Mouth-Watering Block Party on Rodeo

Sunday, May 19. Another day that will go down in gourmet history.

In the afternoon the Concern Foundation closes off Rodeo Drive (the part that really counts for status seekers) and stages its annual block party, the 11th in the series. The theme for Rococo’s food stations (you must remember that this is a feasting kind of party) will be “Americana a la Mode,” which means there will be food from every food-savvy area of the country. Pierre Cossette who produces this yearly extravaganza will be the man of the hour, honored for his contributions to Concern. Andy Williams will be center stage during an afternoon of continuous entertainment by cloggers, fiddlers, banjo pickers and jazz and blues musicians. And finally silver-tongued Monty Hall will conduct the live (and loud) auction.

Concern puts its money behind research in the field of immunology to “Conquer Cancer Now.” Joan Schaeffer is Concern’s president and block party co-chairs are Ruthe Coleman, Norman Greenbaum, Joyce Powell and Cyrille Schiff.

That evening it’s the Fraternity of Friends of the Music Center who are meeting at Max au Triangle to work their way through a multi-course gourmet dinner prepared by an “International Symphony of Young Chefs.” It’s the Fraternity’s annual dinner, a stag affair, except for an intrepid female journalist or two who may sneak in to report on the affair. These fellows are not shy about publicity.

Fred Roberts, the Fraternity member who dreamed this all up, reports that the participating chefs will be Patrick Jamon of Les Anges, Susumu Fukui of La Petite Chaya, Claude Segal of Bistango, Ken Frank of La Toque and Max’s Joachim Splichal and Gerhard Michler. Each of the toqued masters of the range will prepare a course to blend and meld with the rest of the menu. It should be a mouth-watering evening.

This year the Fraternity fellas are thinking big and bold. They’re out to raise $450,000 for the Music Center Unified Fund and to help underwrite the Music Center’s resident companies.

There’s still more news on the Music Center front. This time it concerns the Amazing Blue Ribbon and its “The Other Side of the Curtain” series of peeks at what goes on backstage at the Music Center. The May 20 session at the Mark Taper Forum will look at “The Theatre.” Featuring the Taper’s artistic director Gordon Davidson it will also include performances by members of the Taper Repertory Company. And because it’s Nancy Olson Livingston’s last appearance as the Blue Ribbon’s executive president, a post she held for three years, this session will be a little more festive than most. Right after the performances there’ll be a cocktail and supper party in the Pavilion Restaurant.

Nancy Livingston may be turning over the Blue Ribbon gavel to Keith Kieschnick, but she’ll continue “producing” the behind-the-curtain series. It’s her baby.

Red Letter Dates: Next Thursday for the 36th annual Humanitarians Awards dinner of the Retailers and Manufacturers Division of the National Conference of Christians and Jews at the Beverly Hilton. Helping to host the evening are J.W. Robinson’s and the department store chain’s president Alfonso Schettini who is also dinner chairman. Receiving the awards will be Tom Johnson, Times publisher and CEO; Raymond Klauer, chairman of the May Co., California, and comedian Norm Crosby.

May 19 for the Americana Associates’ Americana Ball at the Beverly Wilshire honoring Mrs. William Ramsey Clark, wife of the former secretary of the Interior and presidential pal, and featuring Gen. Daniel Graham, a presidential adviser involved with Project High Frontier as guest speaker. Mrs. George P. Shultz, wife of the secretary of state, is honorary chairman. The Associates, founded by Mrs. Thomas Malouf and her sister Mrs. Bert Bergess Malouf, is a local support group for the State Department’s Project Americana.

This morning when the Junior League of Pasadena has Mrs. George Bush, wife of the vice president, as guest speaker at its “Literacy in America” program in the Friends Hall of the Huntington Library.

May 22 and June 26 for the Westwood Marquis’ gourmet evenings (wines from Landmark and Sonoma County Premium) benefitting Para Los Ninos, the Skid Row facility for children.

Wednesday for Les Dames de Champagne’s “Summerscape” at Neiman-Marcus in Beverly Hills. Mrs. Bob Ray Offenhauser is chairing this third annual “Entertain with Style” demonstration with help from Metropolitan Home Magazine. When there’s a pause high tea will be served.

Today when the Jeffrey Foundation raises money for handicapped children with a garden party at the home of Senegal’s Consul General Joseph Bolker and his wife Victoria. In the honor spot--Sybil Brand, Mary Ann Mobley and Gary Collins and philanthropist W. Clement Stone.

Wednesday when the United Hostesses’ Charities host a membership luncheon and Hermes stages a preview of its fall-winter collection in the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom. The group supports and maintains the United Hostesses’ Cardiac Catheterization Center, the Harold J. Mirisch Fellowship in Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the United Hostesses’ Counseling Center at the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center.

For the record: The president of Caltech is Marvin L. Goldberger.

The Social Scramble: A cozy group dining at Le St. Germain--Dr. and Mrs. Armand Hammer with former King Constantine of Greece. (Dr. Hammer will be in Washington on Saturday to receive a special award at the American Cancer Society Ball.)

They had a bit of old Italy going on at the Regency Club last week and a full house enjoying the Italian buffet and the Italian songs. Spotted here and there--Dr. and Mrs. Elmer Rigby with Carol and Ronald Smith; attorney Ron Beard; the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce’s Dori Pye; Jayne and Henry Berger; Dr. and Mrs. Robert Heebner; Bill Elliot; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Westhem and Dr. Frank Jobe with Carlyle Livingston.

James Carter is getting a nice send-off for his latest oils, at his first West Coast exhibition at the Upstairs Galleries where gallery president William McKelvey is planning a series of reception-viewings starting on May 17 at the South La Cienega Gallery. More parties follow at the galleries in South Coast Plaza, Torrance, Arco Plaza and the Glendale Galleria.

Prettying up at Aida Grey’s Salon de Beaute--Darcy Byers, formerly of Hancock Park and now living in Atlanta; Santa Barbara’s Dorothy Laughlin and her two bichon frises .

Dining at Morton’s--Irina and Harris Kattleman with George Rosenthal and Karen Sharp; Jane Seymour and her husband David Flynn; Alan King; London art dealer William (a k a Billy) Keating with flame-tressed Contessa Cohn (they lunched the next day at the Bistro Garden); Marion Laurie; Kathy Hilton; Fred Roberts who wasn’t eating a bite (he’s on a serious diet); Darren Ramirez with Jeffrey Lane who is moving from Rogers & Cowan’s London beat to headquarters in L.A.

Lunching at the Bistro Garden--Nanci Denney with Claudia Mirkin and Jarma Bensinger; Matilda Barnett welcoming Margot Silliphant back to L.A. (Lady Dodge made it a trio); Miriam Parkes with Carol Kaye and Geri Brawerman; Arthur Spitzer with Ronnie White; Bob and Estelle Enders.