opportunity to try on pearl jewelry from an

exclusive international purveyor. It was all about the good life on

the Orange Coast.

The theme of the evening was “Hollywood Chic.” Designers draped

white chiffon on the tent’s ceiling and walls, and adorned the space

with an abundance of long-stemmed white lilies bundled with stems of

dogwood.

Powder blue carpeting was rolled in for the occasion, replacing

the usual black floor of the tent.

As in years past, the evening was dedicated to an artist. This

year, Dennis Hopper was honored, with many displays of his work.

“Hopper’s early photographic work comments candidly on his

surroundings moving between the Hollywood film and music scenes, and

the burgeoning art world, always with a camera in hand,” commented

the museum’s Kelly Dickson in a written statement. “For over 50

years, Hopper’s critically acclaimed film and art work has challenged

conventions, explored new expressive possibilities and charted a

highly influential course for successive generations.”

The first dinner course of Brandywine heirloom tomatoes with

medallions of poached lobster set the tone for the quality of food.

Enjoying the dinner service were Jim and Barbara Bishop, Debbie

Simon and Jim Lake, Victoria and Gilbert Le Vasseur, and “Wheel of

Fortune” letter turner Vanna White. Glamorous Judy Steele was in the

crowd, as was Charles and Twyla Martin, Marsha and Darrel Anderson,

Nancy and James Baldwin, and Suki and Randall McCardle.

A second course of roast Canadian guinea hen preceded a main

entree of vintage grilled beef tenderloin. For dessert, the Four

Seasons’ catering staff served a praline mousse and lemon custard

with almond crunch. Table-hopping was in full force.

Newport car dealer Malcolm Phillips and wife Carmella mingled with

Stephanie and Jeff Gehl, Eve Kornyei, Sally Crockett, Cerise Feeley,

Madeline and Len Zuckerman, Jill and Larry Tucker, Lesley and Alan

Beyer, Joyce and Tom Tucker, and one of the best-dressed women on the

coast in Sandi Simon with husband Ron.

The prominent and philanthropic Merage family was front and

center. Greg Merage, with his pretty girlfriend Loren Jolliffe,

shared dinner with distinguished doctors Ralph and Katherine Cygan.

Dedicated art patrons Peggy and Robert Sprague joined Robert and

Randy Baird, Christine and Jeff Masonek, Michele and Paul Janvas, and

South Coast Plaza executive Kathryn Glassmyer and her date Tony Cenci

for an elegant evening on behalf of art in Newport Beach.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.