Cupid sees red -- and green

Cupid is headed straight for Lido Isle. His first stop before

Valentine’s Day will be the Lido Isle Clubhouse for a Feb. 10 bridge

luncheon hosted by the ladies of the Lido Isle Committee of the

Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

Lovely Ellie Yates will chair the day by the bay in honor of St.

Valentine. Elaine Gordon, Jean Grove and Rosemary Swanson are hard at

work with Yates and other Lido gals planning the luncheon, which will

benefit the society’s youth programs. Call Gordon at (949) 675-6347

for reservations.

The power of red was not just in Cupid’s hands this week on the

Orange Coast. The American Heart Assn. held a week of events centered

on the “power of red” and awareness of heart disease in women. On

Tuesday, a sold-out fashion luncheon at Mariposa Restaurant, inside

the Neiman Marcus store at Fashion Island, attracted a fashionable

group to hear the health advice of Hoag cardiologist Dipti

Itchhaporia and Hoag gynecologist Allyson Brooks on vital women’s

health issues. On Wednesday, some 500 guests joined forces at the

Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach, for the first Orange

County American Heart Assn. “Go Red For Women” luncheon. Proceeds

from both events will benefit the group.

The Pacific Symphony’s afternoon with Jane Eaglen was a major

success, raising more than $25,000 in support of symphony education

programs. The Clubhouse at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast was the

elegant setting for last week’s event, hosting one of the world’s

celebrated dramatic sopranos. Co-chaired by Julie Wiseman and Sandra

Brown, the luncheon also had the support of symphony league president

Ina Roth. Also in the crowd were Renee Adler, Felicia Bukaty,

Catherine Emmi, Janice Johnson, Joann Leatherby, Milly Muzzy, Dorcas

Preston, Joyce Rosenblum and Doris Zwack.

The Pacific Symphony also made news recently with the announcement

of the orchestra’s first European tour, set for March 2006. A

generous $750,000 gift from John and Sandy Daniels of the Newport

Coast, coupled with support from Pacific Investment Management Co.,

Allianz Global Investors and the Segerstrom Family Foundation, will

send Maestro Carl St. Clair and the local orchestra on a 10-day tour

of some of Europe’s most prestigious concert halls.

Sterling BMW on the Coast Highway will remove its luxury

automobiles from the showroom Feb. 10 and transform the auto

dealership into a ballroom of food and fun in support of Newport

Harbor High School parents. It’s all about Grad Night 2005 and

honoring local seniors, but parents of any age students are invited

to attend to help support the event.

Led by Ann Yates and Lois Carr, a host of local volunteers will be

on hand to serve a fabulous display of food and libations -- provided

by Costa Mesa’s Hi Time Liquors -- to help raise funds to underwrite

the grad night event and to provide scholarships to students unable

to afford the grad night party. Tickets will be available at the door

for $10. For information or to donate to help underwrite the event,

please call Yates at (949) 675-1368.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.