Look Up, La Liz!

There will be kinder, gentler paparazzi attempting to cover the Elizabeth Taylor/Larry Fortensky wedding this evening at Michael Jackson’s Santa Ynez ranch. The Star tabloid’s plan is to rent a hot-air balloon to gently waft overhead as La Liz and Le Larry exchange vows. “We’re going to go hog wild on coverage,” says Barry Levine, the tabloid’s chief L. A. correspondent. The balloon is one of a half-dozen means by which the Star plans to secure photos. Levine won’t reveal the others. He also mentions that the Secret Service could clear the Jackson ranch airspace if the expected six to 12 helicopters present a security risk to guests Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. He hopes this would leave the Star’s balloon, presumably former-President safe, flying alone.

Moments to Remember

There are always moments that make fund-raising chairs tear at their hair--the vegetarian menu has veal on it or the florist sends flowers suitable for a funeral. Although last Sunday’s “Divine Design” auction raised $500,000 for the Los Angeles Center for Living/Project Angel Food and was a major success, there were a few shaky moments for co-chair Marianne Williamson. One was when she took a step backward, the heel of her pump accidentally piercing the foot of probably the wealthiest woman there. The woman is fine now, but she limped home for medical care before she could make a bid.

Let’s Do Lunch

Among the packages up for bid at “Divine Design” was lunch with singer Michael Jackson--not for you but for your child and 34 similarly spoiled friends. (As the auction catalogue put it, “For a brief time be a part of Michael Jackson’s world, which so many dream of and so few will ever share.”) There were a few interesting caveats: No cameras will be allowed, no autographs given (although each child will receive an autographed photo) and all luncheon guests must be between the ages of 4 and 14. What’s Michael going to do--check their birth certificates?