A Packed Soiree With Petit Fours

L.A.’s French community came out en masse Monday for the West Coast premiere of “The Dinner Game�--the latest comic farce by writer-director Francis Veber (1, left). In fact, so many people showed up at Laemmle’s Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills that not everyone made it in. Good news for those who were turned away: The film opens Friday at five area theaters. Veber, best known to American audiences as co-writer of the 1978 gender-bender “La Cage Aux Folles,� introduced the screening, which was followed by a reception at the Beverly Hills home of Guy Yelda, the French consul general (1, right), that featured (quelle surprise) mini quiches and petit fours.

*

Brad Korzen (2), a natty George Stephanopoulos look-alike, hosted a lively cocktail party Friday at his recently renovated Avalon Hotel (nee the Beverly Carlton) in Beverly Hills. The moderately priced hotel is already a favorite with hip fashion designers--Randolph Duke used several suites to dress his celebrity clients for this year’s Academy Awards. It was no surprise that the crowd was dotted with local design stars like Trina Turk, Estevan Ramos and Nabeel Jaber (whose sole male model for his new line is rocker Dave Navarro).

The hotel’s new look, created by Kelly Wearstler (2), is a study in Japanese-style simplicity. “It’s all about celery and periwinkle,� one observer said of the color scheme, although another noted that “the bathroom doors are a little ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.’ �

Apple martinis were the drink of choice among attendees, who included L.A. night-life mavens Belissa Cohen and Lisa Derrick.

*

Outside the Egyptian in Hollywood, former Batman Adam West (3) enjoyed some time with the beauty queens of “Drop Dead Gorgeous� at the film’s premiere.