Fashion show warms up the night

BARBARA DIAMOND

April Fools’ Day weather was chilly, but the temperature spiked when

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson modeled a hot red cocktail dress in

the Only in Laguna Fashion Show.

The Laguna Board of Realtors and Affiliates benefit show and

luncheon was held at Tivoli Too, featuring local models in fashions

from local shops and opportunity prizes donated by local businesses.

Proceeds benefited Laguna’s Sally’s Fund, Assistance League,

California Choreography Dance Festival and No Square Theatre.

Bree Burgess Rosen, Kathie Grant, Dara Sandrini, Heather Roth,

Joyce Linn, Faye Kirk, June Campbell, Police Chief James Spreine, Jim

Vermilya, Farzan Parvisi, Cammie Klein, event chair Rick Gold, board

President Rick McIntire, Wayne Woodyard, Fire Capt. Api Weinert,

youngsters Logan Gavin, Aleia Gaven and Giuliana Davar, city

Treasurer Laura Parisi, Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda and Jerry

Bieser modeled.

Pearson was so taken with the halter-top, backless, dress she

modeled that she bought it and wore it to the South County Chambers

of Commerce ball the following night. Parisi bought the Bardot

brocade patchwork jacket that she modeled and wore it the next day to

a luncheon.

Kollenda and Bieser served as commentators for the show -- she was

her usual frisky self with a microphone in hand.

“You light MY fire,” she said when Weinert strolled onto the

runaway. “I hate to tell you,” she confided to the audience, “but he

went to school with my son. Of course, all my children are from

[husband] Jim’s first wife.” It was a joke.

When Spreine stripped down to his beach shorts, Kollenda asked,

“Where’s the badge?”

Kollenda also performed with Burgess Rosen and Adam Hemming and he

performed a solo from the first “Lagunatics.” The Sons of Beaches, a

trio that learned to play ukuleles while attending Laguna Beach High

School in the 1950s, entertained.

Burgess Rosen opened the show with an a Capella rendition of the

Star Spangles Banner.

The fashion show and luncheon celebrated 80 years of real estate

sales in Laguna Beach.

McIntire paid tribute to Realtor and model Campbell, at 80 still

an active board member.

“When June started we had one-page contracts, [selling property]

‘as is,’ “Mc Intire said. “Does anybody else remember that?”

Luncheon guest Pearl Priegler has been a member of the board since

1975.

This was the fifth year the Realtors and Affiliates have presented

the show. It just gets better -- and nobody has more fun than the

board members.

Realtors Dave Schaar, Tom Simpson, Noel Johnson, Bob Hartman and

Woodyard knocked out the crowd, parading in muumuus -- beards, hairy

legs and all -- Johnson chomping on a cigar.

Fashion were provided by 1141 N. Coast Highway, Black Market/White

House, The Cotton Place, Fresh Produce, Gallery of Wearable Art,

Georgiou, Hobie Sports, Leather Creations, Louise’s Place, On Board

for Men and for Women, Oogly-Booglyz, Satisfy My Soul, Sutton Place

Boutique, all in Laguna; Monarch Silks Boutique in Dana Point and

Swellegant Vintage Clothing in Newport

Board members tapped practically every business in town for

opportunity prizes, which ranged from coffee at Starbuck’s to

overnight stays at the Surf and Sand and The Inn at Laguna.

The Cottage, Anastasia Cafe, Sorrento Grille, the Loft at Montage,

Romeo Cuchina, Cedar Creek Inn, The White House Tavern, Hotel Laguna

and French 75 donated breakfasts, luncheons, dinners or gift

certificates.

STANDING OVATION

The Thurston Middle School Chorus got a standing ovation at the

Laguna Beach Woman’s Club luncheon Friday.

Club members lined up to shake the hands of the young singers and

chorus conductor Roxanna Ward.

“It is amazing what Roxanna gets out of those kids,” said club

member Sande St. John.

Among the kids who gave up their lunch hour to perform: Savannah

Alessi, Alison Azera, Ferryn Burris, Heather Coulter, Hannah Deline,

Zoe Epstein, Zoe Germano, Austin Giangeruso, Rianna Goldman Dorado,

Sinead Hawker, Blake Henderson, Kamala “Kami” Henderson, Hannah

Hobson, Amelia (Amy) Itnyre, Hana Link, Emily Martin, Lassli

Martinez, Alexandra Navas, Samantha Piszkiewicz, Clara Plomgren,

Sahar Reshad, Gabriela Rivera, Travis Severino, Elizabeth Shabazian,

Elissa Shopoff, Clayton Steel, Jessica Tan, Jeffrey Trojan and

McKenzie Wensman.

Cossie Mechling did the floral arrangements for the luncheon. Bev

Hine provided the camellias in every shade of pink, red and coral.

Chapleau catered the grilled chicken entree. Peggie Ford

contributed her delicious nonfat fruit whip for dessert.

Anne Wood, Festival of Arts marketing assistant Cindy Perdue and

Chamber of Commerce office manager Suzanne Lilly assisted St. John in

the kitchen.

PARTY HEARTY

Sawdust artists celebrated on Sunday the success of a weekend of

studio tours.

“It was the most incredible weekend the art tour has ever

experienced,” said event coordinator Lynne Powell, who toured nine

studios with an out-of-town guest each day.

“People got to spend time with the artists and the weather was

spectacular,” she said.

Wayne and Faye Baglin spent four hours in the canyon studios, but

also found time to tour the North Laguna studios.

“We got detailed information from Randy Bader, Jennifer Griffuth

and Ralph Tarzian,” the Councilman Baglin said. “You don’t get that

anywhere else.”

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman attended Saturday’s end-of-tour party, at

which Adam Kaplan’s group, Pi, entertained. Kaplan is right at home

among artists. He is the son of Leonard Kaplan and nephew of the late

Andy Wing.

Blues guitarist Will Brady performed Sunday morning. Beth Sand and

Kim Eldein entertained Sunday afternoon.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.