Farewell to Gotham--and Old Friends

Eugenia Chandris, author of “The Venus Syndrome,” said goodby to her New York pals the other night at a dinner at Mortimer’s co-hosted by friend Iris Love, the archeologist. (Eugenia took off for London and another series of parties soon after.) The pals included Dr. and Mrs. Jonas Salk, food writers Gael Greene and Florence Fabricant, the New York Post’s Roger Wood with New Woman magazine’s publisher Pat Miller, Peter Getty of the oil-rich Getty clan, the Charles Danas, C.Z. Guest, and D. D. Ryan who arrived with Way Bandy, the makeup genius. (Vogue editor-in-chief Grace Mirabella and Leo Lerman of Conde Nast couldn’t attend, because he was escorting her to another party in another part of the restaurant. Leo knew, but Grace did not, that the party was for her. Surprise.)

Since Eugenia is Greek, the decor favored Greek mythology with red roses (the flower of Aphrodite) set in volcanic rock. (Vulcan, according to Iris Love, was the only legal husband of Venus).

Having spread its boundaries beyond Century City, the Cultural Commission that began life eight years ago as an arm of the Century City Chamber of Commerce has changed its name to the Los Angeles Arts Council. That information comes directly from board chairman John R. Conely.

It’s “Happy Birthday U.S.A.” for Les Dames of Los Angeles, our local international hostess corps, who’ll be doing their Fourth of July celebrating the old-fashioned country way at the William Ahmanson Ranch in Calabasas. Hosts Abigail and Bill Ahmanson will be on hand to welcome California Secretary of State March Fong Eu, the day’s grand marshal and the guests of honor, members of L.A.’s consular corps and their families.

Rustling their bustles as they rush from hoedown to sing-alongs to the barbecue (hot dogs, apple pie and such) will be Les Dames president Mrs. Del Webb, Fourth of July chairman Mrs. James Famechon LeSage and Les Dames founder Wanda Henderson. And acting as custodians for the casual affair out under the oak trees will be Ann-Marie Villicana and her Young Californians, L.A.’s newest volunteer community service group.

The activity level soared over the weekend as the supporters of the American Cinematheque partied back to back. Friday afternoon, Nooshin, a new fashion star, showed her collection of leathers and buttery soft suedes and Carlo Celoni kept the beat fast with his commentary. Before the show, though, there was high tea and a few brief speeches from Gary Essert, Cinematheque founder and artistic director, actor Howard Hesseman and board chairman Ken Kleinberg. Marjorie Fasman, Sachi and Larry Irwin, Elisabeth Pollon and daughter Ellen, Jacqueline Monash, Eunice Forester, Jackie Applebaum and Dr. Barbara Firestone were just a few who were paying attention.

When they unveil Louise Nevelson’s new sculpture, “Night Sail,” at the Crocker Center Thursday evening, the striking-looking Nevelson will be there to watch as the 33-ton, 20-feet-long, 9-feet-wide and 30-feet-high piece of art emerges from its wrappings. Right after the unveiling, Maguire Thomas Partners and Crocker National Bank host a reception in Crocker Court honoring Nevelson.

Actress Persis Khambatta, Adil Gandhi, Jaggi Tandon and his wife Kamal, and Mira Advani are all in Washington for the parties circling the visit of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his wife, Sonia, and the opening of the Festival of India art exhibition at the National Gallery of Art. On the social schedule of the prime minister and the President and their wives are the Ravi Shankar concert at the Kennedy Center and the reception hosted by leaders of New York’s Indian business community. There will be many more parties during the three-day celebration and many of them will be catered by Sant Chatwal’s newest Bombay Palace, this one in the nation’s capital.

The Social Scramble: Paul Anka is the headliner for Monte Carlo’s Red Cross Gala on Aug. 9. The gala is the highlight of Monte Carlo’s sizzling summer scene.

Among the diners at the Los Angeles Country Club on a recent night--Ron and Jean George with Jayne and Henry Berger and Midge and Bob Clark; Porter and Marie Hendrix; Peggy and Bob Sibert and Gwen Hornburg with daughter Phyllis and son-in-law Gordon Riddell.

Mrs. Adnan Khashoggi, wife of the Saudi Arabian entrepreneur, was guest of honor at Mrs. Kenny Rogers’ ladies luncheon at Ma Maison. And also in the MM lunch bunch--British director Tony Richardson with Fiona Lewis; Eva Gabor with Roddy McDowall, Suzanne Pleshette and Tommy Gallagher.

Director John Huston was lunching in the patio of the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge Wednesday afternoon with his “Prizzi’s Honor” co-stars Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston (she’s John’s daughter) and George Santo Pietro (he was for a long while Linda Evans’ best friend). And at nearby tables were Virginia Graham, Gregory Peck and Mike Douglas.