Soiree of Food, Fun and Fund Raising

We know we live in a world of money when “The Phantom of the Auction” comes up with a $20,000 zero coupon bond for an auction item. That’s part of the high-finance Saturday evening at the Biltmore when the California Medical Center-Los Angeles hopes to amass great fortunes for its cancer program from eager bidders.

Even the hosts for the soiree of gourmet dining, shopping and dancing have a new ring: They’re law firms and accountants. The law firm of Musick, Peeler & Garrett and the accounting firm of Ernst & Whinney are the underwriters.

This grand affair has Keith W. Renken general chairman, Astrid Blaker, vice chair. Involved, too, are William J. Hatch, Jesse L. Vanlandingham, Sharyl Mendez and Claudette Rogers (dinner co-chairs), Shawn Howie, Carl Terzian, Cynthia Halikis and Dr. Kenneth L. Senter.

The phantom also expects to auction first-class round-the-world air fare for two, a Remington bronze, two tickets to “Phantom of the Opera” in London, first-class air fare and two tickets to “Phantom” on Broadway, and of course, the proverbial Goodyear blimp ride.

HURRAHS: The newly established City Club on Bunker Hill has reached the 500-member mark and has begun construction of its club quarters atop the 54-story Wells Fargo Center downtown.

In addition, the city’s newest private club has added some new members to its board of governors, including E. Jane Arnault, Sandra Ausman, Daniel Belin, David Carpenter, Dan Garcia, Richard Goodyear, Lenore Greenberg, David Lizarraga, Len Lynch, Frederick Nicholas, Richard Stegemeier, Gil Vasquez and G. Thomas Willis.

Architect Lauren Rottet, associate partner in charge of interior architecture for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, is principal designer for the club, according to chairman Walter Beran. Completion is due in late March.

BLUE RIBBON: At least four new members who were feted at the Blue Ribbon of the Music Center afternoon tea Tuesday at the home of Chase Mishkin are second-generation Blue Ribbon members. One is Chase’s daughter-in-law, Nancy Mishkin. Another is Mary Milner, daughter-in-law of Virginia Milner. Others are Nancy Zarif, daughter of Barbara Davis, and Sue Robertson, daughter of Carmen Warshaw.

The new members heard a talk by Gordon Davidson, artistic director of the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, and then set about to get acquainted. Among the newest members are Shelby Sloan, Mary Weir (who has just retired as the long-time coordinator of the Blue Ribbon), Bridget Martens, Elizabeth Hirsch, Marilyn Brumder, Susan Mettler, Judy Tallarico, Dona Schultz, Helen Lambros, Julie Pizzinat, Mary Beth Brundage, Patty Wilson, Ruth Harvey, Patricia Devin, Eileen Eamer, Madeleine Stoner, Evelyn Kellogg, Suzanne Tennenbaum, Jennifer Shortz, Betty Roach, Mary Kay Hight, Debbie Tellefsen, Roz Pritiken, Nancy Moss, Gloria Harvey, Mary Kay Farley, Judy Bedrosian, DeAnne Hayes, Kay Brown, Susan Wilson, MaryAnne Doms, Maureen Wright, Robin Parsky, Roni Sue Malin and Lisa Bell.

AMAZING KUDOS: The Bob Hope Cultural Center’s newest support group--the Muses 100--is awash in success. It has Amen Wardy for a major Fashion Extravaganza Nov. 19 at Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert. Taittinger Champagne, luncheon and amen. Extravaganza co-chairs Marilyn Tennity and Robin Ceriale are excited. Already 500 are booked at $150 each; 1,000 are expected.

And so much excitement has been generated that The Muses has formed a new group within called the Patroness Circle. These members are the devoted who donate $1,000 a year, and that amount is up to $80,000 already. Among those lending super support: Sallie Bell, Cyma Cohen, Judy Gelfand, Jeane Hilb, Ardith Marguleas, Coeta McGowan, Gloria McLaughlin, Carol Mitsch, Betts Simon and Lee Tatum.

BREAKFAST: Those incredibly noisy garden blowers cast a city dissonance on the pretty breakfast the Juniors of the Social Service Auxiliary hosted the other morning in the patio area of Kathleen Losey’s home in Windsor Square, but they didn’t block the message: Work hard and put the Candlelight Ball Dec. 10 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton on the map to raise more funds for Regis House.

Over croissants and brioche, president Suzanne Branchflower introduced ball chairman Toni Hodgkiss and Sisters Petra and Theresa of St. Regis, who are operating a new outreach program in MacArthur Park for needy and torn-apart families, in addition to a growing, well-known Santa Monica program.

Rosemarie McCaffrey showed her Irish and French knits for the crowd over the coffee/strawberry finale. Eagerly taking notes were Eleanor Purcell, Chris Newman, Barbara Day, Diana Hoebbel, Peggy Fletcher (in a wonderful Valentino houndstooth dress), Sandra Hobson, Debbie Parker, Joella Juillard, Pat Lorne.

CIRCLE IN RED: Martha Stewart, the entertaining authority, will star at the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation informal tea Tuesday at the home of Bonnie McClure in Beverly Hills. Earlier, at 2 p.m. she will lecture on “Entertaining With Style” at the Ebell Club of Los Angeles. Tickets are $25. The author of “Entertaining” and “Weddings”is national chairman of the Dimes’ 50th anniversary home celebrations in which volunteers are encouraged to host parties for friends, who, in turn, make donations to prevent birth defects.

SAVE THE DATES: AT&T; has been chosen to receive Los Angeles Arts Council’s ninth annual Armand Hammer Award, given each year to an organization or individual making outstanding contributions to Los Angeles culture. Dr. Armand Hammer will present the award Nov. 17 at a luncheon at the Century Plaza; William R. Clossey, AT&T; vice president, will accept. The corporation’s most recent local contributions range from the David Hockney Retrospective at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to L.A. Festival presentations, Koreatown photo history exhibits and support of the California Afro-American Museum.

HALLOWEEN FROU FROU: The dinosaurs will stomp and the bats will vamp, and Dr. Donald A. Reed, president and founder of the Count Dracula Society and the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, will judge the ghoulish costumes at the Natural History Museum’s second annual Halloween Haunt for its patrons and guests Friday evening. . . .

Ghosts and goblins will be at 20th Century Fox studios Friday for “Halloween for Hope ‘88,” a starry benefit for City of Hope. Reebok International, Ltd. and Fox Broadcasting Co. have agreed to co-sponsor for the President’s Advisory Council, a young leadership group for City of Hope. Ken Kragen, producer of “Hands Across America,” is head pumpkin (a.k.a. chairman). . . .

The energetic 20-ish Encores for Los Angeles Theatre Center are brewing up “Halloween Haunt” Friday, taking over the balcony of the Tom Bradley Theatre for Chekhov’s “Seagull,” then dancing to the Out-of-Body Orchestra. Ann-Marie Villicana is chairman. . . .

SURPRISE: Chef Michel Blanchet of L’Ermitage restaurant decided to surprise the Tahitian-born owner Dora Fourcade on her 30th birthday with a four-course gourmet feast for her and her friends in the industry. What a turnout for the Tahitian rum punch, Krug champagne in magnums, poisson cru, ravioli of lobster with crayfish, roasted quail with spinach, foie gras and truffles and a new chocolate creation--Pour L’Amour du Chocolat. To name drop--among the exclusive group were Michel Yuello (Le Dome), Chris and Barbara Niklas (The Bistro), Pierro Selvaggio (Valentino’s), Michel Richard (Citrus), Patrick Terrail and Joachim Splischal.