100 Again

Fund-raisers, social events, and birthday parties have become so common along the coast that they all seem to blend together and become unimportant. I personally want to stand up and applaud Mayor Don Webb, city manager Homer Bladau, and all the other city officials and volunteers that made this celebration truly memorable. At the risk of sounding a little bit Orange Coast snobby, this event had the feel of a locals only, small town affair. Obliviously the 91 express corridor to the beach was vacant and the oceanfront dwellers lifted their shades to let the post-summer sun fill their living spaces with the sounds of Sugar Ray, Dick Dale and the Del Tones, Common Sense, Billy Vera and the Beaters, and the multitude of other bands performing the musical riffs from mid-afternoon well into the evening.

Boo-Hoo

It is with great sadness that I must report the demise of what has become a Saturday morning ritual along our Coast. The corporate powers that be have decided to drive away the millions of dollars worth of cars that have gathered each weekend at Crystal Cove. This dedicated group of automotive aficionados would meet each Saturday morning at 7 a.m., line up at Starbucks or Pacific Whey to grab a little energy and nourishment, then proceed to spend the next two hours, chatting, bragging, and discussing the benefits of a Ferrari over a Lamborghini. My friend and restaurateur, Jeff Reuter, has stepped up and offered his parking lot at 3Thirty3 for a few of us diehards that want to stay local and show off our rides. Joining the inaugural outing were Bill Peterson (Renault Jolly), Don Christy, Jr. (1959 Eldorado Convertible), Damon Bennett (1965 Mustang), Lee West, Ron Newman (1947 Woody), Val Santos, Victor Avila (Black Bart, a custom Studebaker hot rod), Jay Meehan, Jerry Bartow with grandson, Lear, Steve and Kaysee Ferguson, Doug and Kirsten Rugg, and Chris Schwartz driving his recently restored Amphicar.

Quack-Quack

The Samuelis and their Anaheim Ducks recently hosted a very special event at The Cannery Restaurant in Newport Beach. Benefiting Duck Care, attendees were treated to food and wine parings scattered throughout the restaurant. The entire Ducks roster, coaches, and management attended and graciously mingled among the crowd who included Todd Fedoruk, Chris Pronger, Teemu Selanne, coach Randy Carlyle, general manager Brian Burke, and Tim Ryan. Ducks fans included Joe DeComa, Bob Miller, Nicole Kruse, and Stephanie and Pamela Byard.

Celebrity Operation

A few rumors are circulating around town pertaining to the dining climate of Coast Highway...of course, I am not at liberty to disclose all that I know, but a few hints may peak your curiosity...a very well-known landmark of Newport Beach will soon be operated by a group of very well-known celebrities, and another extremely visible location on PCH with a lot of windows on the bay is also rumored to have been purchased by a Las Vegas hotelier whose clumsiness recently poked a hole in a masterpiece. This part is not a rumor but an in-person sighting. Last evening, while doing our normal, every Friday, early dinner at 21 Oceanfront, a very unusual clientele began to filter in and fill up the prime table #8...imagine rock band Guns N Roses along with Dave Navarro (Rock Star: Supernova) joining proprietor Leo Gugasians daughter, Tamara, for dinner.

Eat, Eat, Eat....

Remember days when you couldnt find a good meal at a hotel or a department store. Well of course, hotel dineries have become legendary and now you can add a cocktail and chili to your Prada and Manolo shopping list. Mariposa, the modern and elegant restaurant at Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island, takes lunching to the next level. Retreat to a fine-dining atmosphere this holiday season with new innovative menu selections. Be among the first to experience Mariposas new holiday menu filled with exquisite entrees and delectable desserts. On any afternoon, the chic Bar on 3 is the ideal setting to sip a cocktail while savoring the prime rib chili with jalapeno-cheddar corn bread. Try the sugar plum dream or the gingerbread man martini; both will raise your holiday spirits. Add a touch of luxury to a girls lunch or simply make your office lunch hour more efficient with upscale take-out.

Other eatery news...I heard the Leatherbys Rouge Cafe in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is ready to open and entice us with Patinas magical touch.... Speaking of new restaurants, The Fairmonts new eatery Bambu has a private wine cellar that seats up to 60 guests, for those of us looking for that perfect holiday party place. I hear they still have plenty of openings for both lunch and dinner, since its a new best kept secret. I just discovered that Bloomies Cafe is still happening during construction with a divine menu and some good-looking shoppers. Especially if youre single, you might want to check it out during your holiday shopping. And last but not least, hot off the rumor press, a certain person associated with a landmark restaurant in Corona Del Mar has recently procured the well-seasoned Stag Bar at the Newport Pier with a total reincarnation slated to begin soon.

Shop, Shop, Shop

Besides eating and a few other things, my favorite pastime is definitely shopping and from what I understand, PCH will soon be the landing spot of some very high-end fashionable boutiques that we have all read about in People and US magazines. The Bel Mare Shops will soon begin to rise early next year at the corner of Dover and Coast Highway. From what I understand, AG Adriano Goldschmied (my favorite jeans), Robertson Blvds very own Lisa Kline, Lisa Kline Men (cant wait and for you guys that need it, a bunch of XXL), Lisa Kline Kids, New York-based Nancy Koltes At Home, and Maria Martin, from Arizona have already signed up. More great stuff and a few restaurants will also be added soon.

Speaking of shopping; one more bit of exciting news is that international-acclaimed jeweler Alfredo J. Molina acquired Black, Starr & Frost and is determined to bring the 196-year-old jewelry firm back to its original grandeur that included clients like the Vanderbuilt, Gug-genheim, and Carnegie families, movie stars, and royalty. I am sure I am suppose to be on that list!

Stay at Home Traveler

In my never ending, fruitless search to find a locale comparable to our home, I traveled east again to sample New Englands Newport Beach counterpart, Marthas Vineyard. Although it is a beautiful setting, its only utilized three to four months a year. I was able to do a little house shopping for my friend, Mac Shattuck, who is looking for a little summer getaway spot. I was amazed to find that most of these estates in the $3 million-and-above price range hadnt been touched or remodeled in more than 30 years. In fact, more amazing to me, very few homes on the vineyard had heating or insulation of any kind. Compared to the Hamptons, Marthas Vineyard is a friendlier environment, where people are gracious and real. While dining at the best restaurant in Edgartown, it features a chef/owner that was Napa trained and carried only California wines. We do live in paradise and during my travels its apparent the world wants to live here, too.

No Thorns on these Roses

Just to add to the fact that we do live in paradise, did you realize that four Rose Queens currently live in Newport Beach, two of whom are celebrating major anniversaries this year. Nancy Thorne Skinner will celebrate her 55th anniversary and Ann Mossberg Hall will celebrate her 50th Anniversary as a Rose Queen. Robin Carr Sanders (1975) and Ann Martin Wortmann (1976) also live in Newport Beach. All four are active in the Newport community.

Adios, Sayonara, Bye Bye...See ya next month