Dynamic Duo Have Recipe for Art of Dining Benefit

Power Shoot: A couple of city slickers Armanied to the teeth in perfectly cut Italian suits, sharing a laugh as they talk big biz .

Members of Fortune 500 mugging for a magazine cover? A Forbes 400 shoot?

Try Orange County’s own Sam Goldstein and Anwar Soliman promoting the benefit they have agreed to co-chair: the Newport Harbor Art Museum’s annual Art of Dining on May 3 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach.

In a recession, finding a business powerhouse--Goldstein is a successful private investor, Soliman is chairman and CEO of American Restaurant Group--to chair a benefit is not only tough; it’s almost impossible. There’s underwriting to worry about, auction items to be secured and tickets (these at a whopping $300 each) to hawk--a tall order in the best of times.

But Goldstein and Soliman have agreed to coordinate the dinner that will feature chefs from Los Angeles and New York and auction items that will range from a $5,000 gift certificate from Giorgio Armani to a dinner at Chanel in South Coast Plaza.

What made them do it? Soliman points a well-groomed finger at Goldstein. “ He’s doing all of the work,” he says.

Goldstein returns the compliment: “ He got Coca-Cola to help underwrite the event with a $25,000 donation,” he says.

They’re propelled by the desire to give something back. “It’s worthwhile,” says Goldstein, long a board member of the museum. “Nonprofits need benefits to stay alive. And benefits need donations.

“It’s not as bad out there as you might think. Corporations are still looking to get involved in the charity scene.

“There’s a natural marriage between retailing and nonprofits. People who participate on a volunteer basis all wear clothes, buy cars, drink and eat. They’re a vital part of the community. Retailers know that.”

A Night With E.T.: I felt sorry for Elizabeth Taylor last Thursday when she and husband Larry Fortensky rode a flower-bedecked carriage down Disneyland’s Main Street on the way to celebrate her 60th birthday.

Other than Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, not one party guest stood curbside to applaud her arrival. This was not the world-at-her-feet Elizabeth Taylor who floated up the Nile in “Cleopatra.” This was construction-worker-at-her-side Elizabeth looking a little forlorn in the Happiest Place on Earth.

True to her reputation, Elizabeth was late (exactly one 1 1/2 hours late) so her guests were already in Fantasyland, waiting patiently for her to join the party.

As she neared Snow White’s Castle, I asked her how it felt to be 60. Violet eyes gleaming, she replied: “Great! You should try it!”

Elizabeth’s friend Jane Withers was among the hundreds of party guests--who also included actor Richard Gere and super-model Cindy Crawford--and on Friday, during a luncheon at the Balboa Bay Club, Withers was bubbling with news of the party.

“There were so many people there,” gushed Withers, who, along with James Dean and Rock Hudson, appeared with Taylor in the movie “Giant.” “All dear friends. Earl Holliman and Dennis Hopper were there, too. We were all in ‘Giant’ together.”

Withers spent most of her time at the party schmoozing with Esther Williams, Roddy McDowall, Jackie Cooper and Robert Stack, she said. “Great friends.”

The party’s highlight was watching Taylor carve a slice of her chocolate birthday cake. “We toasted her with champagne and then each of us received individual birthday cakes decorated with E.T., or Liz is 60,” Withers said. “It was wonderful.”

Round Table West: Withers was at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach to attend the monthly meeting of Round Table West, a books and authors luncheon that had actor/sculptor George Montgomery, futurist Ray Bradbury and Aissa Wayne on its roster.

During luncheon, the three authors were besieged by autograph hounds, with Wayne--daughter of the late John Wayne--getting the lion’s share. (Later, the author of “John Wayne, My Father” would tell the crowd: “I’ve been on a tour around the country promoting my book. But speaking here in my hometown is the hardest.”)

During lunch, Montgomery--author of “The George Montgomery Years”--told Aissa when he first rode into Tinseltown he had doubled for John Wayne.

Bradbury, author of “Yestermorrow--Obvious Answers to Impossible Futures,” cracked up the crowd with a stream of irreverent quips. Among them: “Today, city planners don’t know what they’re doing. For example, Hollywood is a disaster because the Chamber of Commerce is in charge. They’re stupid--all those people. And you can quote me!”

Tidbits: For the first time in South Coast Repertory’s history, a couple who are theater subscribers and theater donors--Barbara and Bill Roberts--have come forward with an individual underwriting gift. Without their donation of $25,000, theater lovers might not have been able to enjoy the opening on Friday night of “The Philadelphia Story” by Philip Barry. The couple have been named the production’s honorary producers. . . .

Members of Opera Pacific’s prestigious Impresario Circle were feted at the new Spa at the Center after watching the opening of “Samson et Dalila” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center last Wednesday night. The post-performance bash marked the first time the new Spa at the Center was used as a party place. Spa executives didn’t miss the chance to market the opera buffs for Spa memberships. Several staff members were on hand to show guests--all of them in opera finery--how to use the equipment, bench presses and all. All the better to think about working off the calorie-rich reception tidbits, which included fruit tarts, ricotta cheese-filled cannoli and tuxedo strawberries (berries dipped in white and dark chocolate). Henry and Renee Segerstrom, Floss and Ed Schumacher and Jolene and Richard Engel were among guests. . . .

Margaret Anne Inman, founder of the Providence Speech and Hearing Center, received the prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville Award from United Way of Orange County during a dinner on Thursday at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. . . .

Carl Karcher and Marion Knott received Cypress College’s Americana Award at a banquet on Saturday at the Disneyland Hotel. Stan Pawlowski and Ron Dominquez were event co-chairmen. . . .