Junior Fellows: A-Huntington They Did Go

If members of the Society of Junior Fellows of the Huntington Library were indulging in self-praise, it was deserved.

Now 3 years old, the Fellows, spearheaded by Joe Regan, have worked themselves into being significant somethings for the library. Their third annual Arabella Ball Saturday night was a smash. Four hundred “younger than age 40” cocktailed on the Huntington Gallery Loggia and danced and dined on the South Terrace.

The night was as romantic as they come: stars, balmy air, Park Avenue West music. Ball chairman Gordon Pashgian twirled on the dance floor with Valerie Kimball of San Francisco. More in the crowd: Julie and Stephen Russell, Anne and Rich Mastain, Tori and Jonathan Howe, Laura and Carlton Seaver, Debbi and Randy Hoffman, Doug and Lynn Brengel, Charles and Christy Bakaly, Nancy Baxter and Dan David, Nancy Davis and Alden Simon, Adam and Penny Bianchi, Martin and Pam Riley, Kate and Tim Morphy and John and Elizabeth Watson.

Watson regaled listeners with a teen-age prank; he and pals removed a deer trophy from a friend’s garage, positioned it on a Huntington fence amid the brush and fooled passing motorists into thinking the Huntington had big game.

PAST PERFECT: The surprise black-tie birthday party for Marcia Hayden at the Bistro Garden Coldwater, given with love by her husband, Stan, and offspring--Katie, Bill, Maggie and David . . . .

Cindy and Bill Simon’s cocktail party in Pacific Palisades . . . .

The toasts to happiness at the dinner and dancing party at Chasen’s hosted for engaged pair Stephanie Booth and Palmer Murray by her godparents, Nancy and Charlie Munger. Irregularly shaped hearts of flowers and greenery created a canopy overhead, and guests were presented crystal hearts as mementos . . . .

More toasts at a brunch, also at Chasen’s, honoring the to-be-weds hosted by Janice and Bob Carpenter and Martha and Glen Mitchel . . . .

And the fun Polynesian festivities at Trader Vic’s given by Anne and Franklin Johnson for 70 to fete daughter Carolyn, among 400 graduating from Loyola Law School.

Earlier they heard U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Trott, formerly of Los Angeles, deliver the commencement address.

ALMOST PERFECT: The birds were happy. It’s just that they were in the trees above as the Friends of Banning Park sat al fresco to watch noted San Francisco floral designer Ron Morgan arrange bouquets extraordinaire . Later, nearly 100 ladies picnicked.

Among prominents: Nancy Banning Call, Alice Avery, Bette McLaughlin, Frani Ritter, Donna Gibbs, Phoebe Vaccaro, Sue Chandler, Ruth Jones, Pamela Clyne, Debbe Booth, Deborah Hollingsworth, Peggy Galbraith, Tink Cheney, Betty Field.

LA BELLA NOTTE: Partying in Patty and Edward Turrentine’s Italian villa on Grand Avenue in Pasadena was good for the mental health Saturday. The Pasadena Mental Health Center chose the villa for its 25th anniversary party and ninth annual benefit--”La Bella Notte.”

Co-chairs Melinda Winston and Gary Lund (there with wife Lou) put on a spectacular feast, but it was so much fun looking at architectural marvels and antiques that guests had to take time from the Italian cuisine. Looking around, Bev Fitzgerald commented, “Are you doing your house over?”

In the crowd: newlyweds Rosemary Mitchell and Alan Korostoff, Sheryl Griffith, Joanne and Stuart Butler of Rancho Santa Fe, Pete and Diana Bollero, Doug and Carol Mancino, Sheri Cantrall (in a flowing white handkerchief linen gown) and Greg Smith.

CIRCLE RED: California First Lady Gayle Wilson and Carl E. Reichardt, chairman and CEO of Wells Fargo Bank, will receive the first Public Service Awards at a dinner for Phoenix Houses of California June 26 at Century Towers . . . .

With friends looking on, George C. Page (he donated the George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits) will celebrate his 90th birthday and cut a giant ice-cream saber-toothed cat cake June 23. The party’s a treat from the Natural History Museum, which opened the Page Museum.

Ambassador of Switzerland Edouard Brunner and Swiss Consul General Kurt Welte will be guests of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising at its scholarship fashion show June 27 at the Embassy Theatre. Graduates will present 80 designs using imported Swiss textiles and will celebrate a “Party on the Park.”

NEW GROUPS: Welcome to Cal State L. A.’s newest cultural support group, the Friends of Theatre Arts and Dance. More than 100 attended an intimate dinner, says Nancy Neal Davis . . . .

And welcome to the Friends of Mkomazi, organized by Ali MacGraw and the directors of the Tony Fitzjohn/George Adamson African Wildlife Preservation Trust. They and Caroline Graham invited guests for cocktails at the Regency Club.