Valentine’s Day Galas Have a Lot of Heart

Valentine’s Day fanfare is escalating into froufrou proportions with balls, galas, luncheons, teas, lectures and wine tastings. More than a dozen illustrations:

We’ve already told you about the American Heart Assn. Heart Ball on Friday at the Beverly Wilshire (“Heart” is also sponsoring a 5K-10K run, a 2K mall walk and a celebrity waiter brunch on Valentine’s Day at Cyril’s, 740 S. La Brea Ave.), but it’s not the only ball.

ArtPartners, a membership support group of the University Art Museum at Cal State Long Beach, plans an intimate evening of dancing, valentines and romance at their Sweet Arts Ball on Feb. 13 in the Grand Salon Ballroom of the Queen Mary. They’ll dance to Richard Franke’s Orchestra and give auctioneer Dale Stultz (formerly of Christie’s in New York) support in an auction of valentines created by 60 Long Beach artists. Sheri Beebe, UAM Contemporary Council chairman, and Constance Glenn are in charge.

Galas: In Palm Springs Judi Aslin and Edith Toor co-chair the Friends of the McCallus-James Palm Springs Youth Center “Une Nuit D’Amour-A Valentines Ball” Tuesday at the Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel with Tony Rose’s 15-piece orchestra. . . .

The Guilds of South Coast Repertory frolic at a Valentine “Evening of Romance” Feb. 13, hoping to raise $25,000. . . .

Fashionettes honor Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel, cancer research supporters, at their 43rd fund-raising Valentine dinner-dance Saturday at the Biltmore. Chairman Anne Blasco, President Christine Hansen and co-chair Doreen Mills plan hearts and flowers for Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. . . .

First-nighters of California Music Theatre host a Valentine’s party Feb. 12 in the Gold Room of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Lecture: As a gift of the heart, Leo Buscaglia will lecture on “The Subtle Art of Living With Love” at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $12.50 to $35. Benefit chairman Billie Youngblood, Karen Hammond, Rachel Rooney, Debbie Lowrey and Tracy King say the benefit launches Five Acres’ centennial celebration year. The agency provides residential treatment for emotionally disturbed children.

Luncheons: Buscaglia also lectures Saturday for the Intersorority Mothers Club of UCLA at their luncheon at the campus faculty center. President Anne Sullivan, Sue Frew, Diane Hubbell and Ginny Mancini are raising scholarship funds. . . .

The Paulist Women’s Club hosts its annual Valentine luncheon and fashion show Wednesday at the Riviera Country Club. Bunny May is chair. Among past presidents attending will be Kathleen McCarthy, Katie Osterloh, Patti O’Keefe and Patti Lewis, as well as current president Susan Armistead.

More heart: Los Angeles Alumnae of Alpha Delta Pi celebrate an English High Tea with a Valentine theme next Thursday at the West Los Angeles home of Francee and Richard Engle. Gumps executive director J. Shelton Ellis will talk about “treasures,” and it’s all planned by Nancy Liles, Jane Lazenby, president Anne Hasserjianz and Donna Ross. . . .

A bookmark tied with a red ribbon comes in the envelope from president Rusty Chandler and the Auxiliary of the Hospital of the Good Samaritan with its annual valentine mail appeal for the hospital. . . .

The board of directors of the Pasadena Day Nursery for Child Development has a “Celebration of Renovation” Friday evening to say heartfelt thanks to the American Society of Interior Designers, Pasadena Chapter, for their volunteer services in renovating the nursery.

UN BAL MASQUE: When Robert McMullin, executive director of the Pasadena Symphony, gave Penny Bianchi a peck on the cheek, it was really a peck. He came feathered in a bird mask with a lengthy beak to Un Bal Masque, the symphony’s diamond jubilee soiree in the Crystal Room of the Biltmore.

Co-chairmen Renee Hanson and Penny and Adam Bianchi were ecstatic greeting guests: “I’m so happy,” Penny said. “Everyone got the spirit and wore masks.” In addition to the usual peacock feathers, there were at least three Phantoms of the Opera. Tall David Brown, president of the Art Center, seemed the most ravishing, brandishing a black cape with dynamic gestures.

“I think I’m a cat,” Madge Burford giggled behind feathers. “I am a cat,” said Martha Chandler, who, like half the crowd had been to the mask and costume shop, Somewhere In Time, for aid. Her escort was Ron Jernigan, dressed as a mouse, whose two teeth on his mask (situated above his mustache) seemed a good bet for the Guinness Book of World Records.

Board member Tina Diva located a fabulous 20-year-old mask. Millicent Reynolds and Miki Puente got together and spent the day making their adornments: “We decided we had missed our calling,” said Miki. Symphony fund-raiser Billie Bowlby was escorted by Walter Hubert, and she was thrilled with the night’s efforts. So were symphony president Edith Roberts and her husband, John.

The evening was on a gigantic scale. Jacob Maarse chose the tallest of bouquets to adorn the tables. Don Tallerico of Rodeo drive put $200,000 in jewels on one model alone during the cocktail chatter. “Can you imagine?” said Jenny Rutt. She and Loring Rutt were with a table of handsome friends including Mary and Reese Milner and Wendy and Beau Bianchi.

Michael Carney’s Orchestra played nonstop, giving dancers like Gordon Pashigan and Diana Collins, Kelsey and Bradley Hall, Alyce and Warren Williamson, John and Ginny Cushman, Penny and John Lusche, Hugh and Lynn Evans, Hank and Gigi Elder, Stanley Kazanjian, Kay Paschall, Harry Montgomery and Bill and Barbara Steinwedell plenty of opportunities to twirl.