B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

Santa came to the party and was seen with a Ketel One Vodka martini in

his hand. Oh, don’t despair. He only had one. Besides, the way he drives

above the rooftops, there is no traffic concern.

It was all part of the 14th annual “Christmas at The Ritz,” presented

by the Fashionables in support of Chapman University. Santa joined the

toasting and roasting going on during the Saturday afternoon luncheon in

the holiday-decorated bistro of Hans and Charlene Prager and partners.

Packed to capacity, the turnout was a virtual who’s who in the

community, as it always seems to be.

Chaired by Leslie Cancellieri, with honorary chairmanship in the hands

of major donors Paul and Virginia Knott Bender and Dorothy Stillwell, the

proceeds from the event will be earmarked for the construction of

Chapman’s Sculpture Garden and Cyber Courtyard, two important areas

associated with the new library on campus. For the past 12 years, the

Fashionables have raised funds for the construction of the All Faiths

Chapel, which is now fully funded.

The festive afternoon began with a cocktail reception in the very

pleasant Ritz Courtyard at The Ritz Restaurant and Garden in Newport

Beach. The reception featured the fabulous Ketel One Ice Sculptured

Martini Bar that has become a big hit on the Orange Coast social circuit.

Among those attending was Fashionables president Donna Bunce.

Resplendent in a dress made of holiday red wool complete with her own

version of the “Jackie O” pillbox hat, Bunce was on the arm of her

husband, Doug, holding court and sharing in the glory of the event with

friends Patti and Jim Edwards, Tom and Joan Riach, Ted and Kimberly

Jones, Randy and Suki McCardle, Gene and Ruth Ann Moriarty, and Toni

Oliphant, who was honored for her generosity through a recent major gift

to Chapman University.

The reception was only a hint of what was to come. Charlene Prager

invited the crush to enter the dining room for a holiday feast in the

grand tradition of The Ritz. The menu featured Prager’s signature soup --

wild mushroom cappuccino -- followed by a duet of filet mignon and crab

cakes accented with Diane sauce.

For dessert, they served the holiday hazelnut souffle with Frangelico

Creme Anglaise that the Ritz is so famous for making.

Needless to say, the crowd was delighted to spend their Saturday

enjoying the company of friends, donating funds for a worthy university

and doing some serious daytime dining.

Table hopping in the dining room was Chapman’s leader Jim Doti with

his wife, Lynne. Doti made a heartfelt toast to the crowd via television

monitors set up to link all in attendance sitting in the various rooms of

the restaurant.

Many supporting the event were Chapman alums, including chair Leslie

Cancellieri. Also spotted were Sandra Biegel, Craig Brown, Norma Meyer,

Ollie Hill, Nancy Burnett, Karen Elliot, and Bobby Dees, the boss at Saks

Fifth Avenue, South Coast Plaza.

Saks produced a live informal fashion show for the patrons during the

luncheon event as models paraded the bistro showing off holiday designs.

Richard and Pat Allen, Victor and Karen Hardin, Bill and Rusty Hood,

Dave and Sue Hook, Jim and Nora Johnson, Robert and Betty Klein, Eve

Kornyei, Jan Landstrom, Betty Moss, Cynthia Nolet, Barbara Penrose, Jerry

Richards, Dick and Joan Stevens, Robin Turner, Ann Van Ausdeln and Jim

McVicker, and Mary Ann Wells were also at The Ritz in support of Chapman.

The big fun began following lunch when the raffle drawings got the

crowd’s attention. The Fashionables have garnered a reputation for

offering the splashy and extravagant holiday prize giveaway. This year

must have topped them all.

From jewelry donated by Traditional Jewelers, Fashion Island, to a

trip to New York and a stay at The Carlyle Hotel to men’s wear from

Ermenegildo Zegna to diamonds from Black Starr and Frost, South Coast

Plaza, to a one-week stay in a cottage in southern England to ... the

list goes on and on. Some 20 major prizes were taken home by lucky donors

buying countless tickets.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.