B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

The Westin Hotel at South Coast Plaza recently hosted a special car

show billed as “Concours de Nice.” The presentation attracted hundreds of

local car enthusiasts examining and envying 80 spectacular entrants in

the show. Sponsored by Megurier’s Auto Polish and produced by the Cobra

Owner’s Club of Orange County, the show was chaired by Richard Munroe and

Norm Jesch.

* * *

Across town, there were no classic cars but an incredible contingent

of young Orange County professionals who volunteer for the Alzheimer’s

Assn. It was the fifth annual Casino Night for Team-X-Treme. The evening,

which took place at the Village Crean in Newport Beach, featured casino

gambling (all pretend, of course), a martini bar and dinner sponsored by

Outback Steak House.

Amy Daugherty, chair of the event, commented: “The martini bar was

especially popular. Many of the people enjoying the martinis headed

straight for the palm reader.”

It’s always easier to face a palm reader with an ice-cold martini in

your palm. After dinner, a silent auction and more palm reading, the

crowd of some 200 people, each paying $50 to attend the event, hit the

dance floor.

Co-chair of the evening, Marni Luthur reported, “Our goal was to raise

$33,000 for the Alzheimer’s help line, which benefits more than 350 new

callers each and every month.”

* * *

Attention all show business parents and ambitious children, on July 21

from noon to 2 p.m. Fashion Island will be the site of the Seventeen

Magazine Model Search on the California Riviera. Teens, both guys and

girls, from the age of 12 up to the adult entry age of 24 may enter the

model search for a chance to win $250 and to appear in a future edition

of “Check It Out,” a feature page in Seventeen Magazine.

You don’t have to be anorexic. You don’t have to be “Mr. Macho.” There

are no height or weight requirements. Model search editors will be

looking for high-energy girls and guys who stand out on the runway.

Organizers are planning a dance party at Fashion Island for all of the

entrants featuring the sounds of Summer 2001 provided by KIIS-FM

personality and deejay Valentine.

* * *

The Center Stage Chapter of the Guilds of the Orange County Performing

Arts Center are in the final phase of organizing their upcoming Hot Blues

on a Cool Summer Night.

The ninth annual musical fund-raiser will take place July 26 at South

Coast Plaza Village in Costa Mesa. Jerry Black, chair of the blues fest,

reports that the Bernie Pearl Blues Band will headline the evening with

Maestro J opening the show.

Black explained that the blues evening is an exclusive annual event of

The Guilds, and it is a rare opportunity to enjoy an outstanding

performance from prominent artists and be treated to culinary delights

all evening long. A variety of local restaurants will donate their fare.

Working with Jerry Black is a committee of dedicated volunteers that

includes Edward Chew, Barbara Fischer, Jennifer Meir, Char Garon and San

Dei English to name only a few. For more information, call Barbara

Fischer at (714) 526-5667.

* * *

The estate of Dr. and Mrs. Louis VanderMolen was opened to guests last

week to support the 2001 Cattle Baron’s Ball, benefiting the American

Cancer Society. The summer soiree in the hills of the Newport Coast

attracted a chic crowd comprised of the executive committee of the Cattle

Baron League. The third annual extravaganza is set to take place Oct. 20

under a giant tent erected at the Newport Dunes on the Back Bay.

Organizers hope to increase the annual tally. The Cattle Baron League

has raised close to $1.2 million during the past two seasons. Bobbitt

Williams serves as president of the league, with dedicated assistance

from Nella Webster, Joyce Weiss, Donna Bianchi, Barbara Steinberg, Bibi

Benderman, Sandy Miller, John Webber and Carol Wilken.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.