Amber opening at Chateau Samara

The Newport Beach Arts Foundation, led by the dynamic Karen

Butera, is preparing the final touches for the much-anticipated gala

opening night (Nov. 8) of Chateau Samara at Pelican Hill.

Butera, an internationally renowned designer with a roster of

celebrity projects and clients, has teamed up with developer and

visionary Askar Karabayev, an American immigrant from Kazakhstan in

central Asia, to create a California interpretation of a Russian

villa using the semi-precious stone amber in custom treatments

throughout the spectacular residence.

The use of amber was the choice of the Royal Russian Dynasty

before the Communist Revolution. The Amber Room in the palace of

Catherine the Great was removed during World War II and has never

been found. The priceless wall panels have been the subject of great

speculation for more than 60 years.

Butera, Karabayev and a construction and architectural staff of

the most talented artisans on the West Coast will debut the Chateau

to the public as a benefit for The Newport Beach Arts Foundation. The

real estate and design world is clamoring to see the finished

project, which will be placed on the market in the $12 million price range.

Butera and her volunteer staff from the Arts Foundation are

pulling out all the stops to present a spectacular evening in a

remarkable estate. Those involved include honorary chair Jeanne

Jackson and hard working co-chairs Cindi Cheaney and Bill Gross,

along with a committee of local arts patrons: Michelle Jefcoat,

Claudia Morehead, Annie Morgan, Roberta Cathi, Nancy Petterson, Eve

Foussard, Toni Tartamella, Cathy Michaels, Jan Dee and Lido’s lovely

Lyn Belasco .

The cocktail reception, home and grounds tour will be topped off

by entertainment from Jerry Mandel, president of The Orange County

Performing Arts Center. Spectacular amber jewelry will be on display

provided by Jewels by Joseph. Proceeds from the evening will benefit

The Newport Beach Arts Foundation, which is a funding arm of the

Newport Beach Arts Commission, a public body that presents free

events for all ages of Newport citizens throughout the year.

Tickets to the VIP opening night reception are available at $100

per person and may be reserved by calling Cindi Cheaney at (949)

472-1420. In addition, the residence will be open for a home and

grounds tour throughout the weekend.

DUCKY DERBY

The Children’s Bureau of Southern California, celebrating 95 years

of adoption services and preventing child abuse and neglect, invited

the Newport-Mesa community to what has become an annual family event

on the Orange Coast. More than 4,000 guests converged upon Wild

Rivers Water Park in Irvine to celebrate the Mighty Rubber Ducky

Derby.

The attire was swimsuits and flip-flops, the food was picnic

style, provided by generous local restaurants and vendors, from the

In N’ Out burger van to Newport’s Villa Nova Restaurant.

The day at the water park revolved around a rubber ducky race. An

impressive 12,500 faux-feathered friends, bought by patrons, were set

free in the park’s man-made river heading downstream to the finish

line.

The event was the brainchild of Donna Crean and her husband, John,

two of the region’s most philanthropic people. The Children’s Bureau

has been a pet project of Donna Crean for many years. She was active

in the organization when the family lived in Beverly Hills. Crean is

credited with founding the Orange County Bureau. She has made a great

difference to countless children and families in this region. Several

years ago, with the inauguration of The Rubber Ducky Derby, the

Creans donated a classic black and silver two-toned Rolls Royce

Silver Shadow as the grand prize for the winning duck. The prizes

since have been equally lavish.

This year’s organizers included Eve Kornyei, Kathleen Duffy, Temre

Vouga, David Thiel, Heidi Miller, Lana Chandler, Phil Beukema, Royal

Radtke and Lisa Fujimoto. By the end of the day, more than $118,000

was raised for The Children’s Bureau.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.