The Crowd

B.W. Cook

Newport’s Marsha Orlin reports that the finishing touches are in place

for the upcoming Feb. 5 dinner honoring Twyla and Chuck Martin at the

Newport Beach Marriott Hotel, Fashion Island. The event is being produced

by the Islanders, a charitable organization with a roster of local gals

supporting the Orange County Museum of Art.

Led by Orlin, who serves as the current Islanders president, the group is

dedicating proceeds from the Martin dinner tochildren’s programs at the

museum.

Roseanne Levan and Joan Riach will chair the evening, being billed as

Cirque 2000, featuring amazing entertainment based on the acrobatic

sensations of the circus performers who will grace the party with their

skill. The Martins have been significant advocates of the museum, helping

to raise major funds through various volunteer positions each of them has

held.

Involved in the tribute dinner are Islanders Shari Esayian, Rosalie

Friedman, Ollie Hill, Patricia Lane, Jennifer Spindler and Jodi

Greenbaum.

Leeza Gibbons, co-star of the long-running syndicated television show

“Entertainment Tonight” and host of her own TV talk show, as well, will

be in town Feb. 2 to speak at the American Heart Association luncheon at

the Four Seasons Hotel, Newport Beach.

The event is only the second annual event for the association, being

billed as “Women With Heart.” Mistress of ceremonies for the afternoon

will be the dynamic Judie Argyros, with opening remarks to come from

Julie Thompson-Dobkin.

The theme of the event will be “taking wellness to heart” as more and

more American women as well as men are faced with serious heart problems.

For more information, call (949) 856-3555.

Everyone was seeing orange last week right here in the county of Orange

as the fabulous Hermes boutique at South Coast Plaza keep its doors open

after hours for a midweek cocktail reception featuring a display of

important timepieces.

The corporate color for Hermes is of course an elegant shade of orange,

and it was visible throughout the boutique as guests of Court Appointed

Special Advocates descended upon the boutique to support their

organization and Hermes for underwriting the reception.

In the crowd were Guillaume de Seynes-Hermes, president of the watch

division of the company, and the charming Alison Cottrell, managing

director of the local store.

CASA provides a voice for children who are involved in the court system

as a result of abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Lido’s bon vivant gentleman-about-town, Jerral Richards, reports that the

Men’s Patron Committee of the Fashionables supporting Chapman University

bonded for breakfast at the Pacific Club, Newport Beach, on Wednesday to

hear the latest economic reports from Chapman’s leader, Jim Doti, his

wife, Lynne Pierson Doti, professor of business administration and

economics, and Esmael Adibi, also a professor of economics at Chapman.

“The Three Economists” -- as they were billed -- offered insight into the

future that was in part conservative and part controversial. Jim Doti,

recognized as a local leader in the field of economics, believes that

strong economy will continue and that the robust nature of the economic

times will open the White House door for Vice President Al Gore.

Tonight, the social crowd will enjoy the hospitality of Harbor Island

hostess Mary Lyons as she and her husband, Phil, open their gracious home

on the bay to guests of the Orange County Arts Awards committee.

The cocktail reception will be chaired by Catherine Thyen with able

assistance from Peggy Goldwater Clay, Barbara Glabman, Carol Wilken,

Billur (Turkish Tornado) Wallerich, and entrepreneur Larry Williams.

You may recall that Williams came on the Newport scene from the East

Coast two years ago representing Jaguar Motor Cars and the new dealership

known as South Coast Motorcars. Williams officially turns over the reins

of the Jaguar project to a company from the United Kingdom that will

build and open South Coast Mortorcars in Mission Viejo and possibly

Newport Beach. The crowd will meet the new owners this evening at the

Lyons reception.

Meanwhile, Williams, who created a major stir locally with his grand

plans and extravagant receptions to launch the dealership, has created a

new Internet concept being called netinterstate.com that he plans to

launch in the coming year on a global basis with backing in the hundreds

of millions of dollars. Stay tuned for more on this.

In one final note, surely worthy of social ink, The Tilton School in New

Hampshire has issued a press release praising the academic

accomplishments of student Melanie McHone, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David

McHone of Newport Beach. Tilton School, founded in 1845, is an

independent, coeducational, college preparatory boarding and day school

in the lakes region of New Hampshire. It’s a pleasure to report academic

honors relating to a deserving local student far from home.

Obviously there are many students right here in town also deserving ink

for their hard work. It’s fun to hear about what Newport’s young people

are up to around the globe. Clearly Melanie represents us well in Tilton,

N.H.

B.W. COOK’S column appears every Thursday and Saturday.