Double-Barreled Southwest Adventure

Southwest-inspired fashions and an art-to-wear exhibit and sale have the never-daunted benefit-givers revved up for adventure. Southwest Museum, the one perched on the hill off the Pasadena Freeway, and its Collector’s Club stalwarts--Charmay Allred, Jo Ann Balzer and Maryann McCaffery--are bringing in a wagonload of trendy togs from 40 local designers and shops June 1.

On the museum’s courtyard, they’ll serve Cointreau margaritas, feast on Southwest cuisine planned by John Sedlar of the St. Estephe restaurant in Manhattan Beach (his new book, “Modern Southwest Cuisine”) and view Southwest furniture. Helping to coordinate: Sheila Cushman, Betsy Houlihan, Lon Finley, Mayfield Marshall and Lois Rose Rose, who will narrate.

And for May 16, Judith Smooke, chairman of the Los Angeles Arts Council’s Associates, plans the second annual Art-to-Wear Exhibit and Sale with wonders such as hand-painted shoes, built-in flash jewelry, original works in suede, silk, leather. It’s to be in the Brentwood garden of LAAC board member Maria Hummer.

Associates Lynn Ziman, Diana Treister, Rina Etkes, Mary Cutler, Millicent Wise, Toni Galisky, Gerrie Wormser, Elizabeth Tamari and Karen Hall put on the artistic touches.

VERSAILLES BALL: Sharon Black and Ruth LeSage were lunching at Jimmy’s in Beverly Hills the other noon, ecstatic about the coming culmination of all the hard work on their 40-page rotogravure advertising section, to appear on Mother’s Day in the Los Angeles Times and the Herald. It’s part of the fund raising the Los Angeles Orphanage Guild does year-round to net $200,000. Now they pivot to their Versailles Ball on Friday in the Century Tower of the Century Plaza. Sharon and Sandy Midgley are co-chairmen. They’ve booked Clark Keen for dancing.

More on the committee are Sandi Walker, Betty Morgan, Martha Schnieders, Margie Hoffman, Marcella Hutson, Harriet Weaver Vasque, Joyce O’Gar, Mrs. Thomas Bergin, Mrs. Vincent Henry Lupo, Mrs. Royce McKinley, Mrs. Robert Coverly, Mrs. Jack Hardesty, Mrs. Russell Johnson, Mrs. Ronald Roeschlaub and Mrs. Howard Kessler. Jane Powell, hopefully, can take a break after coordinating the rotogravure fund raising.

WHATTA LADY: Volunteers of America/Los Angeles applaud First Lady Nancy Reagan at a luncheon May 12 at the Century Plaza. Luncheon chairman George F. Moody, president, Security Pacific Bank, and host committee chair Margaret Martin Brock have themed the event, “Whatta Lady!” Invitations are still being cycled out, and already 700 have accepted at the $2,000-per-table rate. This is the Volunteers’ first major benefit; they feed the homeless. Proceeds specifically will benefit The Midas Touch free-enterprise program for youth.

MAY DAZE: Here’s one the husbands will adore: Mayfield Junior School’s “An Evening in the Park” on Saturday. Sisters-in-law Dottie Clougherty and Terri Clougherty are co-chairs, and 400 are expected to dine and dance to Gregg Elliott at the Stadium Club in Dodger Stadium. Cynthia Perruca is running the Grand Raffle of $10,000; Kathy Leroy and Inez Sharp head the auction, which includes a fantasy sports week at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla., and a two-week vacation in Ireland. More in on the fun are Laurie McKinley, Lynn Miller, Karen Pagliuso, Maria Grant, Denise Ghezzi and others. The baseball wrap comes May 30 when Mayfield students fill 1,000 seats at Dodger Stadium for an afternoon game. Principal Sister Jeanne Marie Hatch is practicing; she’ll throw out the first ball. . . .

Seven years ago Carmen Zapata, founder of the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, originated the annual fund-raiser to honor artists and corporations who make outstanding contributions to the development of Latino arts. Friday, the foundation hosts its annual fund-raiser in the Biltmore Bowl. The El Angel Award will go to actor Anthony Quinn, Hollywood composer Lalo Schifrin, Anheuser-Busch and Mervyn’s. It’s to be a cabaret night in Buenos Aires, pulsating with the tango, according to chairman Obrie Smith and co-chairs John C. Kehoe and James E. Oesterreicher. The foundation produces Latino-American theater both in Los Angeles and on tour.

L.A. VISIT: Recent Ambassador of Austria Thomas Klestil and his wife Edith were in Los Angeles April 16 (he was consul general of Austria in the 1970s here before being appointed ambassador to the United Nations), and Dale and Charles Snodgrass hosted a dinner that evening at the Bel-Air Country Club; the Larry Irwins preceded the dinner with cocktails at their home in Bel-Air. Dale Snodgrass explained in a note, “This is their farewell trip to Los Angeles before they go back to Vienna where he is to assume the top post at the foreign ministry as secretary general.” Among guests were Consul Gen. of Luxembourg Marie-Anne Palmatier and her husband Malcolm; Arthur Spitzer, the Sanford Shulhofers, Dr. and Mrs. John Heavey of Palm Springs, Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Craig, Nelly Llanos, trade commissioner of Australia Gerald Watkins, Dr. and Mrs. Morey Parkes, former INS Commissioner and Mrs. Joseph Sureck, Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Schlemenson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cross III and Mrs. John Charles Hazzard.

RED-LETTER NIGHTS: Honorary chairman Lucille Ball, as well as Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Ann Jillian, join in tribute to Ruta Lee as the Founder of Hope Sunday evening at the Esperanza Ball in the Century Plaza. Hosting will be Founders for Diabetic Research in association with the City of Hope. Jerold Franks, Ruta’s personal friend and longtime producer of the Thalians’ shows, will stage the salute. Iris and Gene Rothstein and Sandy and Irv Pomerantz head the party. . . .

The 200 Associates honor Dorothy Levey at tea in the Hancock Park home of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hawley Tuesday afternoon. Associates support Holy Family Services, Counseling and Adoption in Los Angeles. . . .

Some of MGM’s legendary stars--Cyd Charisse, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly and Ann Miller--inscribe their names next to photos May 14 at the Hollywood Roosevelt. It’s a Hollywood Centennial event. Hosting will be R. E. (Ted) Turner, chairman of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.; Roger Mayer, president of Turner Entertainment Co., owners of the MGM library, and Johnny Grant, honorary mayor of Hollywood and chairman of the centennial.

MAY MERRIMENT: Big Sisters’ Guild of Big Sisters of Los Angeles stages a benefit “Cut-A-Thon” Sunday ($15) at Carlton Hair, Westside Pavilion, 10800 W. Pico Blvd. . . . Remember that delightful custom of leaving a surprise May Day basket at someone’s front door? The Green House, 696 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, is ready for givers. Says Doreen Forsch: “The recipient will really be two: your friend, and Childrens Hospital.” . . . Angels Attic in Santa Monica is celebrating Mother’s Day May 6 with a traditional Victorian Tea and tour of the museum. Hostesses include Mrs. William Dobson, Mrs. Charles Older, Mrs. Philip Gaspar, Mrs. Delos McDonald and Emily Peck. . . . Freedoms Foundation George Washington Honor Medal recipient, poet and Green Beret James Bruce Joseph Sievers speaks at the noon luncheon of the Los Angeles County Chapter of Freedoms Foundation Tuesday at the Beverly Hilton. LaVonna Corzine is chairman.

PLUS, PLUS: Friends of the Junior Arts Center celebrate the 20th anniversary of the center Saturday with open house, lunch in the park and guest speaker Lita Alburquergue, who will talk about “How to Teach Children.” Heading the committee are Louise Brinsley, Denise Chandler, Diane Cornwell, Joan deBruin, Elizabeth Eastman, Harriet Miller, Ann Morrissey and Pam Weaver. Sunday will be a day for children and families, featuring a birthday cake and recognition of the 1,000,000th child to visit the center. Kent Twitchell supervises the Happy Birthday mural. . . .

Bullock’s Westwood and Premiere Patrons of the American Cinematheque join for a membership champagne brunch and spring fashion festival Sunday at 11 a.m. . . .

Trustees for Viewpoint School hope to best last year’s net of $34,000 at their auction/dinner dance Saturday at the Century Plaza. Trustee James R. Gary will kick off the auction.

FUN AND GAMES: St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach is bringing Mardi Gras to town Saturday at the Long Beach Terrace Theater. Co-chairmen Gordon James and Sheila Hanley will auction 1,000 items, including a new Mercedes Benz, hoping to raise at least $480,000 (like last year) for the hospice program. It’s a sellout. . . . More than 3,000 are expected Sunday for the Buckley School Fair on the Sherman Oaks campus. According to Anita Chern, chairman, 350 volunteers are promising 150 luxury items in the silent auction. Admission is $1.