B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

Lynn McAlister and Laura Lee Smith, co-chairs of the Corona Del Mar

High School and Middle School PTA Home Tour 2000, invite the community to

support their efforts as they present outstanding local residences on

their Oct. 24 home tour. Proceeds benefit local schools.

Six homes, including architecture from the neighborhoods of Pelican

Hill, Irvine Terrace, Newport Heights, Harbor View and Olde Corona Del

Mar, will be presented to touring locals.

The production commences at 10 a.m., with lunch by Pascal of Cafe

Jardin planned for mid-day at the Sherman Gardens and Library in Corona

Del Mar. Tours continue until 4 p.m. This is the 27th annual home tour.

Tickets are priced at $45.

Committee members working on the massive coordination include Kathy

Fallon, Mary Hodges, Lisa Maguire, Linda Roberts, Carol Warsaw and Maggie

York, to name only a few. For reservations and information, call (949)

552-2337.

* * *

A show of another variety debuts this evening at the Orange County

Museum of Art, Newport Beach. Wells Fargo Bank presents the Pacific Craft

Show and Sale at the museum, opening tonight as benefactors and local

museum patrons get a first peek at the exhibit over cocktails.

The reception this evening will be followed by yet another opening

night party on Friday evening, with the show and sale open to the public

over the weekend beginning Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Pacific Craft Show is an exhibition of functional works of

contemporary art made of glass, metal, fiber, ceramic and wood by a large

contingent of participating artists from throughout the western United

States and beyond.

Some of the artists include Randall Au, Laura Carley, Larry Gruda,

Kent Kahlen, Soz Mansueto, Fay Miller, Daniel Sadler, David Speck and

Yumi Ueno.

This year’s show honors artist Howard Ben Tre, with proceeds from the

show and sale going in part to the artists and to the museum as well.

* * *

Corona Del Mar’s former blonde bombshell film star Kathy Thompson is

chairing the 5th annual Share Our Selves holiday cooking series. Called

the “Sharing Chefs International Holiday Cooking Series,” Thompson is

organizing local talent to begin the presentations starting Sept. 19 at

Panini Restaurant and Bar in Newport Beach.

The first demonstration will discuss Thanksgiving, with subsequent

lectures set for Oct. 16 on “Christmas in New Orleans,” to be held at the

Riverboat Restaurant, Newport Beach, and Nov. 13 on “Nueve Latina...New

Year’s Eve Feast” at Habana Restaurant and Bar, Costa Mesa.

Tickets are $75 per event or $200. for the series. Chefs will share

recipes and then guests will enjoy a three-course dinner complimented

with premium wines. For ticket information, call Verna Degenhardt at

(949) 721-1660.

* * *

Next Tuesday is also the date set for the Orange County chapter of the

Roundtable for Women in Foodservice (OC/RWF) to host F.E.A.S.T., which

stands for Foundation for Education...Assisting Students of Tomorrow.

This second annual fundraising effort will bring together

participating Orange County restaurants, including Cafe Francais,

Chanteclair, The Daily Grill, French 75, Sage and Zov’s Bistro, featuring

fine cuisine from each establishment.

The Pacific Club, Newport Beach, will host the evening, which will

also feature a silent and live auction. Proceeds will benefit students in

the culinary and foodservice programs at Orange Coast College.

Tickets are $75 and may be reserved by calling (949) 798-8770.

* * *

Attention all shoppers. Mark your calendar for Sept. 19 as Saks Fifth Avenue invites you to a private shopping evening to kick off the Fashion

Targets Breast Cancer Charity Shopping Weekend. Saks will discount

merchandise 10% from 6 to 9 p.m. as refreshments are served in the store

and entertainment is provided.

This organized effort will also benefit the Cattle Baron’s Ball, which

is an upcoming fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society, and High

Priority, the Breast Cancer Information Network.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.