Playhouse auction set for this weekend

-- Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- This Saturday a Japanese pagoda, a Victorian mansion and

an English cottage will all be auctioned and trundled off to the highest

bidder’s backyard.

HomeAid will sell 11 elaborately constructed playhouses this weekend at

its Project Playhouse, which raises money for HomeAid’s construction and

renovation of shelters for the homeless.

Anaheim Angels pitcher Chuck Finley and his wife, actress Tawny Kitaen,

will open this year’s event.

“Chuck and his wife participated in it last year,” said co-chair Jennifer

Henry. “Chuck signs autographs for the kids and adds a special feature to

the event.”

Henry added that last year, children were delighted to see the pitcher

and immediately lined up to meet him.

“The second he walked into the event, they were pulling on his

coattails,” said Henry.

The annual event has raised more than $1.2 million. In previous years,

some playhouses have sold for as much as $38,000. Organizers are

expecting more than 1,200 people to attend.

Each playhouse took four to six weeks to build and were constructed by

different companies, including several custom home builders.

The playhouses will be on display at Fashion Island until Oct. 31, but

after Saturday, there will no longer be any guided tours.

FYI

WHAT: Project Playhouse Auction

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 16

TIME: Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the auction will begin at

7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Neiman Marcus Courtyard at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.

Fashion Island is at Pacific Coast Highway and Jamboree Road.