THE CROWDCulture, cocktails and caviar on the riviera

A glamorous summer evening on the California Riviera raised more than $500,000 for the Orange County Museum of Art. The funds raised will benefit the museum’s exhibition and public programs.

Chaired by Newport’s own “Perle Mesta” ? Maralou Harrington ? the party was a nonstop tribute to culture in this community. Organizers, including co-chairs Jennifer Segerstrom and Jennifer Van Bergh, call the once-a-year event “The Art of Dining.”

Cocktails were served at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Center at a private preview for patrons of the exhibition “Catherine Opie: In and Around Home.” The handsome crowd, including hostess extraordinaire Harrington looking trés chic in her white silk dinner suit accented on one shoulder with the largest silk camellia ever created and dapper husband Jerry Harrington (a one-man factoid who should appear on TV’s Jeopardy), mingled with distinguished guests including Ronnie and Byron Allumbaugh, Lilly and Paul Merage, Suzanne and Jim Mellor, Suki and Randy McCardle, Peggie and Robert Sprague, Valarie and Bob Wahler, Sheila and Ygal Sonenshine, Sandi and Ron Simon, and DeeDee and Don Sodaro.

A fabulous caviar bar was the centerpiece of the reception. Guests sampled smoked salmon on scallion pancakes with chive crème fraiche and a healthy dollop of Russian caviar. By 8 p.m., the art fest traveled up the boulevard to the newly anointed Island Hotel for yet another reception and the main event.

The doors to the ballroom opened to audible sighs as party planners revealed a stylish dining room staged by Best Events, Los Angeles. Massive floral arrangements towered on tables set for a four-course dinner prepared by Island chef Bill Bracken. A chilled lobster salad with white asparagus began the dining extravaganza, which featured a main course of pan-roasted petite filet mignon with braised veal ravioli. Spotted in the elegant summer crowd were generous patrons Barbara and Alex Bowie, Marsha and Darrel Anderson, Pat and Gene Hancock, Eve Kornyei and Stan Hanson, Twyla and Charles Martin, Jan and Mike Salta, Pat and Carl Neisser, Donna and Ron Phelps, Debra Gunn Downing and Harriet Wieder.

The evening was dedicated to Richard Serra, considered one of the pre-eminent contemporary American sculptors. Serra recently graced the dedication of his work in Orange County fronting the soon-to-debut Segerstrom Center for the Arts at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Serra created a work entitled “The Connector,” bridging the old and new buildings at the center. In his quiet and circumspect manner, the artist who has achieved worldwide acclaim addressed the museum’s crowd and paid tribute to his benefactors ? Henry Segerstrom and his wife Elizabeth ? who were unable to attend the dinner celebration. Serra commented, “I am awed by Henry’s vision, his passion for art, his intelligence. He is a most remarkable person. Henry and Elizabeth Segerstrom have become my friends.”

In keeping with “Art of Dining” tradition, a live auction offered world-class prizes, which included dining and travel packages, as guests danced the night away to the Al Cowling Band. If that were not enough, the party shifted back to the museum for midnight toasts and more dancing to DJ Filip Nikolic.

Also supporting the museum were Jean and Tim Weiss, Zee Allred, Michelle and Paul Janavs, Ellen Marshall and Robert Arnold, Gail and Roger Kirwan, Joan and Tom Riach, Andrew Gromek, Joyce and Tom Tucker, and Elizabeth and Tom Tierney.