The Crowd

B.W. Cook

Football great Deacon Jones has been making the social rounds in

Orange County lately. The big push is to create awareness and to raise

funds for the foundation in his name, which has been created to help

young people get on a proper path in life.

Jones and his foundation members have created a seven-year program

targeting ninth-grade youth and providing them with mentors, summer jobs

and apprenticeships, education on investing, and starting a portfolio as

well as the possibility to earn a full four-year college scholarship to

the university of their choice.

The latest social adventure to foster support for this program took

place last week in Costa Mesa as Tiffany and Co., South Coast Plaza,

opened its tony doors for an after-hours reception. Hosted by Tiffany’s

Jo Ellen Qualls, the midweek cocktail and dinner buffet soiree brought

out the local crowd in force, including more than a few sports

enthusiasts.

The foundation is planning a major June 11 gala to be held at the

Hyatt Regency, Irvine. In the crowd were Van Andrews, vice president of

Orange County-based Gateway computers, with his wife, Marilynn, chatting

with Jones’ wife, Elizabeth.

Alan Barkley, president of the Art Institute, was on hand with Robert

Becker and Nicolas Bires, both members of the Pacific Symphony board of

directors. Also in the crowd were Robert and Linda Dobbins, John Hewlett,

Herman and Lois Katz, Barbara King, Charlotte Lamprecht, Michael

Lansford, Edgar Miner, Ken Norton, Wilda Spalding, Gregg Taylor and Helen

Timpe, all there to support the foundation and its goal to instill hope

and opportunity in the minds of local youth in this community.

*

From instilling hope for youth to growing glorious buds for spring --

the Little Garden Club of Newport Beach is planning a “glorious

demonstration of floral arrangement by Valerie Arelt,” says Beacon Bay’s

Sally Crow. The presentation is set for May 11 at the Newport Harbor

Yacht Club.

Arelt will be coming from her home base in San Francisco for the

event. Since migrating to the Bay Area in 1969 from her native Kent,

England, Arelt has become a world-renowned floral designer specializing

in European arrangements. Her work has also made her one of the most

sought after wedding designers in America and around the world.

A partial list of Arelt clients includes Queen Elizabeth II and Prince

Phillip of England, Princess Margaret of England, and members of the

royal families of Spain and Sweden. She will be featured this fall on a

13-part television series on PBS titled, “The World of Flowers.”

Co-chairs of the Newport visit are Connie Grigsby and Barbara Tate. Bunny

Wilson is the president of the garden club.

For more information on the event, please contact Sally Crow at (949)

675-1137.

*

In the world of flowers and gardening, another name is well-known to

real enthusiasts. C.Z. Guest, socialite and business woman, darling of

the New York and Palm Beach set, stopped in at Neiman Marcus, Newport

Beach, recently to talk flora and the good life.

Guest is featured in a new best-selling book, “The Power of Style,” a

tome that chronicles 14 of the nation’s most stylish women, according to

Random House author Annette Tarpet. With a syndicated newspaper column on

gardening through the Copley News Service, Guest is read in some 350

newspapers around the nation each week.

Host of her own television show on the QVC Network, Guest is also the

author of a series of gardening books, the latest of which -- “Tiny Green

Thumbs” -- will be out in the fall. Joan Rivers says “C.Z. has the most

beautiful gardens I have ever seen.” Oscar de la Renta says, “She’s more

than a gardener, she is a true horticulturist.” The local crowd delighted

in her sense of elegant observation at a tea sponsored by the purveyor of

style, Neiman Marcus.

*

And, the local style police are anxiously awaiting the inaugural

Newport Beach Spring Antiques Show set for May 12 and 13 on Lido Isle.

The Lido Isle Women’s Club, led by Nancy Helm and an army of gorgeous

volunteers with taste, are working diligently to produce the classiest

and most fun event of its kind on the coast.

A major white tent will go up on and over San Remo Park on the island

to house the show. On May 11, stylish Sharon McKinnon will chair the

opening-night gala reception, underwritten by Bristol Farms. Herbalife

International is also supporting the party, providing gifts to opening

night antique and art snoopers.

Show chairs Marion Palley and Randa Phair have gathered an impressive

list of dealers to bring together a display to delight the most ardent

collector.

Proceeds from the show will benefit Childhelp USA and The Harvesters

Food Bank. Tickets to the opening-night black-tie fest begin at $100.

Show tickets are just $12 at the door, and $10 in advance. For more

information, call Karen Littlefair at (949) 675-6838.* B.W. COOK’S column

appears Thursdays and Saturdays.