Eat dinner, help children

It’s time for Ferragosto. ChildHelp USA’s Orange County chapter will

team up with Tutto Mare Restaurant at Fashion Island to present the

annual Italian midsummer festival Aug. 9. This is the summer alfresco

party not to miss.

Stefano Albano, general manager of Tutto Mare, creates the most

delectable buffet dinner served on the California Riviera. As host of

the evening, Albano will be joined by ChildHelp USA President Jana

Shuller and evening co-chairs Pam Butler and Nanette Grant, with

support from Julie Whittington, to create a summer evening to raise

funds to help the children supported by ChildHelp USA.

As in years past, major financial support for the evening comes

from Mary Ellen and Anwar Soliman. Bloomingdales and Fashion Island

will join Tutto Mare in further underwriting the evening.

Publicity chair Christine Bren reports that organizers have hired

Blue Machine to turn the Fashion Island/Bloomingdales courtyard into

disco Saturday night. There will also be Italian wine tasting and

gaming tables to add to the fun.

The ChildHelp committee working on the event includes Pam Pharris,

Lindah Miles, Nancy Whitlock, Eileen Saul and Kim Doud.

Tickets to Ferrogosto are $60 in advance and $70 at the door.

Please call Nancy Whitlock at (949) 548-4228 to make reservations.

MISS USA 2003 VISITS NEWPORT BEACH

Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003, will be in Newport Beach on Aug. 23

at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort for a Clambake Beach Party

benefiting the Center for a Brand New Day. Formally known as the

Orange County Friendship Center, the facility in Garden Grove offers

psychiatric and social services supporting people suffering from

various forms of mental illness.

“Those with mental illness are oftentimes considered the forgotten

population,” Castillo said. “I hope that my involvement will help

change public perception and aid this fund-raiser.”

The Clambake will include a major spread, with grilled filet

minion, steamed clams and crab claws. Mai tais will be the beverage

of choice.

Tickets will be $150 each and can be reserved by calling (714)

717-5416.

MAMMA MEETS MAGGIANOS

Maggianos did it again. The South Coast Plaza Italian restaurant

hosted the late night cast party this week following the opening of

“Mamma Mia” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The restaurant is amazingly generous preparing nothing less than a

feast for cast, crew and patrons, joining forces for a little after

theater reverie in Costa Mesa.

The high energy production of “Mamma Mia,” which stars Monique

Lund in the leading role of Donna, Don Noble in the male leading role

of Sam and Kristie Masdon as daughter Sophie, had the Orange County

audience on its feet dancing to the music that has been entertaining

audiences throughout America for the past several years.

Lund arrived at Maggianos looking absolutely stunning in her black

micro-mini-cocktail dress. Lund, who has a fabulous Broadway voice,

wowed the local crowd as she made her entrance to the cast party.

Locals enjoying the opening night festivities included Ginger and

Tony Allen, Rita Gunkel, Vera Oxblood, Elizabeth Colyear Vincent,

Bryan and Sharon McKinnon, Ronnie and Bryon Allumbaugh, and Center

President Jerry Mandell and his wife, Whitney.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.