HO, HO, OH NO!

ÝÝDRATS, itís December; shopping, caroling, parties, some more shopping, and partying. Itís a great time of year. All we need is some miserable weather and it could be like we lived back east. I recently ventured eastward to visit New York for a little shopping, dining, and ìbeing a typical touristî weekend. I left wondering why I just didnít ride my scooter to Fashion Island or South Coast Plaza, stay in bed, watch the Today show from Rockefeller Center and grab a taco instead of a $15 corned beef sandwich from an over-crowded elbow to elbow, Carnegie Deli. While splashing my way down Madison Avenue, I ran into Hannah Skjonsby, Jill Tucker, and Caroline Davenport. Seems they had the same idea, a little early Christmas shopping, Big Apple style. Trying to find the USC football game on television was a monumental undertaking. You havenít lived until you have had the joy of viewing the Trojans on a 30-foot big screen at the ESPN Sports Zone in Times Square at 1 a.m. Newport locals Joe DeComa and Mark LarsonÝlooked energized on the sidelines, especially at 10 timeís their normal size.

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WHOíS THE BOSS

ÝÝI recently made my way to the re-opening celebration party of Garyís, Fashion Island newly expanded Hugo Boss department and quite a celebration it was. The store was packed with very fashion conscious and fashion forward attendees working their way around the martini bars and trays of nibbles. Outside, an enormous runway was constructed and featured young good looking well-built models. NOTE: check out the two models in the picture; now you know what I mean! Mingling among the racks of designer digs were Dick Braeger, John and Ursula Braeger, Marion and Lulu Halfacre, Steve and Catherine Ramonofsky, Jordan and Beth Otterbein, John and Anne Wortmann, Nancy Green, and Arlen Flam.

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PALAPOLOOZAÝ

ÝÝPALSí ìProviding Assistance, Love and Supportî was formed in 1996 as an auxiliary to Orangewood Childrenís Foundation. Since its inception, besides the multitude of hours these volunteers put in, PALS has some of the finest fundraisers in town.

ÝÝThe 2nd Annual Orangewood/PALS Palapolooza was held at the legendary Tiki Hut. You know, that place youíve heard about and the joint that most of your friends have been invited to at least once for one of its infamous soirees. Support a good cause and you too may end up there. Just ask the intimate group of 100-plus that showed up for cocktails and snacks recently to learn about all the great things that PALS does and how easy it is to get involved. Co-chairs of the Board of Directors, Marty Dutch and Kim Miller, along with Leslee George Perez organized the eveningís festivities that included a live performance by the Nomads Surf Band, Mexican munchies from ìThe Ranchî and just one heck of a bunch of fun people. Milling around food and games was Julie Miller, Kirk and Julie Hefner, Keri Dugan, Wendy Drake, Brad Harper, Keith Bohr, David and Kelly Emmes, Kirk and Julie Norton, David Willke, Jean Marshall, Andre Mayer and John ìJTî Tenaglia.

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CRUISINí FOR A CURE

ÝÝThe 7th Annual Crui siní for a Cure was an overwhelming success with over 3,400 vehicles and almost 25,000 spectators jamming theÝ

Orange County Fairgrounds on a recent weekend with all the proceeds goin?g to the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center. Nearly 1,000 men were tested during the event with 95 men potentially saved from this deadly disease and they will be back next year to enjoy the show and be added to the ìpicturesî of survivors. We men tend to figure, ìit wonít happen to meî or ìwell, Iím busy now, but Iíll check into it later.î Later could be too late. After all, donít we regularly do tune ups and other precautionary work on our cars in the hope of preventing major repairs later? Your body deserves no less. And the truth is, the testing is painless, not embarrassing, and could save your life.

FIGHT ON!

ÝÝA true American pastime; tailgating, on a chilly fall afternoon, bundled up with gloves and scarves to fend off the cold, biting wind as you make your way to your alma mater in hopes of a victory. Whoops, wrong coast, meant to say a warm sunny fall afternoon wearing your favorite flip flops and Izod shirt, sipping a cold brewski on the lawn at the Coliseum, waiting for the Trojans to beat up on their next opponent. ÝThatís the California style tailgating we all love and live for. Weíre back again this season and nobody does tailgate better than the crew that hosts the FIGHT ON! Truck each home game during the past 5 seasons. These 15 guys, including Mark Larson, John Salmon, Mike Gottlieb, John Hagestad, Mark Whitfield, Barron Ressler, and the Sarkisian brothers, just to name a few, have become synonymous with generosity, graciousness, and frivolity. Towing a 20-foot long Texas-born BBQ, the full-time crew of six head up the 405 in the wee hours of the morning, usually arriving before 5 a.m., then spend the next several hours setting up tents, chairs, the multitudes of flat screen TVís and enough food and drinks to feed the stadium. Football fans enjoying the festivities include Duffy and Terry Duffield, Cory and Lisa Alder, Mac Shattuck with Reon Roski, Clyde and Susie Stauff, John and Cindi Rogers, Tom and Katherine Spooner, Pat and Carol Ward and Justin Dedaux. Itís a tough ticket to get, so cozy up to one of the hosts and maybe you can get one of the coveted ìwristbandsî for a game next season.

WELCOME MAX RISTORANTE, NEWPORT BEACH

ÝÝI am not sure which was better, the tasty Italian food at the opening party of Max Ristorante in Newport Beach or the beautiful crowd that helped celebrate it! A bunch of Sound of Music members, and mostly gorgeous women like Devon Kile, Shelley Elam, Shawn Cunningham (chairing the famous spring fundraiser), Denice Tsujioka, Debbie Brown, and stunner Linda Lamitie, were among the chosen to sample proprietor Massimo Carroís native Positano, Italy, hospitality. You probably remember the old Capri Blu location, but now you need to check out the beautiful renovation that resembles the quaint eatery along the Amalfi coast, Max Positano. He has brought his culinary talent and modern Mediterranean cuisine from the Campania region of Italy to Newport Beach along with his Michelin-rated chef Giuseppe ìPepeî Stanzione from Salerno (just south of Positano) and an award-winning pizzaiolo, Alfonso Pisacane. You get the idea; itís a must and the new spot to be. Back to the action, Sound of Music Chapter of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, their official name, hosted Baccarat for the event and the jewels were a hit selling over $60,000 worth (Devon Kile was seen with multiply bags). Thanked for their donations were Baccarat General Manager Thomas Savage and Southern Wine & Spirits. Thanks as well to co-chairs Eve Kornyei, Pamela Lowry, and Irene Tomkinson, and some 100 supporters at the private soirÈe. Over $10,000 will benefit OCPAC and their music programs.