Hooray for the Holiday Party Times

Former Los Angeles Junior League president Phoebe Vaccaro and her architect husband Joe Vaccaro hosted a Christmas buffet in Bel-Air with architect Leo Daly and his wife Grega in from Washington. Hovering about the steak tartare was a crowd including Banning Residence volunteers Nancy and Dick Call, and Linda and Don Pennell, Michael and Barbara Lain, Gerry Parsky, Don and Tamra Dickerson, Daryn and Bill Horton, and the Vaccaros’ son, David, a student at Brentwood School . . .

Gary and Lu Lund put their traditional touch of good taste black-tie on the Valley Club dinner dance the other evening at Annandale Golf Club. President Ted Hirdler and his wife Dorothy were greeting guests . . .

Not the least of the goodies at the Center Stage Committee (Pasadena Junior League benefit in March) kickoff party were the “elegant edibles” selected from the league’s just-completed manuscript for its new cookbook, “The California Heritage Continues.” The book, under the direction of Mary Anne Borovicka, is scheduled for release in the fall. Center Stage chairman Susan Chandler and JLP president Susan Schnee are super-delighted that I. Magnin of Pasadena will produce their fashion show March 14 at the Bonaventure under the direction of Brent McDaneld from the San Francisco offices of I. Magnin. The goal: $100,000.

PAST VERY PERFECT: “Absolute perfection,” says Lucy Toberman. She was referring to the Sunday Night Supper Club weekend at Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs. Heavenly weather. Crisp evenings. Warm, sunny days. One highlight was the cocktail party at Clara and Bill Burgess’ home, Crystal Cove. Zandrah Ralphs flew over from Sedona for the festivities, Margaret Moseley from her Texas hacienda. Gerrie Keller and Jinkie Hotchkis went for long walks. Mrs. Henry Grandin hosted a house party with Polly Helm and Randolph Karr. Mrs. Chandler Harris and Mrs. Robert Coleman supervised decisions. Betty and Jack Cummings oversaw the cocktail hour at the home of Ranch colonist (owner) Ellen Gibbon Bergman. Vi Nason, Magnus Wooley, the John Farieses, George and Joan Elkins, Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Charles Schott and the Albert McKees were all there.

TUNED UP: “Singin’ in the Rain” brought out a crowd at the Pantages for the Hollywood premiere of the stage production based on the MGM musical. Later Marvin A. Krauss, Irving Siders, the PACE Theatrical Group Inc., and James M. Nederlander hosted the party for cast, company and creators.

PLAUDITS: To Ruby Long. The ladies of Kappa Alpha Theta at UCLA are so proud. Their house director received the Clementine Allen House Directors Award at the national convention for showing the most dedication, love and community involvement. She’s been Beta Xi’s pride 16 years and has endeared herself to the entire UCLA Greek system. That’s why they were toasting her a few days ago with an open house on Hilgard Avenue on campus.

KUDOS: Academy Award winning actress Loretta Young returns to the TV screen Monday on NBC for what may become a Christmas perennial. It’s been a 20-year absence. The story is about a wealthy woman patron of the arts who lavishes money (her family considers her reckless and foolish) on the poor in New York City’s skid row. In reality, Loretta does volunteer work in Los Angeles on skid row, particularly befriending those at the Women’s Center. She accompanied Father Maurice Chase to the center a few days ago.

QUIET ENTRANCE: In case you hadn’t noticed, the super quiet entrance of the famed jewel company, House of Harry Winston and its new salon in the Beverly Hills Hotel, was planned that way. Winston deliberately chose not to have a traditional celebrity opening. But, here’s the data. The salon is headed by Count Enrico Carimati di Carimate, a blond six-foot Italian. He’s divorced and has taken a house on the Westside and enrolled his young son Ascanio in classes. Instead, Winston hosted a series of tres intime caviar and champagne receptions for exclusive dozens or so, who were then privileged to enter the vaults and view the rare jewels. These coteries have been looking at pricey baubles, such as the diamond and pear-shaped emerald necklace mounted in a wreath design, so suitable for the holidays, and at a trifling $540,000. The stocking-stuffers--the rare pair of blue and white diamond earrings with a floral motif above the drop diamond pendants of seven carats each--are a mere $2 million. The 18-carat gold original Winston whistles are moving faster.

ALAS: Maytor H. McKinley IV is hosting a “Last Hurrah” party for his family’s home at 310 S. Lafayette Park Place this weekend. Several hundred friends will dine and dance to Joe Moshay, who played in the home more than 40 years ago at many similar parties hosted by McKinley’s late father.

The beautiful Georgian mansion is soon to be razed. Four generations of McKinleys have enjoyed it. The house was built under the direction of Gen. Ceilan M. Spitzer in 1915. His great-grandfather was an assistant to President Martin Van Buren. He was married to Lillian Cortez, a descendant of William Penn. The McKinleys purchased the property in 1939. Under the direction of Vari McKinley, skilled European craftsmen were employed to return the painted Black Caucasian Walnut, Yugo-Slavian Dalmatian Oak and Honduras Mahony back to their original lusters. The door knobs are gold-plated.

PINK PIGS: Craft Fair, the Assistance League of Pasadena nonprofit gift shop at 820 E. California Blvd., is where at least one customer goes to find “thank you” gifts. It’s still chock-filled with toys, quilts, embroideries and handmade items from 500 exhibitors. The pink satin pigs for Christmas trees have been the rage.

A WEDDING: With warmth crackling from the fireplace at the home of Virginia Milner, her son, Reese Llewellyn Milner II and his brunet fiance Mary Daly were married in a black-tie ceremony. Giney Milner was the hostess, with champagne and caviar and a duck dinner. The next evening the new Milners greeted friends at her Brentwood estate, a crowd of nearly 200 for the Trader Vic’s catered Christmas toasting. In March, the newlyweds (it’s a second marriage for each) will travel around the world--Europe first, trekking in Nepal second, the Sea Goddess on the Java Sea third and Hong Kong last. Two months honeymooning.

Mary’s involved with the Luminaires Juniors, the Michael Burke Foundation and the John Tracy Clinic. Reese, a third-generation Californian, learned about economics at UC Berkeley, law and business at Stanford. He’s a real estate developer and investor, a member of the California and Beach Clubs, and has overseen the building of the new campus for Curtis School (his alma mater) on Mulholland.