The Crowd:

Where were you July 20, 1969? I was in a summer school science class in Northern California when America landed on the moon.

The science teacher was out of his mind with excitement. He brought in a television set (which was a big deal in 1969, to have a TV in the classroom) and for a few days all we did was watch the reports coming in on the lunar landing. The biology curriculum took a back seat.

I remember it well because at the time, as a teenager, I was more wrapped up in issues including civil rights and the environment and I did not appreciate the magnificence of the occasion or fully comprehend its ramifications.

Mercedes salesman to the stars Kurt Dawson at Fletcher Jones Motorcars, e-mailed a photograph taken on the 20th anniversary of the lunar landing.

On July 20, 1989, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and his wife, Lois, lived in Newport Beach and were often seen around town, active in social circles.

The Balboa Bay Club hosted a black-tie dinner for Aldrin on the 20th anniversary of the moon landing and Aldrin is seen at the center of this photo surrounded by a bunch of young Turks, all of whom are still alive and well and proud to remember their association with “The Man on the Moon.”

Joining Dawson in the photo are fellow car moguls Ron Newman and Robert Harrell, real estate resort developer Zack Wright, home builder Jeff Rueter and super successful architect Carl McLarand.

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has been unbelievably busy this summer producing mega events seemingly one after another.

The Breakers Tennis tournament over at the Newport Beach Country Club with all the big tennis stars has been a big draw for the community and the hospital. Andre Agassi was spotted last week dining at the Balboa Bay Club attracting big attention thanks to the Internet.

His appearance was publicized on Twitter and within minutes the tennis star was surrounded by adoring fans.

In mid-June a special 2009 Invitational Yacht Regatta offered a grand prize known as “The Hoag Cup” raising some $200,000 for the Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.

The Hoag Cup is the largest single charitable regatta event in the world, and it brought an amazing spectacle of large yacht racing to the waters off the coast of Newport Beach.

It was the third biannual regatta for Hoag and the three-day competition attracted such world-class yachts such as Roy Disney’s “Pyewacket III,” Jim Madden’s “Stark Raving Mad V” and Ed McDowell’s “Grand Illusion.” Pyewacket took the 2009 Hoag Cup, which accompanied a Corum Admiral’s Cup Trophy Watch donated by Corum USA and Traditional Jewelers.

Glenn Highland chaired the regatta for Hoag helping to create a partnership between the hospital and local yacht clubs including the Balboa Yacht Club and the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

Highland was joined by Jake Rohrer and Lula Halfacre, along with Hoag Hospital Foundation chairman Jim Madden throwing a major Saturday evening celebration following the race at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

They called it “The Big Boat Wine Bash” attended by some 250 nautical guests sampling fine California vintages and enjoying a light supper.

Coming up Aug. 13, Hoag 552 supporters will throw their annual summer movie-screening party at Edwards Big Newport in Fashion Island. The 2009 screening will be “The Time Traveler’s Wife.”

The event will also feature the major parking lot dinner extravaganza donated by many Orange County restaurants.

Recently our friends at South Coast Plaza threw a marvelous summer event they called “Stars of Santa Barbara.”

The outdoor party benefited the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, and attracted hundreds of summer guests to the Garden Terrace sampling some 40 varieties of wine from the Santa Barbara region.

Every dollar made went to Second Harvest.

Some of the fine wineries represented were Buttonwood, Star Lane, Flying Goat, JONATA, Longoria, Sweeney Canyon, Riverbench and Three Saints.

Orange County restaurants including Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdales, Lawry’s Carvery, Pinot Provence, Morton’s, Antonello Ristorante and Marche Moderne, among other fine establishments, provided a taste of Orange County to accompany the Santa Barbara wines.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.