I loved the centerpieces, which were three gorgeous long-stemmed pink roses in a silver and crystal horseshoe container alongside a stuffed white pony (see photo). How’s that for a Derby centerpiece?! Board President Artyn Gardner welcomed everyone, thanking the nonprofit’s board of directors, event chairs and their committee. The chairs, who included Pame Schmider, Beth Bidna, Eric Finley, and Gail Ross (who was unable to attend due to an illness in the family), stepped up to the podium, whereupon Schmider exclaimed, “The Kentucky Derby has nothing on us!” With that said, we were asked to pick a horse’s name from an envelope at the table and suddenly a video of a Kentucky Derby race was on the screen (this was May 3rd – before the big race), from start to finish. Everyone who picked “Mine That Bird” won the centerpiece. How clever! Clearly, the fun part of the Serious Fun party was underway!!

Now, to the serious part of the evening. If you’ve met Human Options’ co-founder and CEO Vivian Clecak, you’ll remember it. She may be tiny – less than 5 feet! – but she is mighty! Thirty-one years ago, she and three other women began a domestic violence hotline staffed by volunteers, and Vivian’s office was the trunk of her car. “Today,” she said of Human Options at the benefit, “our programs work and 90% (of the women) are violence free a year out.”

Clecak introduced longtime Human Options’ supporters and mother/daughter team Elaine Weinberg and Nancy Dahan to present the nonprofit’s Dove Award. Referring to Elaine and her late husband Martin, Clecak said, “They stood for social justice and raised five attorneys who fight for social justice and care for the empowerment of women and children.” Nancy said, “The legacy that my parents began is beautiful, and we are lucky to be in a community who wants to help others.”

One of the Human Options’ shelter graduates, Ingrid Blackwelder, spoke about her life as a victim of domestic violence. She said she stayed in her abusive marriage for eight years and finally left with her two small children and went to Human Options for help. “I have Human Options to thank for putting me in the right direction when I needed it most,” Ingrid said. She has since become an accomplished business woman and gives much credit to her success to her 20-year marriage to Clide Blackwelder, who she acknowledged along with their two children, Natalie and Jaemin.

Please note the smiling lady in my photos, who I sat next to at dinner. Her name is Kristine Ward. She is a HO graduate, and her smile says it all. “I was totally blessed to be in Human Options’ Second Step program,” she said with a radiant smile. “It stabilized me, helped me recognize my self worth and made me accountable for my decisions.” It doesn’t get any better than that!

Auctioneer Dawn Kotsonis did her magic in the live and Rebuild-A-Life auctions, which helped garner more than $300,000 in net proceeds for the nonprofit.

psst…the dessert duo, a roasted pecan ice cream ball and lemon meringue torte, was  awesome! I love dessert. Can you tell?!

It was quite the strut, with Rebecca Taylor offering animal print iphone cases, Lait, a white tea candle, a gift certificate for a chicken sandwich and cookie sundae from Chick-fil-A (with the adorable Chick-fil-A cow making an appearance), puppy treats from Mutteropolis, a complimentary manicure at The Spa at Pelican Hill, a Trina Turk scarf and $50 gift certificate, a Wine Wives jeweled wine glass, an Uno de 50 necklace, a Rox Spa $50 gift certificate and anti-oxidant serum, a Renaissance Club Sport 3-day pass and gift, a Knockout Tan buy one/get one free spray tan offer, $25 towards a LashSpot eyelash extension service, a choice of Nekter natural juices, a Sugar Face Polish mask from Fresh, a complimentary Canaletto Ristorante Veneto beverage and dessert, and a Native Foods Cafe $10 gift certificate. Gretchen Rossi from The Real Housewives of Orange County made a personal appearance to show her Gretchen Christine handbag and makeup line, with a pair of false eyelashes for everyone.

With our complimentary Stiletto Strut totes jam-packed, we gathered in the Neiman Marcus Couture Salon on the second level, where an elegant luncheon was held with a black and white theme, accented with splashes of color in the floral centerpieces donated by Orange Coast Magazine and at the Casey’s Cupcakes table, where stiletto-shaped shortbread cookies were iced in orange frosting. The Canaletto-catered luncheon was delish, as were the latest spring fashions from Neiman’s modeled informally by professional models.

A fun stiletto contest saw Tracy DiGiorgio win as Best Strutter and her daughter Isabella won the Cutest Kitten Heel, while Therese Howe won as the Most Likely to Trip in her Stilettos. With ticket sales and monies raised from the opportunity drawing, more than $22,000 was netted for cancer patients and their families through Beckstrand, a record for the event! Beckstrand’s Executive Director Lil Spitzer and the nonprofit’s national spokesperson Eva La Rue of CSI: Miami fame expressed their gratitude. La Rue had a birthday cake brought in for her mother Marcie, who was celebrating her birthday that day. Kudos are also due the event co-chairs, who included Cheryl Goldberg, Kathryn Harman, Alana Lee, and Tracy DiGiorgio.

Another highlight was meeting the gala’s special guest Mark Walberg from PBS’s Antiques Road Show. I am glued to the television every Monday night when the latest show is aired with host Walberg. I love to see what valuables people bring to the show. When Mark welcomed everyone to the gala, he joked about the confusion of his name with a renowned actor, “If you’re not familiar with Antiques Road Show, I’m not the Mark Wahlberg you expected!”

Returning gala chairs Peggy Goldwater Clay and Ardelle St.George greeted the crowd of more than 400 guests, who gathered at Atlantic Aviation at John Wayne Airport for the celebration. I loved the dinner tables’ color scheme, showcasing orange table covers and orange, purple and turquoise hydrangea floral centerpieces stuffed with glasses, books, pencils, etc. – all tools of learning. And, I especially liked event designer/producer Michael Mora featuring gala underwriter’s names on street signs throughout the room, with a nod to Sesame Street. It was delightful! The Island Hotel-catered dinner, by the way, was delish, with a great old-fashioned chicken pot pie and a scrumptious “Make Your Own S’mores” dessert.

The honor to Sesame Workshop was presented to its President/CEO H. Melvin Ming, who said of its mission, “It is a great privilege to help children perform better and reach their highest potential.” The introduction for the other honoree, Patricia S. Harrison, who is President/CEO of The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, was impressive. A video, which was compiled by PBS SoCal’s Maria Hall-Brown, featured a myriad of important individuals like Colin Powell, Ken Burns, Doris Roberts, and Jim Lehrer, who lauded Harrison for her leadership and vision. An appreciative Harrison said of the video, “I’m truly speechless!”

PBS SoCal’s 2012 Community Champions were also recognized and included Maynard Brown, a Crenshaw High School teacher; Rueben Martinez from Chapman University and Libreria Martinez Books and Art Gallery; Vital Link from Orange County; Women’s Leadership Council Arrowhead United Way from Inland Empire, and from Los Angeles County, Centro Latino for Literacy, Heal the Bay, Japanese American National Museum, Junior Achievement of Southern California, School of Wheels, and YMCA of Greater Long Beach.

Other event highlights included a performance by the All-American Boys Chorus, who sang Mr. Robert’s theme song, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” and the rousing 55-member dance band, JT & California Dreamin.’ A surprise performance by “Mel and the Mel-Adjusteds” led by PBS SoCal’s President/CEO Mel Rogers and friends (Andy Russell, Jim Mazzo, Rick Reiff, and Glenn Stearns) was quite funny, while a jam-packed live auction featured unforgettable evenings with PBS notables like news personality Judy Woodruff, producer/musician Peter Asher, dancer/choreographer Desmond Richardson, and NOVA’s senior executive producer Paula Apsell. Bidding was brisk!

The gala was emceed by Real Orange hosts Ann Pulice and Ed Arnold and also featured online personalities Maria Hall-Brown, Cami Dixon and Rick Reiff. Net proceeds of $600,000 was realized for the furtherance of PSB SoCal’s focus on education.

Best Quote: PBS SoCal’s Board Co-Chair Jo Ellen Chatham opined, “PBS is not a national treasure. It is a national necessity!”

Pssst...Antiques Road Show is coming to Anaheim June 22nd!

Selected photos by Ann Chatillon

Darlene has now landed at The Hidden Jewel in Costa Mesa. Another favorite of mine – I’ve bought some fabulous clothes there – Jessica Hughes and her darling daughter Tessa Fasick opened their ladies fashion boutique in 2010, where they are serving up a variety of unique casual fashions and accessories. Everything but shoes. “That’s why we wanted Darlene,” Tessa said at the recent grand opening of Darlene’s Antonia Shoes at The Hidden Jewel.

The opening party was great fun, with a delicious taco bar and tasty margaritas. And, there, of course, was Darlene and her “fans.” Shoe sales were booming with sandals, platforms and wedges flying out the door! Kate Eastman, one of Darlene’s customers – friends! – from her Stuart Weitzman days was trying on shoes like crazy. She left with some great choices.

I’m just so happy for my friend Darlene. She not only knows the shoe business, but she’s also a loving, giving individual. As, may I add, are Tessa and Jessica. The threesome have the perfect fashion boutique, dressing you from head to toe! Check it out!

What a clever theme for an event, “Bet on the Wheels” – referencing the wheels of the buses that transport children to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts to experience the arts. The Guilds of the Center were responsible for the fun evening, which drew 350 guests to their Spring Celebration at the Hyatt Regency Irvine.

The event wasn’t your typical sit-down dinner auction. The Guilds team, co-chaired by Bev Sandelman and Patty Lance and overseen by Guilds’ Chair Marilyn McCorkle, designed a casino evening – wheels, right? – with Elvis blaring out “Viva Las Vegas” as guests entered the ballroom to find a selection of foods from different cultures presented by the hotel’s chefs. You had your pick of an Asian Cafe, an Italian Trattoria, a Gastro Pub, and a Sweet Shoppe, all showcased in appropriately designed decor. I must admit, the sweet shoppe brought back memories of my childhood with the candy stripe awning. The martini lounge showcased a huge “Bet on the Wheels” ice sculpture and a hand-rolled cigar bar, and while guests played casino games, a magician, stilt walker and mime entertained.

One of the Segerstrom Center’s community partners, Orange County School of the Arts, provided a bevy of singers and dancers called Montage for a snappy performance as a prelude to the introduction of the event’s honorees, Tracy and Roger Kirwan. “The Guilds is excited to honor a couple that exemplifies the Guilds’ spirit of volunteerism and love for the Center and community,” McCorkle said. Roger’s comment, “We all have to give to make it work!” resonated throughout the room, as he and Tracy accepted gifts from Lugano Diamonds, who have presented gifts to the honorees for years. Tracy’s sapphire and diamond earrings and Roger’s tanzanite and platinum cuff links were exquisite. Lugano owners Idit and Moti Ferder were beaming!

The evening segued into a Fund-A-Future live auction led by auctioneer Jim Nye, with guests contributing $84,000 to the cause and Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom, who were unable to attend, calling in to contribute $25,000. The three-item raffle saw Victoria Collins win a diamond pendant from Lugano Diamonds valued at $3,500, Philip O’Carroll pick up the one-year membership to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Center Room in Segerstrom Hall and the Donor Lounge in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall valued at $2,500 and Guilds’ member Louise McClintock win the coveted $1,000 South Coast Plaza shopping spree with one-year complimentary valet parking pass valued at $1,250.

All in all, it was a delightful evening celebrating some wonderful volunteers and the efforts of the Guilds, which has raised $14.5 million for the Center since its founding in 1978. The best news? Net proceeds of $200,000 were garnered to keep those wheels turning. Hear! Hear!

Selected photos by Doug Gifford and Steve Dawson

The day began with a lovely luncheon on Hirsch Sound Stage B at Dodge’s Marion Knott Studios, where the guest panelists joined young film students from Dodge and other Dodge supporters for a delicious lunch. Bassett, who holds the Twyla Reed Martin Dean’s Chair, introduced the ladies who underwrote the event, which included, of course, Twyla Reed Martin (also event chair), as well as Laurie Rodnick, Eve Kornyei Ruffatto, Harriet Sandhu, Adrienne Brandes, and Diana Martin.

Following lunch, everyone gathered for the panel discussion in the 500-seat Folino Theater, which was also packed with Dodge film students. Billed as “building a dialogue between emerging and established women in the film industry,” I thought it was great that four Dodge College Master of Fine Arts students were honored for their work. Let me take a moment to acknowledge them. Film Production major Shayna Cohen, ’14 received the Meredith MacRae Memorial Award from Women in Film, Los Angeles; Film Production major Meredith Hicks, ’14 won The Zonta Club of Newport Harbor Award; Cinematographer Julie Ann Paholio, ’14 received her honor from the Eastman Kodak Company’s Entertainment Imaging Division; and Film and Television Producing major Alexis Stathis, ’15 was honored with the Excellence in Production Award from Entertainment Partners.

The distinctive panel of women were a mix of producers, directors, actors, editors, cinematographers, screenwriters, choreographers, and even a studio head. Dawn Taubin, known for her successful career in entertainment marketing and public relations, who is currently a Dodge College Professor of Public Relations and Advertising, moderated the panel. Donna Langley, Co-Chairman of Universal Pictures, which had the highest grossing year at the worldwide box office in the company’s 100-year history in 2012 under her leadership, shared her story in making Mama Mia. “No one thought it was a good idea, but I was convinced it was a movie I wanted to see,” she said. Langley’s point was, “Even when people tell you you’re nuts and you have a passion for it, go for it!”

As to sexism in the industry, Anne Fletcher, who has proven herself a master at directing comedy (The Proposal, 27 Dresses) and at choreographing numerous successful films (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Hairspray, Boogie Nights), said, “Sexism is going away.” To which Penelope Spheeris (Wayne’s World, Beverly Hillbillies, The Little Rascals) quipped, “If being civil doesn’t work, let the air out of their tires!” Diablo Cody, who won a WGA Award, an Independent Spirit Award and the Oscar for  Best Original Screenplay for her film Juno, advised, “A lot of women’s stories haven’t been told, so when you’re pitching your story, be the strongest person in the room.”

Dealing with mega stars, such as Jack Nicholson, was discussed by Nancy Meyers (What Women Want, It’s Complicated, Private Benjamin, Father of the Bride). She said Jack had never been directed by a woman, and it was war in the beginning on the set of Something’s Gotta Give. “I had to stand up to him, and he became a good friend,” she said. “He has never called me Nancy. He calls me ‘Chief.’” As to being pigeon holed for doing certain films, Spheeris joked, “I’m queen of the pigeon hole. After doing Wayne’s World, I couldn’t do any other film. I was this girl from a trailer park!” When Maya Rudolph of Saturday Night Live fame and more recently as a star in Bridesmaids, was asked when she knew she had made it, she quipped, “When David Letterman introduced me as ‘Mia’ on his show.” Meyers summed up the panel discussion by saying, “Remember, you have a story to tell as a woman.”

Selected photos: Michael Munson

Leading up to the “Fashion with a Heart” luncheon and runway fashion show featuring 40 men from the community at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, an event tradition continued featuring a four-man color guard from the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment from Camp Pendleton, who presented the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance. Tony, who by the way, is President/CEO of Rancho Mission Viejo, and his co-chair George O’Connell, President/CEO of O’Connell Landscape Maintenance, took the stage to thank the many event underwriters. Tony recalled the benefit’s beginnings with the support of people I remember with great fondness, who are now no longer with us - fashion expert Kitty Leslie, who coordinated the fashion show, event founders General Tom and Emma Jean Riley, supporter Carl’s Jr.’s founder Carl Karcher, and Tony’s uncle and Rancho Mission Viejo icon Richard O’Neill. Tony lauded his 96-year-old mother Alice O’Neill Avery for her love and support over the years and when he introduced her to the gathering, applause abounded. She is a beautiful woman!

O’Connell introduced Sister Jane Stafford, Sister General of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart, who operate the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center, and said of her, “Sister Jane has been a big inspiration to our family for many years.” Sister Jane introduced the Sacred Heart Kids’ Club and teen staff, who along with the 2nd grade class from the Blessed Sacrament School in Westminster, entertained everyone by singing several songs. Two children gave heartfelt testimonials as to the influence of the Sacred Heart Sisters and their ministries, and when the kids later delivered hand-written thank-you cards to each of the 485 guests, it was a touching moment (see Maggie’s photo with her card).

Next came the fashion show with men of all ages and walks of life strutting their stuff wearing clothes from At Ease, Bloomingdale’s, Garys, St. Croix, Tommy Bahama, and even some western duds from Freddy Love’s Ortega Tack & Feed in San Juan Capistrano. Returning after the hiatus to once again commentate the show were two very funny people - Malanie Fitch of Irrelevant Week fame and Peter Buffa, former mayor of Costa Mesa. With Fitch and Buffa’s hilarious repartee and hoots, whistles and hollers accompanying the show, Antonello’s Antonio Cagnolo walked the runway with his darling 10-month old baby girl, Bill Watts sported western attire with his handy lasso and a troika of men from Mater Dei High School walked the walk, including Father Steve Sallott, head football coach Bruce Rollinson and principal Patrick Murphy. Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s President (principal) Paul Carey was also in the mix.

Bluewater Grill’s Jim Ulcickas (“Jimmy U” for short) loved the cowboy look, as did Gary Urban and former Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates. The Ritz Restaurant’s Ray Jacobi and Olympic water polo star Jeremy Lester wore duds from Garys and O’Connell’s sons Kevin and Brady smiled their way through wearing fashions from Bloomingdale’s, as did the handsome Anthony Curci. Discovery Science Center’s Joe Adams walked for At Ease and Eric Sellas and Marc Lamkin sported hunting clothes from KUIU. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Grant Williams took the runway in his “official” attire and received heartfelt applause.

The fun event realized net proceeds of more than $230,000 for the Sacred Heart Center, which welcomes 12,000 to 14,000 attendees annually

Fun Aside: Haberdashery supporter Paul Salada, who modeled in the show for many years, told me about the time he arrived to model and his clothes weren’t in the garment bag, “so I wore the garment bag,” he quipped (see photo of Salada holding the picture of him wearing the garment bag). That’s Paul!!

Selected photos courtesy of Carla Rhea and Cindy Marie

One of my favorite chefs is the Golden Truffle’s Alan Greeley (see photo with his amazing GM Letia Short). He always creates such delicious tacos, and this year his Brazilian taco wrapped in a banana leaf featuring a tortilla filled with cactus, cheese and chiles topped with a beef and pork chile and green chile salsa verde was no exception. Alessandro Pirozzi of Alessa and Mare Culinary Lounge fame created an octopus and sea urchin version in a fennel salad with a spicy lemon vinaigrette, and along those same lines, Five Crowns’ Greg Harrison offered a charred octopus taco with spicy sauerkraut, cilantro and chorizo. Is that exotic enough for you? Or, how about Primal Academy Catering’s Paul Buchanan’s Lindner Ranch bison taco with smoked onion marmalade and Gladys Farm greens in a pasilla and lime avocado cream? If you like hot dogs (and I do!), you would have loved Sol Cocina’s Octavio Flores’ Sonoran hot dog taco with bacon, onions, pickled jalapeños, cheese, and lime sauce. Yum! Taco Asylum’s Greg Daniels’ taco choice was BBQ beef tongue with spicy bacon, BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, watercress and a ruffled potato chip, while  Manny Gonzalez’s choice from Taps Fish House and Brewery was a crispy rabbit confit taco topped with spring veggies on a carrot chipotle tortilla. Chris Powell of Orange Hill Restaurant opted for a guajillo orange-braised goat taco with shaved jicama, mandarin orange and a creamy cilantro pesto, and Island Hotel’s David Man chose a lamb taco on garlic naan bread with cucumber raita.

Pork was the choice for two chefs - Richard Mead of Sage and Canyon fame with his braised pork tacos on crispy corn tortillas with roast poblano peppers, carmelized onions, Oaxacan cheese, cabbage, red chile juice, and pickled jalapeños, and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach’s Jose Rodriguez’s pork belly verde taco with roasted corn, vegetable escabeche and cotija cheese. Two chefs chose chicken, with Rasta Taco’s Lou Tista crafting a Jamaican jerk chicken taco with red cabbage and roasted mango, cilantro cream sauce and Scotch Bonnet salsa, while Flavor Rush Taco Truck’s Ted Rodriguez created a chicken with tropical mango salsa taco. Four chefs chose beef as their meat ingredient - The Catch’s Nelson Barillas’ roasted brisket corn tortilla taco with chipotle-spiced sauce and Queso Oaxaca topped with spicy pickled vegetables, Andrei’s Yves Fournier’s chipotle-braised beef short rib tacos with mushrooms, goat cheese, pickled carrots, cipollini onions, and roasted pineapple-habanero chile salsa, Newport Rib Company’s Salvatore Gonzales’ slow roast tri-tip corn tortilla tacos with sour cream cinantro salsa and green hot salsa, and Red Table’s Louie Jocson’s steak tartare taco with soy-ginger vinaigrette, wasabi creme fraiche, chives, roasted macadamia nuts, and tobikko caviar.

Fish was not forgotten as The Quiet Woman’s Lynne Campbell chose mesquite grilled swordfish tacos with cilantro slaw and chipotle cream, Newport Beach Plaza’s Mark Gagnon served sake salmon on a wasabi wonton crisp with daikon dragon salad, Yard House’s Carlito Jocson chose a squash, onion, tomato, serrano guisado taco with shrimp chorizo and chipotle habanero creme, and Franco Barone from Il Barone Ristorante served shrimp and spaghetti vegetable tacos with fava beans. Marco Zapien from Melissa’s Produce opted for a veggie taco with Dutch yellow potatoes topped with kale sprouts, leeks and carrots. Dessert tacos were served by Rachel Klemek from Blackmarket Bakery with her yummy chocolate, banana, butterscotch tacos with salt and pepper marshmallow garnish, and Arti Anand from Vijay’s Cheesecakes, who created a chocolate chipotle cheesecake topped with chocolate ganache.

Tequila sponsor Tres Sietes Tequila served up some mighty tasty margaritas, a muddled strawberry and cucumber and a grapefruit and jalapeño combination (it was delish!) The event drew 675 guests and netted an estimated $70,600 to support the SOS Aid Project, which helps feed Orange County residents at risk of going hungry. All in all, it was a very satisfying affair with fabulous tacos and a sense of knowing you were helping those in need.

“It was Paul Musco’s idea to do a Guys and Dolls in Las Vegas theme,” CHOC Follies Director John Vaughan told me at the cast party following the second show at Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre. Musco, an avid Follies fan, was the Wizard in a former Follies featuring a Wizard of Oz theme. “The show is really a twist between Guys and Dolls and It’s a Wonderful Life,” Vaughan further explained. I can only tell you there was a fair share of chorus girls, gangsters and innocents in the cast, so I guess that’s an apt description!

The crazy tale of “Guys, Gals and Romance in the Land of Lady Luck,” as the subtitle suggested at this year’s 16th annual CHOC Follies’ “Viva CHOC Vegas” show, was a hoot, with 92 community members volunteering their time to raise money for CHOC Children’s, one of the premiere children’s hospitals in the country.

The show’s plot featured a girl named Lufthansa (Susan Crouse), whose dream is to earn her wings – I told you it was a little crazy! In order to do so, Archangel Gabriel (Steven Hirsch) tells her she must go to Las Vegas and find loves for three people – Sheik Ahmed Al Desirey (Paul-Dean Martin), Lucky Fettuccini (Shawn Hoctor) and Chita Swindle (Juliet Schulein). She is aided by a bevy of angels and thwarted at every turn by a devil-like character named Babylon (Nancy Livingston), who was hilarious as a look-and-sound-alike Mae West. On Lufthansa’s quest, she is met by an assortment of characters, including show girls, gangsters, Vegas entertainers (Elton John, Bette Midler, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Donnie Osmond, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton), music superstars Beyonce and Taylor Swift (with a chain of boyfriends!), even Barbara Walters and Katie Couric, and, last, but not least, members of the Royal Family – Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince William and Kate.

Song and dance along the way is always part of the show’s charm. Opening with “Luck Be a Lady Tonight” with the entire cast, the show also featured such gems as “Walk Like an Egyptian,” “If You Follow Your Heart,” “Anything Goes” (also a great tap dance number!), “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” and “New York, New York.” When Lufthansa finally unites her three people with the loves of their lives – the Sheik with Cheerwine Smooch (April Molina), Chita with Jean-Luc St. Amour (Dominic Lopez)  - don’t you just love those names?! – and Fettucini with Roxie (Tamara Bullock), the finale stretched over several songs, including a great “Blow Gabriel Blow” number with soloists Kathleen Duffy, Laurie Compton, Sheila Nicole, and Kerry Melachouris. A more serious “Wind Beneath My Wings” number showed a touching CHOC Children’s video featuring soloists Samantha Goldstein, Mia Maffei and Diane Marshall, and a rousing “Viva Las Vegas,” changed to “Viva CHOC Vegas” for the occasion, brought down the house with the famous Elvis, played by Tony Wong, making an appearance.

The inspiration behind the evening, Gloria Zigner, who is CHOC Folllies founder and executive producer, was introduced by Vaughan, and the show’s co-chairs – Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, Dale Skiles and SueAnn Cross, who were all in the show – were in turn recognized, as well as the show’s music director Doug Austin and choreographer Lee Martino. The show’s Associate Producer Lois Augustine told the audience that the monies raised from the four shows, which drew more than 2,500 ticket holders, would benefit the operations of CHOC Children’s in-house radio station called Ryan Seacrest Studios. The net proceeds turned out to be $500,000, with the Follies contributing more than $6 million to CHOC over the years. Pretty impressive!

Rebecca Minkoff

The tall, lithe, attractive designer was in her glory meeting customers at her personal appearance. She greeted everyone warmly, answered fashion questions and autographed her handbags, which were displayed all around her, while models wearing Minkoff’s spring designs sauntered throughout the store. Customers and interested watchers were served fun canned drinks and delectable appetizers as a DJ, who doubled as an announcer, played the latest pop music. I was especially intrigued with a studded fuschia pink clutch, which showcased two mini-speakers inside (see photo), which I later found out was called the Rebecca Minkoff for Stelle Audio “Studded Speaker” clutch. It disguises a Bluetooth-enabled wireless speaker to enable the holder to play music or talk on the hands-free phone. Pretty cool, I must say!

When I was able to talk to Rebecca in private following her appearance, I asked her how she felt about her success since launching her signature five piece apparel line in 2001. “It feels like a miracle,” she said. “I never thought I would have a brand this big.” Today, Minkoff’s brand showcases a wide range of apparel, handbags, footware, jewelry, and accessories in more than 700 stores worldwide. Asked about being considered the creator of the studded handbag craze, she replied, “I’ve always had a love of hardware and metal in general – zippers, studs, etc., and when I launched my handbags in 2005 and did a studded group the second season, it just took off. It did so well, I concentrated on handbags and didn’t design fashion again until 2009.” I might add here that this young designer beat out Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Gucci, Michael Kors, and many more, to the studded hardware faze in handbags.

Minkoff’s fashion designs are in the sportswear/daywear categories. “I design everything from blouses to jackets to pants (she has a great offering of jeans this year) to dresses, which you can either to go work in or out in (considered cocktail dresses),” she said. “We’ve also recently branched out into outerwear.”

When asked about her goal, she says, “The goal is to offer a lifestyle brand with the full offering, but we’re not even close to doing fragrance, cosmetics or home.” Then, she reveals, “Every area that my girl lives I want to touch.” Who is your girl, I ask. “We market to what we call the ‘sexy tomboy,’ but we also sell to mothers, grandmothers and daughters. When I started I was 24 so I was designing for girls my age, but now that I’m older, I want to appeal to the 13-year-olds and the 60-year-olds.” Something tells me this talented, business-saavy designer is going to be around a long time. Kudos to you, Rebecca!