The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

Local moms pulled off the big one, raising an astounding $45,000 for

Eastbluff Elementary School in Newport Beach. The third annual Eastbluff

fund-raiser, billed as “Tropic of Paradise,” brought out generous local

parents intent on underwriting elementary school enrichment programs.

The Hyatt Newporter was the setting for the upbeat evening

celebration, which called for island attire and floral leis to create a

tropical mood. The party was chaired by Marilyn Christian, Debra

Pagliassotti and Susan Seger, creating a wonderful testimony to what

neighborhood parents can do to make a difference in the school system.

* * *

Across town, Dennis Overstreet welcomed an overflow crowd of handsome

locals to the premiere of his new emporium known as Wine Merchant of

Newport Beach. The master purveyor of wines, well known for his

successful operation in Beverly Hills, joined his lovely blond wife Chris

bussing the good looking wine lovers who overflowed the new location on

Via Lido in Newport Beach.

Overstreet spared no expense creating an ultra-luxurious location that

includes not only a full-service wine shop, but also a wine bar for

tasting that is furnished with antiques, creating a very warm

environment. Overstreet’s mission is to provide his customer with “a

complete wine experience in an environment of comfort and opulence.”

Some 200 guests checked out that environment, and did a little tasting

of Overstreet’s finest domestic and imported wines on two separate

evenings. In the crowd were Anne and John Wortman and Karen and Andrew

Littlefair.

* * *

The fourth annual Volvo Junior Leukemia Cup Regatta is scheduled for

May 19 at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Corona del Mar. The one-day

race will feature both junior and adult sailors, each pledging to raise

money to fight leukemia. The race will take over the Newport Harbor under

the generous honorary chairmanship of longtime Newport Beach

philanthropists John and Donna Crean.

Tomorrow evening, organizers Nancy and Barry Levy will join a host of

other dedicated Leukemia Cup supporters to lead an electric boat rally

leaving the yacht club at 5 p.m. and going on a “poker run” on the harbor

to help spread awareness about the upcoming Volvo Leukemia Cup Regatta.

Anyone with an electric boat or a small dinghy is invited to join in

the run for a $20 donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Call

(949) 644-9530 to get involved.

* * *

The stars of Newport Mesa mingled with both Hollywood and British

royalty at an exclusive dinner reception held at the Beverly Hills home

of Mary and Sam Haskell on behalf of the Mikimoto Company. William

Thomas, the Mikimoto executive in charge of operations in Costa Mesa,

joined Toyohiko Mikimoto, president of K. Mikimoto and Company, LTD.,

hosting the dinner at the Haskell residence.

Welcoming the Duke of Edinburgh for an upcoming International Charity

Golf Championship raising funds for charities assisting young people, the

Mikimoto contingent mingled with Hollywood stars including Whoopie

Goldberg, Sela Ward, Kirstie Alley, Tony Danza, Patricia Heaton, Kathy

Ireland, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney and Debbie Allen.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and his wife, Countess Sophie, were

guests of honor at the star-studded reception. Sam Haskell, a

high-ranking executive of the William Morris Agency, began in the mail

room some 25 years ago and worked his way to the top of the show business

ladder.

The golf fund-raiser is the first event in Southern California for the

international charity championed by the British royal family.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.