Exciting winter social scene awaits

B.W. COOK

The 2003-04 winter social season in Newport promises to be the most

exciting in recent history. The grand SCR 40th anniversary black-tie

gala will roll out the VIP carpet Sept. 20 at Tiffany & Co., South

Coast Plaza.

Chaired by Dee and Larry Higby, the event will attract a “who’s

who” crowd and is expected to raise in excess of half a million

dollars.

The Sophisticates of Assessment Treatment Services Center, one of

the most active social and charitable groups on the Riviera, will

begin its season with its 21st annual membership sunset reception to

be held at the Newport Coast estate of Joyce and Richard Nyberg. The

cocktail party is being organized by Grace Thelen and Eileen Hanley,

and promises to attract more than 200 Sophisticates, new and

long-standing, to join in the variety of causes championed by the

local women.

The O.C. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recently held its annual

summer fund-raiser, led by the dedicated Newport couple Sue and Dave

Hook. On the heels of that success, the foundation devotees will come

together on Sept. 11 for the annual La Dolce Vita celebration held at

Antonello Ristorante, South Coast Plaza Village.

The alfresco dinner, also one of the regular premiere events of

the local social season, has long been a generous gesture on the part

of restaurateur Antonio Cagnolo. Once again, Cagnolo and his

executive chef, Franco Barone, will prepare and serve an elegant

multi-course Italian dinner accompanied by fine wines selected by

sommelier Steve Ebol.

This year, the evening will honor the founding partners of Wahoo’s

Fish Tacos’s, Wing Lam, Ed Lee, Steve Karfaridis and Mingo and Cindy

Lee, for their combined efforts supporting the fight against cystic

fibrosis.

Tickets to La Dolce Vita are $150 per person. Seating is limited.

Please call (714) 938-1393 to make a reservation.

This season also marks the 11th year a group known as the

Harvesters has worked diligently to feed local homeless and working

poor individuals and families. Connected to the Second Harvest Food

Bank of Orange County, the Harvesters, a small but powerful group of

Newport-Mesa women, have raised millions of dollars over the past

decade, which has translated into life support for some 400,000

people in Orange County “facing the threat of going to bed hungry

sometime each month,” Harvester volunteer Kristina Grace said.

“These statistics represent a staggering 16% of our local countywide population,” said Grace, a Lido Isle resident and talented

interior designer and antiquarian. “Rising rents and increased cost

of living have pushed many people and families over the edge.”

The Harvester’s big date is Oct. 7, to help make a difference.

They will hold their annual fund-raising luncheon and fashion show at

the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach.

The event will be produced and sponsored by South Coast Plaza. A

VIP underwriters’ party is set for Sept. 24 at the oceanfront Montage

Resort in Laguna Beach. The underwriters’ party is generously

underwritten by the Escada, a boutique at South Coast Plaza.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.