THE CROWD

B.W. Cook

The magnificent Pelican Hill estate of Jim and Annamarie McGee was the

perfect location for an Islanders’ dinner reception on behalf of Laura’s

House, a shelter for battered women and children. The Islanders is a

charitable group working to support numerous children’s charities.

The gracious McGee family, including their three children, welcomed

more than 100 guests for a sunset dinner at their palatial residence

overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Islanders members and their guests strolled the grounds taking in the

inspirational view and sampling the excellent buffet dinner of freshly

prepared pastas with vegetables, chicken, beef and mushrooms, Caesar

salad and an antipasto display worthy of TV chef Emeril Lagassi’s best

effort.

Islanders co-founder Mary Ann Wells greeted friends including Fran

Mulvania, benefit chair for the upcoming Islanders’ Nov. 10 fashion show

and luncheon to be held at the posh new St. Regis Hotel at Monarch Beach.

That event will also benefit the work of Laura’s House.

In the crowd were Barbara Magness, Cerise Feeley, Patti Edwards, Mary

Ann and Len Miller, Marsha Orlin and Ann Van Ausdeln.

* * *

Susan and Henry Samueli opened their oceanfront estate in Corona del

Mar for the annual Opera Pacific Fashion Show and Luncheon this week. The

presentation is an advance taste of the imperial Russia-themed Opera Ball

being planned for December.

South Coast Plaza, under the direction of community relations

executive Billur Wallerich, staged what has become known as the most

dramatic fashion show of the fall social season. Exquisite models

displayed couture designs from Saks Fifth Avenue, Escada and Donna Karan

as guests enjoyed a luncheon catered by the Sun Dried Tomato Co.

The original fashion luncheon, set for Sept. 11, was canceled the hour

following the attack on America. The 300 meals were donated to Second

Harvest Food Bank, rentals were returned and the massive fashion show put

off. It all came together in tremendous good spirit this week under the

talented chairmanship of hostess Samueli and her co-chair Sandi Jackson.

On hand for the celebration were Martin G. Hubbard, executive director

of Opera Pacific, and his wife Margie who will co-chair the Opera Ball

with the very capable Janice Johnson.

John De Main, Opera Pacific’s artistic director, assisted Hubbard

escorting the models on the stage erected on the Samueli grounds.

A superb luncheon of grilled salmon, onion tarts and chopped salad was

enjoyed by underwriters and patrons including Donna Phelps, Pat Poss,

Joan Riach, Barbara Bowie, Suki McCardle, Joyce Parrish, Maralou

Harrington, Karen Hardin, Ruth and John Haberland, Carmela Du and LaDorna

and Bob Eichenberg.

* * *

Patrice Poidmore absolutely outdid herself chairing the recent fashion

luncheon for The Guilds of The Performing Arts Center. The event, held at

The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine, attracted a crowd of 400 Guild members

and guests for a fall fashion presentation by Nordstrom of South Coast

Plaza.

The elegant and erudite Poidmore introduced honored guests including

Gini and Ledge Hale, generous underwriters of the fashion show for five

seasons. This was Poidmore’s second year of producing the event, which

replaced “The Center of Fashion” six years ago as a fall fund-raiser for

The Guilds.

More than $50,000 was raised with able assistance from Guild

chairperson Gerri Goodreau, Rosemarie Kramer, Melanie West, Beverly

Sandleman and Marlene Short.

Poidmore, a busy marketing and fund-raising executive working for the

American Heart Assn., is also the mother of a 19-year-old daughter, Mia,

who attends UC San Diego. Poidmore also serves as a vice president of

special events for The Guilds of The Center.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.