Fashionably boosting education

B.W. COOK

The residence was transformed into a Japanese-style summerhouse. A

canopy draped in white vellum cloth, sprinkled with twinkling lights

and paper lanterns, provided shelter from the late-afternoon summer

sun as Newport-Mesa guests arrived at the home of Chapman University

President Jim Doti and his wife Lynn Doti in the hills of Orange

County. It was the final summer soiree staged by the Fashionables, a

Newport-based charitable group of Chapman supporters led by Adrienne

Brennan.

The statuesque Brennan, a real-estate executive with Strada

Properties in Newport Beach, welcomed the crowd who came to pat

themselves on their backs for a most successful season of

fund-raising for the university. Wearing a chic tropical-print summer

dress, Brennan addressed her compadres, introducing special guests

and donors who came together under the Japanese tent to toast the

future of Chapman over blackberry Cosmopolitan martinis.

Tim Haskell of Soiree Catering and his staff passed hors d’oeuvres

to welcome the arriving crush. The ultra-fashionable Mary Dell

Barkouras, a president emeritus of the Fashionables, joined Sandra

and Jerry Beigel, Betty Belden Palmer, Jacqui and Mark Penner,

Barbara and Paul Penrose, and Joan and Richard Stevens in raising

funds to meet the Fashionables’ goal of $500,000 to help build a

rotunda board room in the new Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

Admiring the Asian-themed decor, accented with vibrant orange and

fuchsia colors found in the table linens and floral displays, were

Rusty and Bill Hood, Diana and Ed Sterling, Linda and Rick Lamitie,

Marla and Russell Patterson, Jane and James Lodge and the super

dynamic Betty Moss.

The summer party was co-chaired by Donna and Greg Hood and Heather

and Martin Klein. The two distinguished local couples worked with

Chapman representatives to present a pre-dinner concert led by Louise

Thomas, director of collaborative arts at the Chapman School of

Music. As the music played, dinner was served, beginning with a

summer salad of designer lettuces, accented with strawberries,

chopped walnuts and feta cheese. An entree of grilled New Zealand

lamb chops with hoisin glaze accompanied a miso-glazed salmon filet.

Enjoying the dinner conversation were distinguished Chapman trustee

Don Kennedy and his wife Dorothy, Linda and Ron Beale, Kathy and Noel

Hamilton, Karen Hardin and Kimberly and Ed Prado.

The Fashionables were already busy discussing plans for the 2004

Christmas at the Ritz, set for Dec. 4. The upcoming holiday luncheon

will be the 18th occasion that the Fashionables have gathered at

Newport’s Ritz restaurant to raise money for significant local

causes. Since 1987, proceeds from Christmas at The Ritz have been

directed to Chapman University. Major support from the group has

assisted the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media

Arts, the Leatherby Libraries and the Merle E. and Marjorie J. Fish

Interfaith Center.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.