|
|
| February 1st, 2007 |
December all wrapped up!
Sprinkles Cupcakes, Mamma Gina s appetizers, fashion and charity! Fashion Boutique Talulah G in Fashion Island kick started December s shopping frenzy with a launch party for their holiday showroom weekend event with 10 percent of proceeds benefiting Four Pearls of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation. Four Pearls is a brand new auxiliary of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation and OC s latest group of young philanthropic women raising money to develop a children s hospice program and enhance the quality of life of cancer patients and their families through financial assistance and guidance. Founded by Veronica Muth, Stephanie Muth, and Lauren Collins, Four Pearls evolved as a tribute to Andi Collins who passed away at the age of 16 from inflammatory breast cancer. Party goers such as Kristi McKnight, Stephanie Brown, Lindsay Nicholas, and Laguna Beach s Casey Reinhardt ran around socializing with local friends. Fashionable guests sipped on a unique cocktail created by multi award winning mixologist Kristin Woodward who s been featured in Vogue magazine and on Bravo. Using Absoult Kurant, she exclusively concocted a berry infused martini with cucumber and mint, naming it the Four Pearl martini. Pearls Laura Dubrish, Katrina Robson, and Kathryn Meeker as well as 200 other high fashion attendees helped raise funds by shop, shop, and shopping around the fully stocked boutique with over 20 of their favorite top designers. USC football coach Pete Carol s niece, Nichole Carol, was there in support by helping ladies try on her new sexy Tyler Rose bikini line. The night concluded with a highly awaited raffle for a ladies gift basket valued over $3000 but don t worry, male attendee Omar Khashen won and went home with the donated bikinis, jewelry, tops, and spa certificates. Luckily, for his mom and sister! These ladies mean serious business as they ve already raised almost half a million dollars within the first three months since inception to fulfill their mission.
Chanel, Cavalli, and Michael Kors at the 2006 Candlelight Concert; okay not the designers but definitely the dresses! Over 300 of Orange County s finest were entertained with music and comedy while sipping on martinis at the Orange County Performing Arts Center s 33rd annual Candlelight Concert fund raiser. Party goers such as Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom, James and Nancy Baldwin, and Ginger and Tony Allen didn t have to Tivo the late night show with a comedic performance by Jay Leno, who rolled out jokes at the new Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. After Mr. Leno, the usual VIPs crossed the pathway and enjoyed a change from their tiered seats to fine dining and dancing on the OCPAC main stage elegantly set as a candle-lit holiday wonderland. Seen at the Producer s Table looking dapper was Joel and Carol Farkas. After enjoying a three course meal and taking a peek at the Cartier gift bags, guests such as the Julia and George Argyros concluded the night twirling across the dance floor to a live band. Guests John Ginger and Jim and Vera Thompson are annual guests and enjoy the music and spirit the night illuminates. Kudos to Chair Sally Crockett and Co-Chair Laurie Hirth for the angelic evening that brought in $1.2 million to support the Center Fund. The Center Fund depends upon individuals, corporations, and foundations to help support all activities, including programming, education outreach, endowment, and facilities maintenance.
Don t worry all those lovely Christmas sweaters from the 80 s made a return at the 3rd annual Corniest Christmas Party hosted by Evan Slavik, Darrin Willard, Mike Brown, Gio Cordovas, and Vern Blackburn. Missing in action this year was Santa Claus and the usual sixth host, Chris Nelson. Party goers such as Chris Sanford and Eddie Prosser ran around meeting up with different friends seen in light bulb sweaters, wrapping paper, Jesus, and even as a rabbi; all in fun spirits that filled the Balboa Inn. My favorite costumes? Though difficult to dance with, RJ Miller and Dan Beck equally dressed up as life sized Christmas stockings. Try walking through the crowd dressed like that! USC quarterback John David Booty and long snapper Will Collins were in attendance but not in corny sweaters maybe they didn t want to take the ferry in costume like I had to? The fiesta even drew in South County-ers Kate Spies, Brennan Slavik, Mike Frank, Ben Messlebeck, and from LA. Who knows how they will top this year s with the 4th annual, but sure to be there will be annual attendees Ashley Smith, Jennifer Machin, and Caroline Todd. Fight I mean Party On!
Why was Newport s Sejour Bar and Restaurant packed with former National Champion football players and current stars? As the Evite said, First Jesus now Kevin, local long time friends gathered to celebrate Kevin Knutson s 25th birthday with tasty hors d ouevres, a hot DJ, and dancing. Bron Heussenstamm took a break from pro surf and Matt Grootegoed from pro football to come celebrate. Of course, girlfriend Hayley Bloomingdale and best friend Catherine Stephens were there enjoying the scene and looking as stylish as usual. Too bad our favorite bartender Mark Thornberry was missing but other party goers like Valerie Mauri, Sheila Mc Corkle, and Lindsay Shrader made rounds saying, Hi, to familiar faces and old friends such as Mike Gazzano.
Destination of the Day
How do you locate your friends that are sailing around the world for a year? Parasailing in Mexico! After a long night of discovering what the night life is like in this rare Mexican city, Zihuatanejo, Will Yale and I decided the best way to find our friends, Eric Reiter, Will Adler, Travers Adler, and Elliot DeYoung sailing on a 60-foot sailboat was to parasail. Up in the Mexican air above a cruise ship and a handful of locals, we started calling out our friend s names and sure enough, five minutes later, we made contact with our sailors and knew this was the beginning of an exciting New Years.
Zihuatanejo
Our parasailing adventure afforded us a view of the luxurious hotels overlooking the Zihuatanejo bay. What began as a small fishing village on Mexico s Pacific coastline (North of Acapulco, neighbors of Ixtapa), Zihuatanejo now boasts a few resort-styled hotels along the coast. Not many inhabitants speak English there, and it is a town filled with authentic restaurants and bars leaving you the feeling you are really on a Mexican vacation.
Once we were back on Playa La Ropa, the main beach, we met our friends for Pina Coladas and refreshing margaritas. It was the place to be for an afternoon cocktail and the sunset.
Capt. Reiter, as he likes to call himself, made the decision to sail around the world for over a year with First Mate and photographer, Will Adler. The Reiter family (owners of Driscoll s berries) has been sailing for many years to many exotic locations; so it was easy to justify traveling to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, when Capt. Reiter informed me he would be there for New Year s Eve.
New Year s
The best part of the trip happened before dinner when we visited a boat in the bay hosting a gathering of super friendly outgoing people, which invited other boaters for cocktails and appetizers. New Year s in Zihuatanejo was a kick after a delicious three-course meal and of course, salsa dancing, we almost forgot the countdown! The night was great company, wonderful weather, tons of dancing, and a fireworks display on the beach at midnight.
The End
The trip wasn t over, so the next day we received some advice from travelers coming from the very cold state of Minnesota. They were very excited to share with us the day trip they took to Barra de Potsi and La Barrita, a beach past Peta Han. The local 30 minute bus and 15 minute truck ride was not exactly what I expected, but worth the entertaining soccer match the boys got themselves into with the local men.
My experience in Zihuatanejo goes to show that branching out and trying a new destination is worthwhile. Nothing beats discovering new places and having new adventures. Best of luck to Capt. Reiter, First Mate Will Adler, Travers Adler, and Elliot DeYoung!
Whazzzuup
Congratulations to newly engaged couple Natalie Clark and Bart DeClark! This handsome couple met at Corona del Mar High School and have been together ever since! Ironic that Clark and DeClark have such similar last names. Guess it was meant to be