Powereaters: The Best Get More Tips Than the Waiters

Powereating--the particularly L.A. phenomenon where consuming food is done for charity, politics or the politics of charities.

The choicest tidbits that powereaters feed on? Tips, like these tasty morsels:

First Daughter Maureen Reagan was talking up her new political action committee. She’s met with heavy-hitter women here about joining the PAC that would help the campaigns of Republican women. . . . Larry Hagman might have been at his Malibu home--but his heart was in Dallas. He’s shooting the narration for an eight-part PBS series on Texas, to air next year, the 150th birthday of the Lone Star State. . . . Pols on both coasts wonder how much the new partnership of those veteran whiz kids--pollster Pat Caddell, Kennedy speech writer Bob Schrum and veteran campaigner David Doak--is going to cost already established political consultant firms, several of which are run by good buddies of the Democrat trio.

BENEFIT CURTAIN--At the benefit/birthday party for Edwin Lester and his Civic Light Opera, munching at the $250-a-head buffet were representatives of the James Nederlander organization. This was a surprise because Music Center sources reported last week that theater-owner Nederlander had stymied ticket-selling efforts by refusing to hand over the CLO’s mailing list. This column even quoted a highly placed Music Center source to the effect that Nederlander had given a $10,000 contribution only after the mailing-list issue was revealed in the press.

Whoops! Nederlander did pledge $10,000 for the benefit, but did it two months ago. Ah. That’s even more interesting and generous in that the money from the benefit was not going to help the popular CLO--the only performing company that takes no subsidy from the Music Center. The benefit money was earmarked for more highbrow endeavors, like the Philharmonic and the newly imported Joffrey Ballet.

CATCHING UP--It used to be if a ticket for a big hotel benefit cost more than $100, black-tie went with it. That’s changed. Now black-tie, high-ticket affairs are frequently smaller fetes held in homes, in the party rooms of restaurants--or at the Bel-Air home of UC Regent Sheldon Andelson. His house was busier this week than LAX--dinner with Sen. Ted Kennedy, a reception for new DNC chair Paul Kirk and a party for philanthropist Dorothy Corwin.

The slimming-down Kennedy and supporters dined on veal. They gathered around intimate tables groaning under centerpieces resembling Rose Parade floats. Kennedy’s L.A. stop, at the end of the congressional recess, was a finale to a week of fund-raising events for his PAC. He’s warmed up to his slightly formal pre-presidential mode: Working the room, he met about two dozen new supporters who’d donated at least $1,000 to his PAC and chatted with old friends like Hope Warshaw. His former roommate, John Tunney, made a long and eloquent toast, causing Kennedy to quip: “You’re getting better, John. What kind of wine are they serving tonight?”

(At least 50 of the PAC contributors who have paid the full $5,000 allowable annual ante were expected the next night at Max Palevsky’s, but fewer than three dozen actually showed up.)

Personal and moving was the Sunday event at Andelson’s honoring philanthropist Dorothy Corwin for her service to the community. She was cited by Alternative Living for the Aging. On hand: son Bruce, with wife Toni; daughter Bonnie Fuller with husband Irv; her four grandchildren and longtime friends Victor and Adrea Carter, Mike and Binnie Frankovich and Joe and Ruth Sinay.

Very political and crowded was the Paul Kirk reception Tuesday evening, drawing lots of party loyalists. Later, a more select group--like Orange County rainmaker David Stein, Marc and Jane Nathanson, the Jr. Former Gov. Brown, Pro Peace’s David Mixner and Andelson--moved on to dinner with Kirk and wife Gail at Trumps. An unusual note: Just before Kirk joined his already seated dinner companions, Andelson suggested that he say a few words--presumably about the Democratic Party. Instead, Kirk began, “Bless us, Oh Lord,” and said grace. Some would wag that prayer might be the answer to Democratic woes this year, but really. . . .

SECOND LADY: When Barbara Bush gets the Woman of the World award at the Childhelp benefit luncheon May 9 at the Century Plaza, there’ll be a hefty number of Republican women in the audience. That’s because a letter went out from June Haver MacMurray, a longtime Childhelp supporter, to those GOP gals, urging a “good ‘Republican showing’ ” for the wife of the vice president. There’s little danger of an empty seat; the annual event draws upward of 1,600, and Barbara Bush is a popular person in Southern California. Childhelp works in the field of child abuse and abuse prevention.

IMAGE MAKING--Look for a professionally directed major public relations effort by Cal State L.A. to tell people that the East L.A. campus is a swell place to go to school. And remember, next fall that campus is the site of the new High School for the Performing Arts for Los Angeles.

NOW SHOWING: Some L.A. luxury cars now sport a decal on the window, reading, in large letters, “No Stereo.”

Appearing on apparently liberal lapels: a political button that carries a stunning photograph of Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird--and nothing else. No slogan, no identification.

Table-hopping-made-easy was done by the organizers of the recent Coro Foundation dinner at the Beverly Hilton. Benefitgoers were given a map showing the placement of the numbered tables--and on the back, a list of everyone attending, with their table number beside their name. Its caveat: “ . . . the map cannot accurately portray the whereabouts of individuals wandering about the ballroom, utilizing this map.”

IN AND OUT: Fresno Congressman Tony Coelho, who heads up the major fund-raising committee for congressional Democrats, will be honored at an afternoon reception April 28. It’s at the home of Les Klinger, an attorney at Manatt, Phelps, and is being put on by state Democratic maven Peter Kelly.

Don Livingston will host a reception for Assembly Minority Leader Pat Nolan at the Jonathan Club on May 2. It’s a pre-sale for Nolan’s June 15 fund-raiser, an evening at “Cats” with a fancy dinner thrown in.

Rep. Jim Wright, the Texas Democrat who serves as majority leader, will be at State Sen. Merv Dymally’s fund-raiser May 3.

BIPARTISAN BISTRO: At the Bistro Garden this week on a sunny afternoon was longtime Reagan buddy Erlenne Sprague. No surprise, since the Canon Drive spot is a favorite with Nancy Reagan’s best friends. But, at a table across the garden were two of Mayor Tom Bradley’s closest advisers, Fran Savitch and Board of Public Works Chair Maureen Kindel--obviously toasting his victory. Joining them was public relations person Barbara Fouch. Savitch, administrative coordinator to Bradley, will be honored by the Women’s Overseas Education Fund International at a dinner at the Rex on May 19. She and Kindel are both members of the board.

GET READY--Now everyone can be “famous for 15 minutes,” at least every four or six weeks. That’s how often Andy Warhol, the artist-writer-Polaroid picture taker who made the 15-minute quip, will be in town to host his Interview magazine parties at Nipper’s in the Rodeo Collection.

KIDS’ CULTURE--When it opens at the Children’s Museum with a reception May 3, the installation showing Mexican-American culture and heritage marks the beginning of “Ethnic L.A,” an exhibit sponsored by the museum’s Inner Circle. “Ethnic L.A.” will house a series of installations focusing on the cultural heritage of ethnic groups that make up the L.A. population.