THE CROWD:

Let’s hear it for the girls.

Last week 400 grown-up girls and their grown-up boys converged on the Island Hotel, Newport Beach for a “Strong, Smart and Bold” celebration on behalf of Girls Inc. of Orange County. Gianna and Dee Kerrison of Corona del Mar chaired the party working with Marta and Raj Bhathal serving as honorary chairs.

Girls Inc., a nonprofit agency, sponsors programs designed to assist young women get a leg up on life through education, counseling, job training and life lessons.

The organization, run by powerful local women including Elaine Levin, Marta Bhathal, Pam Policano, Gigi Werbin and Anne Bohn will reach out to some 4,500 girls in the O.C. this year.

Major sponsorship for the event came from Neiman Marcus and a host of supporting vendors. The black-tie evening featured guest speaker Barbara Guggenheim, recognized as one of the nation’s foremost art consultants.

Neiman Marcus hurricane in orange high heels Michaele Hall is busy helping to launch a new charity called “Junior Pearls.” The group, consisting of local high school girls has the mission of raising funds in support of The Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.

Recently, the young ladies held their inaugural reception at the Newport Coast residence of Lil Spitzer, whose daughter is among the young founders. Michaele comments, “It is so refreshing to see kids wanting to help other kids.”

The Pacific Club, Newport Beach was the setting for a meeting of The Pacific Art Foundation.

Organizers showcased eight artists represented by Sue Greenwood Fine Art including Robert La Duke, Scott Yeskel, Marianne Kole, Sally Chiu, Joseph Maruska, Deborah Davidson, Sherry Karver and Maurice Gray.

The exhibition was spearheaded by Geoff Le Plastrier, Viviane Browne, John Meindl, Leslie Mains Thompson and Fran Wittenberg Cashen, chair of the lively reception.

The Pacific Art Foundation finds its purpose in acquiring original California art as well as providing scholarship assistance to regional art students.

Members at large supporting the effort include Gerald Buck, Patricia Houston, Judith Swayne, Denise Cancellieri, Heather Klein and Judy Strauss to name only a few.

The world of art was the focus of a recent gathering at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach as the “Playhouse Women” assembled for a VIP reception and first look at the “California Biennial Exhibition.”

The Playhouse Women are a vibrant support wing of the much loved Laguna Playhouse. The special preview event featured a tour and comments from art curator Lauri Firstenberg.

The 2008 California Biennial is the latest exhibition by the local museum showcasing new developments in California Art, OCMA has presented this tradition for four decades. The 2008 showing includes works by some 50 California artists and is being presented at both the Newport Beach and South Coast Plaza locations.

Wednesday night in Costa Mesa was action-packed.

South Coast Plaza in conjunction with the Tourbillon Jewelry boutique, Omega Watches and Aston Martin motorcars welcomed VIP guests to a cocktail party followed by a screening of the new James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace.”

Don’t ask me what that title means, but if you want action this film is not to be missed. The cinematography is superb. The story is weak. But Omega watches and Aston Martin cars are surely co-stars right along with Daniel Craig who is a very believable Bond. Sort of.

It has been reported that multiple stuntmen were killed and or injured making this movie. That’s disgusting given that film fades today faster than yesterday’s Daily Pilot. That being said, I’m a Bond fan, may these films reinvent for years to come — without killing stuntmen, that is.

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