A Princess at a New Year’s Eve Party

Mrs. Charles Harrison May held her pet poodle, Princess, in her arms as she greeted guests for the New Year’s Eve bash she and her husband gave at their Point Loma home. Hours later, as guests departed, she was still cradling Princess, who remained peaceful and relaxed throughout. Princess became an unexpected guest at the soiree when the sitter hired to care for her reneged and, well, it just wouldn’t have done for Princess to have spent the evening as she would have liked, sleeping on top of the coats piled on a bed.

Among those who stayed to greet the New Year were Euphemia Warren, now living in La Jolla, and her dancer-daughter, Mia Warren, who will appear with the Ballet Society in January. Tijuana merchant Ernesto Ellis was there (Mrs. Ellis wore bright holiday red) with the report that holiday business on Avenida Revolucion had been fine, thank you. Tom and Sarah Jane Sayer were there in black tie, arriving late after partying at the San Diego Yacht Club earlier.

Tom Fleming danced in the New Year with Christianne Halle. Former City Councilman Alan Hitch and his wife, Judy, got into the dancing with gusto, as did Vicki and Haley Rogers, Glenn and Lilo Miller, and Ray and Bill Rippee.

The Huo-Vila catering organization of Coronado provided a buffet of Greek dishes, using its own recipes and recipes provided by the host and hostesses.

Lucy Huddell and Karen and Jerry Ferm and their committee transformed the San Diego Museum of Art into a Middle East pasticcio for the museum’s Young Connoisseurs’ New Year’s Eve gala entitled “A Thousand and One Nights.” Make-believe camels (in real life, members of the Coronado Job’s Daughters) greeted guests. The hall outside Copley Auditorium was a tented food station dispensing pilaf-stuffed grape leaves and other goodies. The auditorium itself had the feeling of a Bedouin bazaar, with flags hanging from the ceiling, tented food stations all around, and tables arranged diagonally. L. Michael Johns was the master of catering.

Rich Wise, who was born in San Francisco (his date was Susan Zale), wore an authentic outfit from Morocco. Ghassan El-Khoury, who was born in Beirut (he was with his bride, Lisa), wore a tuxedo. The invitation called for veil and fez or black tie optional.

Enjoying it all were Richard Esparza with Jeanie Anderson, La Cienega gallery owner Jill Youngblood (she has a Robert Parkison show coming in February), Dan and Nancy Smith, Robert and Kathy Horsman (they entertained a few friends before the party at their suite, an earlier drawing prize, at the Hotel Inter-Continental), Bob and Ann Gallagher, Don and Sharon Balfour, and Marsha and Henry Ingersoll.

Al and Nancy Ringewald were winners of a hot air balloon trip at the Young Connoisseurs’ party, and that was a coincidence because Nancy is chairman of an early morning balloon ride, brunch and wine tasting at Temecula on Jan. 26. It is to be a benefit of the Women’s Auxiliary of Salk Institute. Vans leave San Diego at 4:30 in the morning for a 7 a.m. balloon takeoff.