The Crowd:

The beautiful blonde Lynn Hackman, who is as nice as she is pretty, married the honorable Ed Selich, mayor of Newport Beach, in a family ceremony at the Corona del Mar Community Congregational Church, presided over by the Rev. Chip Fisher on July 11.

The wedding party boarded a yacht in the harbor and cruised to the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a reception. Hackman was resplendent in a full-length satin gown overlaid with cream-colored champagne lace. She carried a bouquet of orchids, peonies and lilies. As their yacht arrived at the club, flying between the outriggers a banner read, “Just Married.” Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served on the waterfront terrace as a steel drum band set the mood. Dinner followed in the club dining room featuring a Pacific Rim feast of teriyaki grilled mahi-mahi.

Selich is serving his second term as mayor of Newport and previously served for 10 years as a planning commissioner. Additionally, he has represented District 5 on the City Council since 2005 and will continue to serve until 2012. Hackman recently completed her second term as president of the Pacific Symphony League. She is active in numerous local nonprofits. The couple will honeymoon in Turkey and Greece later this year and will reside in Newport Beach.

The 2009 SeaChange summer party on behalf of Oceana is set for Aug. 22 at the Cahill estate in Laguna Beach. Chairwoman Valarie Whiting, dedicated Oceana supporter, will commit her time and talent to the second annual event that raises significant funds for international ocean conservation. Actor Ted Danson will serve as honorary chairman this summer and will be joined by a large contingent of celebrity support including the recent announcement that actress Glenn Close will be honored at the SeaChange event.

The summer party promises to be one of the major summer gatherings on the Orange Coast. Kiplinger Magazine has named Oceana “One of only 20 environmental organizations that deserves your dollars.” For party information and tickets, call Juliana Stein at (202) 467-1906 or go to www.seachangesummer party.org.

Some of Orange County’s most celebrated chefs will join together Wednesday for “Cooking for a Cause.” The Orange County Wine and Food Center in Costa Mesa will be the setting for the cooking extravaganza featuring demonstrations of the new trends in international cuisine. Participating chefs include Art Gonzales, from McKenna’s On The Bay, Adam Navidi, from Adam Navidi Catering, David Slay, from Park Avenue and Paul Squicciarini from the Wine and Food Center. Guests participating in the demonstration will be treated to fabulous food with proceeds supporting a variety of causes including Culinary Action Direct, Miracles for Kids, Share Our Selves, the Art Institute of California and Newport Harbor High School culinary classes. The evening starts with a gourmet wine and cheese reception. Tickets are $65 and may be purchased at www.great-taste.net.

Earlier this season a very special event unfolded sponsored by the priests of St. Michael’s Abbey in Trabuco Canyon. The Fathers of St. Michael’s created a journey supported by a contingent of Newport-Mesa society. The Norbertine Fathers of the Abbey produced an exhibition labeled “Captured Emotions: Baroque Painting in Bologna 1575-1725,” which was featured at the Getty Museum. The day at the Getty took the crowd behind the scenes for a tour of the museum and a private peek at medieval manuscripts including the 12th century Steinfeld Missal, which came from the Norbertine Abby of Steinfeld.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.