The Crowd:

In the twilight of her life, Vesta CurryVesta Curry, somewhere in her 80s, would come into my office regally dressed, usually wearing one of her famous trademark hats, and sit down in the chair in front of me.

“I’m here to proof the copy. Where do you want me to sit?” she would ask with glee.

Vesta loved the written word as much as she loved the performing arts, to which she dedicated her time, her passion and funds to support numerous cultural organizations in Orange County.

Recently, Vesta was memorialized at a very special event organizers called “Un Cabaret Et Des Chapeaux,” that featured an auction of many of her most elegant hats.

At the end of the luncheon event at the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel, Costa Mesa, featuring star Broadway performer Davis Gaines in concert, more than $50,000 was raised from the sale of some 130 hats from Vesta’s personal collection.

Funds raised were donated to two of her much-loved arts organizations, the Pacific Symphony and Founders Plus supporting the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Education Programs.

More than 250 people came together to celebrate Vesta’s memory at a party chaired by Jan Landstrom and Claire Burt.

The center’s Terry Dwyer was front and center commenting, “This is such a fitting tribute to Vesta. She was such a wonderful woman. Did you know that she always prepared cookies or some kind of dessert and brought it backstage for the musicians of the Pacific Symphony post concert?”

Dwyer continued, “Vesta would call me and apologize for not sending a larger donation for any particular cause or event that she was helping to support. Whether the gift was large or small, she never forgot.”

One of Orange County’s most visible philanthropists Elizabeth Stahr of Newport Beach seconded Dwyer’s sentiments sitting at her table enjoying lunch at the Westin. “Vesta always made and brought the cookies for the musicians. She never forgot, and no matter how much trouble it may have been, there she was without fanfare or recognition, doing her part.”

As guests dined on a luncheon of sun-dried tomato and spinach-stuffed chicken, runway models paraded, showing off Curry’s most dramatic hats.

South Coast Plaza retailers including Yves St. Laurent, Valentino, Fendi and Escada contributed fashions coordinated with Curry’s hats by stylist Debra Keillor.

Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Julia Argyros and a number of other generous women helped raise more than $10,000 in the live-hat bidding war that was surely one of the most entertaining auctions on the Orange Riviera this season, as the ladies outbid one another in pursuit of their most prized head wear.

Pacific Symphony president John Forsyte was on hand for the event, joining Vesta’s son Dr. Frank Curry paying tribute to the legacy of a woman with an enormous heart.

Davis Gaines, the star of “Phantom of the Opera” and other major Broadway productions, was one of Vesta’s favorite entertainers. He performed a selection of memorable Broadway tunes in an intimate concert setting to the great delight of the audience.

Spotted in the crowd were Susan Anderson, Corinne Black, Janet Curci, Joy Curry, Rosalie Delmonico, retired Daily Pilot columnist Vida Dean, and one of the major hat bidders Ishani Dhillon and her husband, Mickey Dhillon.

Also in the crowd were Catherine Emmi, the much-loved Shari and Harry Esayian, Reta and Gordon Fishman, Kay Fukunaga, center leader Mike Gordon and his charming wife, Ellie Gordon, Lynn Hackman with Newport Beach Mayor Ed Selich, Nadine Hall, Twyla Martin, Liz Merage, Sally Segerstrom and Elizabeth Segerstrom.

From fabulous hats to spectacular handbags, the social crowd met for lunch in Crystal Cove last week at the majestic Wallace Neff-inspired residence of David Conley overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The rambling Spanish mansion (on the market for about $12 million) was quite a backdrop for the collection of bags up for sale with proceeds benefiting The Sound of Music Chapter of the Guilds of The Performing Arts Center.

The luncheon was chaired with panache by the exceptionally beautiful brunette Linda Lamitie, Tracy Martin and Beth Hart. The three ladies worked with additional co-chairs Candace Dandeneau, Lisa Hallaian, and Donna Wright pulling together an incredible assortment of bags raising a ton of money for the center.

They called the party “It’s In The Bag” and it was the second annual bag luncheon produced by The Sound of Music gals.

Al fresco luncheon was served by Crème de la Crème as the ladies dined at pink-and-white clad tables adorned with fresh pink rose blossoms. Waiters passed pink Cosmopolitan cocktails and pink clouds billowed overhead in a cerulean blue sky.

In the pink were Fran Cashen, Eve Kornyei, Harriett Sandhu, Kathy Fleming, Judy Pedersen, Honeybee Hyatt, Mary Pon Sullivan, Danni Good, Lori Loftus, Patsy Marshall, Sarah Corrigan, and Newport “hostess with the mostess” Sally Crockett.

From hats to handbags to everything under the sun, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, will hold its spectacular rummage sale with a sneak preview from 3 to 8 p.m. beginning today followed by shopping Friday and Saturday.

All proceeds benefit charitable projects supported by the church in Orange County and around the world. For more information contact St. Andrew’s at (949) 574-2271.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.