THE CROWD

B.W. Cook

Antonio Cagnolo, owner of Antonello Ristorante in Costa Mesa, welcomed

the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the annual La Dolce Vita, raising

$82,500 for research.

La Dolce Vita was started by Cagnolo as his personal gesture to help

raise funds to fight the genetic disease of cystic fibrosis. This year,

the restaurateur was honored for his long-standing dedication to the

cause as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recognized him for helping to

raise more than $700,000 over the past 10 years of La Dolce Vita events.

More than 300 local donors converged under a canopy of lights erected

adjacent to the restaurant. Guests dined alfresco under the man-made

stars as a four-course gourmet Italian meal was served to the sounds of

Tino and his orchestra. Dancing was the call, as guests turned out on the

dance floor for the entire evening.

Enjoying the festivities were Jean Moriarty; her brother Richard

Moriarty and his fiancee, Lauren; and Bill Snyder ofScottsdale, Ariz.,

and his sister Laurie Veitch of Westcliff.

* * *

Traditional Jewelers in Fashion Island, owned by the handsome and

socially prominent couple Lula and Marion Halfacre, unveiled the 2001

collection of fine jewelry by Carrera y Carrera at a reception billed as

“Festival de Espana” at the Orange County Museum of Art.

The Carrera y Carrera designs were displayed on sensuous flamenco

dancers flown in from Sevilla, Spain. The world-famous dance troupe

entered the museum party showing off the gems to the beat of Ravel’s

“Bolero.”

Roberto Cristobal, president of Carrera y Carrera USA, joined the

firm’s leading designer, Manuel Carrera, for the elegant party. Carrera

arrived at the affair from Japan, where he had been representing the

company in the Far East.

In the crowd were Kirk and Elena Dawson, Ann Stern, Hedda Morosi, Pat

and Carl Neisser, and Fashion Island’s Nina Robinson.

* * *

A fabulous evening unfolded under the heavens as dedicated citizens

joined forces to celebrate the ringing of the bells at the annual

“Romance of the Mission” dinner gala at Mission San Juan Capistrano. A

very strong Newport-Mesa involvement included benefit chairwomen Judy

Harrington and Carol Porter.

Honorary chairs for the evening included Harbor Island’s Judie and

George Argyros, Jo Ellen Qualls of Tiffany & Co. in South Coast Plaza,

and John Dravinski. The Mission Preservation Foundation board is chaired

by Anthony Moiso, with assistance from Irvine family heir Russell S.

Penniman IV, R.J. Brandes, Wylie Aitken, and N. Christian Anderson III.

Gerald Miller serves as executive director of the board.

Strong support for the mission fund-raiser also came from other

locals, including Electa Anderson, Christine Emmel, Beth Bohn and Julie

Lafond. Bill Pereira and Vincent McGuinness were instrumental in securing

financial underwriting support.

Proceeds from the evening, which featured actress Sally Kellerman in

the role of gala celebrity chair, will benefit the preservation of the

great stone church monument.

* * *

Lido Isle’s dynamic art dealer and community activist Judy Slutzky is

working closely with the board of trustees of Girls Inc. of Orange County

to present keynote speaker Kathleen Brown, former president of the

private bank at Bank of America and California state treasurer, at a

luncheon set for Oct. 30. Brown is the managing director for Goldman

Sachs in Los Angeles. She is planning to address the audience assembled

at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine on “The Rights of Girls.”

Ellen Gordon serves as president of Girls Inc. of Orange County, with

additional support coming from Elaine Levin, Lynn Cornelius Masich, Linda

Hovee and Torrey Olins. Other prominent supporters of Girls Inc. include

Debra Richardson, Nancy Shaffner and UC Irvine’s Linda White-Peters.

To make a reservation, call Cheryl Russell at (949) 646-7181.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.