B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

The eviction of residents at Crystal Cove has been front and center in

recent local news coverage. The historic cottages of this very special

oceanfront enclave are reminiscent of an earlier time in California

history when artists, including the renowned William Wendt, set up their

easels on the beaches of the Orange Coast to create idyllic landscapes in

the plein air style. This romantic throwback is captured with tremendous

enthusiasm by Taylor Woodrow Homes, builders of “Crystal Cove Hideaway,”

a cottage home that was entered in last year’s HomeAid Project Playhouse

exhibit.

The fantasy playhouse exhibition will again debut in the courtyards of

Fashion Island beginning Sept. 15 and running through Oct. 13. Now in

it’s 10th year, HomeAid’s playhouse competition has become one of the

wonders of the late summer charitable events on the coast. A premiere

party and auction will kickoff the exhibition on opening day. A $15

general donation, or a family four pack costing $45, will enable the

public to get an inside peek at these incredible miniature homes, which

will eventually be auctioned off to the highest bidder and placed in the

backyards of some fortunate residents following the open air public

auction set for the final day of the event on Oct. 13.

Special prices have been set for the auction, which includes dinner

and entertainment. Prepaid tickets are $30 and will be $40 at the door.

Children under 12 are $15, and children under 3 are free. Family four

packs for the dinner and auction are priced at $75.

This 10th Anniversary Project Playhouse benefits shelters for

temporarily homeless men, women and children throughout Orange, Los

Angeles and Ventura counties. Some of the shelter projects, which receive

assistance from Project Playhouse include: Boys Hope/Girls Hope, Habitat

for Humanity, Human Options, Laura’s House, Orangewood Children’s Home

and Village of Hope. Many more also receive aid thanks to the generous

participation of many individuals in the building and design trades.

Last year, Project Playhouse raised more than $360,000 to support this

effort. The Crystal Cove Hideaway, designed by EBTA Architects, won the

first runner-up “Grand Award,” and also took the “Most Playful” award in

last year’s competition at Fashion Island. The cottage was wired for 21st

century convenience, including a entertainment center with a plasma

screen television and a DVD surround sound stereo system. A cottage style

playhouse along with many other architectural icons will once again

delight thousands of locals helping to raise funds for those truly in

need of shelter. For more information or to make reservations, call

‘(949) 553-9510.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.

photo caption for Saturday’s CROWD.

“Crystal Cove Hideaway” was built by Taylor Woodrow Homes and designed

by EBTA Architects. The cottage has been wired for an entertainment

center with a plasma screen TV, a DVD surround-sound stereo and other

modern day conveniences.