Library Benefit to Offer a ‘Taste of L.A.’

There’s supposed to be a wonderful collection of California cookbooks and historical papers about dining in Southern California at Lawry’s California Center. In fact, the center has a Department of Special Collections.

Naturally, that makes it a perfect spot for “A Taste of Los Angeles,” the Friends of the UCLA Library benefit Tuesday evening.

The night is dedicated to “Los Angeles’ very special style of cuisine.” Food writer Colman Andrews will cap it off with an after-dinner speech, according to Bruce Henstell, president.

Beaulieu Vineyards and Robert Mondavi wines are on tap.

Hollywood Bowl Volunteers have stars in their eyes. They’re gearing up for a spectacular summer season with a kickoff “Starburst Salute” on May 30.

Los Angeles Philharmonic artists will provide the musical send-off. A garden luncheon follows at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Levenson in Pasadena. The complimentary valet parking will make it mighty easy to be a volunteer.

Kudos to the active March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation: Wednesday evening the San Fernando Valley Associates go black tie for the second annual Premiere Parents Award Dinner. Helen and Sam Greenberg, Betsy and Rafer Johnson, Ann and Jack Maloney and Jo and Harry Usher will be honored in festivities at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Universal City. Irene Slater and Jane Sullivan are dinner chairmen, and Martha and Bob Selleck are honorary chairmen. Tickets are $100 per person.

Meanwhile, the same evening, the board of directors of the San Diego-Imperial Chapter of the foundation salutes the citizens of San Diego on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Salk Institute and the 30th anniversary of the announcement of the development of the Salk Polio Vaccine.

That party also is black tie, takes place at the Hotel InterContinental San Diego in the Pavilion Ballroom with dancing to Wayne Foster’s Orchestra.

The Melvin Bartells and the William Spicers head the host and hostess committee, and you can believe donors will get warm welcomes: the rights to sup and dine range (per person) from $125 to $1,000, Mrs. John Mazur says.

Film executive Robert H. Kovoloff, president of Associated Film Promotions, will be cited for his longtime support of the City of Hope today at the Beverly Hilton in a testimonial hosted by Lita Dershewitz Chapter of the City of Hope.

“Bob Kovoloff is a gentleman deeply committed to his family, his industry and his community.” That’s the accolade coming from chapter president Charlotte Weiss. Co-chairs are Caron Kovoloff and James Ripslinger. Charles Edelman is project chairman.

For Kovoloff, a research fellowship in juvenile diabetes will be established in his name.

Her ankle’s broken in three places (she slipped on the wet grass at Barnsdall Park) and she’ll be in a wheelchair, but Josine Ianco-Starrels won’t miss Wednesday evening when the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Associates toast her 10th anniversary as director of the Municipal Art Gallery in Barnsdall.

Arnold Ashkenazy co-hosts the party at Le Mondrian (hotel de grande classe).

Art patrons, artists and co-workers will join in the praise. Expected are Marc Levin, Associates chairman; Sandy Smalley, president, and her husband, Marvin; Kelli Questrom and her husband, Allen Questrom, chairman of Bullocks; Councilman Joel Wachs, who will wax eloquent on the important role of the gallery, which provides a steady stream of contemporary art exhibits focusing on Southern California artists, particularly those in the Los Angeles area.

The next day, Mrs. Ianco-Starrels will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree at Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design commencement ceremonies. Artist David Hockney and Harold Williams, president of the J. Paul Getty Trust, will also receive honorary degrees.

The Juniors of the Social Service Auxiliary have a new president: Mrs. John F. Bernard of Palos Verdes. She introduced her board at a luncheon at the Hancock Park home of Mrs. Anthony Mansour. On board, Mmes. Thomas P. Hodgkiss (Toni is first vice president and Candlelight Ball chairman), Michael C. Parker, Norman Branchflower, John H. Stephens, Kenneth Purcell, Martin Melone, Edwin Ourwater III and Conrad G. Bachmann.

Upward bound new provisionals: Mmes. Robert Akerblom, Francis H. Beckett, Michael Jerrick, Guy Juillard, Thomas J. Kelley, Arthur Kennedy, Mark McKenney, John Walter Michel, Robert W. Rau, Gregory Breslin Thorpe, Mark Tulin, Daniel Walsh, Donald Woods Jr., and Misses Susan Barry, Linda Daves and Nan Raney.

Dancing at Malibu. Two more performances of “Fill the Stage With Joy” will be presented by the Malibu Ballet Society today at Smothers Theater at Pepperdine University.

Christine Foster, vice president for program development, Group W Productions, speaks to Women in Show Business at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hyatt Hotel. She has so many credits, it’s difficult to name them all (for starters, “The Blue and the Gray,” “The Rockford Files,” “Roots”). Plus, she’s magna cum laude from Immaculate Heart College.

An insider’s view of life on the Hopi mesas is presented in “7 Views of Hopi,” the first major showing of contemporary Hopi photography being circulated by the Arizona Commission on the Arts. The Southwest Museum Board of Trustees hosts a preview reception Wednesday evening at the Southwest Museum at Arco Plaza.

It’s linked to Suzanne Page’s show, “Spirit World: Photographs of the Navajo & Hopi.”

The UCLA Sports Medicine Foundation and the World Boxing Council host a black-tie gala Wednesday to honor Muhammad Ali with the WBC’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Tickets are $500.

Mayor Tom Bradley has declared Wednesday “Muhammad Ali Day” in Los Angeles and will present a proclamation at the Beverly Wilshire affair.

Proceeds go to SPAR (Safety and Performance Advancement through Research), a UCLA Foundation support group to promote research in the sports sciences to enhance health and performance of athletes.

On the dinner committee: Dr. Jerry Buss, Hugh Hefner, Kirk Kerkorian, Morgan Mason, Meshulam Riklis, Ryan O’Neal, Ken Norton and Omar Sharif.

President Sally Rutter hosts tea in her garden for The Dolls, Inc. Wednesday in Encino.

Nice things happen to nice people: Norma McKeegan Ehrlich of Calabasas, executive director and founder of the Women’s Valley Center and Family Recovery Center in Woodland Hills, has been named a Woman of Achievement by her sorority, Delta Zeta at UCLA. . . .

Marilyn Sharon, television consultant and production executive, is the new director of development for the Permanent Charities Committee of the Entertainment Industries. . . .

Some luscious barbecued ribs were on the menu for the Western Roundup and 36th annual May Festival for the Episcopal Home in Alhambra. Cake walks, square dances and fund-raising booths from numerous churches throughout the Episcopal diocese were coordinated by Bonnie Blong, president of the Woman of the Chapel, and William Knox, president of the Men’s Club. Edward Chapin is president of the Halycon Club which sponsors the affair to raise funds for the home for senior citizens.

Associated Women for Pepperdine University met at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for their annual luncheon meeting, headed by Doreen Jenkins of Newport Beach. They were pleased to remind themselves that in 27 years they’ve raised $1.5 million for Pepperdine scholarships.