Excitement high for AIDS event

Suzie Harrison

It might seem unlikely to match the buzz felt last February in

Laguna Beach from the first Art for AIDS: A Tribute to Rock Hudson

fund-raiser held at Laguna Art Museum.

The event was a benefit to the museum and AIDS Services Foundation

Orange County. The big draw was the celebrity supporters, such as

Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Penny Marshall.

But the anticipation is just as high the second time around, for

the Feb. 8 event. The only downside for Lagunans is that Art for AIDS

II has left the museum for a bigger location -- The St. Regis Monarch

Beach Resort in Dana Point.

The change doesn’t seem to have deterred the star support. In

addition to Taylor, Jackson and Marshall, Warren Beatty, Anne Bening,

Tom Petty, Barry Manilow and Susanne Summers have confirmed.

Art for AIDS II, like its predecessor, offers guests a choice: an

exclusive gala dinner and the Pacific Ballroom celebration or just

the Pacific Ballroom celebration. The dinner and celebration will be

held at St. Regis.

The gala dinner, at the resort’s Club 19, is an intimate dinner

with the celebrity guests. It starts at 5:30 p.m. with hors

d’oeuvres, with dinner donated by Laguna Beach’s Marks Restaurant at

6:30 p.m.

After the dinner, the dinner guests will enjoy the festivities at

the Pacific Ballroom celebration, which 500 people are expected to

attend.

Renown artist Jorg Dubin will create Red Ribbon Awards and present

them to the celebrities when the crowds merge for the Pacific

Ballroom celebration. Before that, guests will start the evening at 7

p.m. with a buffet dinner and live entertainment by Robert Kyle, a

Brazilian jazz band, as well as a silent and live auction. Laguna

restaurants 230 Forest, Five Feet, Mark’s Restaurant and Sundried

Tomato Cafe and Catering have donated cuisine for dinner.

The highlight of the evening is the live auction and main stage

program celebrity program, which starts at 9 p.m.

Donations to the gala dinner are $2,000 per person, seating is

limited. Admission to the Pacific Ballroom celebration is $135 per

person.

There are also major donation packages available. The proceeds

benefit AIDS Services Foundation Orange County and Laguna Art Museum.

For more information, call (949) 809-8760.