The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

They are calling the show “Discover the Magic.” The Lido Isle Women’s

Charitable Foundation will present its third annual antique extravaganza

April 11 to April 14 under an enormous white tent pavilion at the Newport

Dunes Waterfront Resort Hotel. The Newport Beach Spring Antiques Show has

become one of the premier exhibits on the West Coast in three brief

years.

The success belongs to the ladies and gentlemen backing the charitable

foundation, led by Diana Miner of Newport Beach, in conjunction with the

super-dedicated volunteers who organize and staff the presentation. This

year’s chairwoman is the dynamic and lovely Pamela Nestande, who is

taking the event to a new expanded plateau.

“We have taken the decidedly American penchant for mixing styles and

periods by fusing European formality with the elegant, witty sensibility

of the 21st century,” says Nestande, also a talented decorator in her own

right.

She adds, “Dealers are eager to talk to new, young collectors. They

want to educate the client, explain the history and the value of an

antique piece.”

Nestande also shares that the show this year will present three

outstanding guest speakers. Best-selling author Arianna Huffington, White

House social secretary Laurie Firestone and internationally acclaimed

designer Ann Fraser will each preside over a luncheon during the show’s

run.

Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz USA, Whittier Trust Co., Coldwell

Banker-Coast Newport Properties, South Coast Plaza and George Argyros and

his wife, Julia (who has gone back to her original name from Judie), the

show will debut April 11 with a preview dinner and reception under the

tent. It will run through April 14. This event is a must-do. Proceeds

from the show will benefit 10 charities chosen by the committee. For

information, call (949) 451-4546.

* * *

It was luncheon on the “Isle of Capri” for the National Charity League

Juniors. The 16th annual mother-daughter fashion show was a true breath

of spring. It’s pleasant to know that not all traditional forms of human

contact have been overthrown in our contemporary world. Perhaps even more

telling is that the assemblage of women and their daughters represents a

very modern group, with many balancing careers and family, but still

making time for Old World traditions that represent family values and

community service.

More than 500 guests of the juniors converged upon the Palm Garden of

the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach to blend the old and the new. At

the end of a very full day -- which included a fashion show featuring

many of the children of league members modeling Roxy and Oilily garments,

and a vast auction that included everything from diamond jewelry to a

Hawaiian trip -- the group of children and their mothers graduated from

the junior status to the National Charity League Chapter.

Co-chaired by Ton Hilton and Leonie Lumpkin -- with able support from

President Kathy Hancock and board members Kathy Stuart, Erin Meyer, Kathy

Kelter, Kathleen Farmer, Suzanne Searles, Anne Burger, Debbie Johnson,

Yvonne Scholemer, Gay Butera, Kristina Grace, Diane Cotton and Diane

Edmonston -- the event raised in excess of $75,000.

The money will benefit league-sponsored charities, including High

Hopes Neurological Recovery Group, Rehabilitation Center, the Harry and

Grace Steele Children’s Center and the Pediatric Cancer Research

Foundation.

Spotted in the very fashionable crowd were Jennifer Van Berg, Mary

Fallon, Ann Ramser, Betsy Van’t Hof, Evan Corkett, Stephanie Rados and

Marion Palley.

* * *

Art of Dining XV, the anticipated June 1 event supporting the Orange

County Museum of Art, will be previewed at an elegant cocktail reception

May 9 hosted by the much in demand Newport Beach hostess Joan Riach and

her husband, Tom. Bronze sculptures by French artist Guy Ferrer and

exquisite contemporary glasswork by Caleb Siemon will be on display at

the Riach waterfront estate.

This season’s Art of Dining will honor Henry Segerstrom, Orange County

patron of the arts, along with artist John Baldessari. Jazz performer

Diane Schuur is set to entertain. To support Art of Dining, call Brian

Langston at the museum at (949) 759-1122, Ext. 207.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.