Let the wild animal in you come out

It’s all happening at the zoo. Newport Beach’s Debbie Newmeyer,

animal lover and friend of the Santa Ana Zoo, announced that Zoofari

2003 will unfold Aug. 23 at the Santa Ana Zoo. The zoo committee is

calling the 11th annual black tie, safari-theme fund-raiser

“Sazootainment.”

As in years past, the attire for this event ranges from the

outlandish to the sublime. Those with physiques worthy of display

skip the black tie in favor of leopard-print thong bikinis. They come

to the party as Jane and Tarzan. This is always a crowd pleaser, even

before the martini bar opens.

Other donors have come in full animal suits, as lions, tigers and

bears. The elephant costume is especially hot on a warm summer’s

night on the California Riviera and it takes up a lot of room on the

dance floor.

Nevertheless, Newmeyer and friends are encouraging creativity. For

those more conservative, a safari-theme bowtie or cocktail dress will

do.

The party will begin with a V.I.P. champagne reception hosted by

Tangata and the Bowers Museum. An animal advocate and very special

guest, actress Tippi Hedren, will once again front the event as the

unofficial movie star guest of honor. Hedren -- the glamorous star of

Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and mother of Melanie Griffith -- will

introduce the crowd to the zoo’s new primate mascot, Sazoo, for which

the party has been named.

“The native drums will be beating ‘A Star Is Born’ in recognition

of Sazoo,” Newmeyer said.

In addition to the appearance by Hedren, Cirque du Soleil’s

acrobatic performer Sasha Fedortchev will wow the crowd with his

vertical rope stunts. If that’s not enough, dinner, dancing and a

fabulous auction will round out this very special summer evening

under the stars to benefit the animals at the Santa Ana Zoo.

Tickets are $150 per person and can be reserved by calling (714)

953-8555, ext. 13.

IN OTHER SOCIETAL NEWS

The Balboa Yacht Club in Corona del Mar opened its doors for a

very special evening this week on behalf of CREW-Orange County.

The evening attracted a large contingent of generous local guests

joining forces to benefit Wise Place, serving homeless and battered

women in the community. Cheryl Byrne, a devoted CREW volunteer,

shared that a large group of local business owners donated incredible

auction prizes to help raise funds for the shelter.

South Coast Plaza Village will once again host Hot Blues On A Cool

Summer Night set for Aug. 20 and featuring the acclaimed Steve

Copland and the Raging Sun Band.

William P. Lyons Jr., a volunteer representing the Center Stage

Chapter of the Guilds of the Performing Arts Center, said that a

number of fine local restaurants will participate in the evening,

such as Antonello’s, the Club House, Morton’s, Maggiano’s, Wolfgang

Puck and Royal Khyber.

The Center Stage Chapter of the Guilds will present the evening of

food and music benefiting the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. For more information,

please call (714) 284-5464.

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The Sandpipers of Hoag Hospital held their seventh annual summer

jazz concert this past weekend featuring musician Keiko Matsui in a

concert under the stars at the Hyatt Newporter outdoor amphitheater.

The summer casual evening attracted hundreds of locals who paid

$125 and more for seats to the alfresco concert that was preceded by

a poolside dinner in the Newporter’s Terrace Room. The evening was

underwritten in part by Northwest Airlines/KLM. Proceeds will benefit

the Hoag Cancer Center.

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The Anaheim Angels will present a charity luncheon on Aug. 27

benefiting the Orange County Girls and Boys Clubs, Newport’s Lana

Chandler said. The first fund-raiser is appropriately called “The

Field of Dreams.”

The luncheon at the Grove in Anaheim will highlight Angels players

involved in an organization called Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities.

The event is expected to raise more than $200,000 and will be

attended by more than 700 guests, with a large contingent of

Newport-Mesa support.

For more information, call Chandler at (949) 857-0022.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.