Everything Comes Up Roses at Museum Party

Getting there--and back--was half the fun for supporters of the Laguna Art Museum who visited Catalina aboard a yacht on Sunday.

The occasion was “A Rose Is a Rose Is a Rose,” the fifth in a series of Perspectives parties annually sponsored by the museum.

Festivities began with coffee and pastries at the Linda Isle home of Dolores Milhous and culminated with lunch in the art-filled Catalina home of Roy Rose--nephew of the late California Impressionist painter Guy Rose.

In between came a relaxing cruise aboard Dolores Milhous’ yacht, Bravissimo, and Lucky Westphal’s Fairbanks28, Miniyot.

“I would die for a Guy Rose,” said California Impressionists collector Renee Goldstein, after stepping into Rose’s cliff-side digs. “In fact, I would double-die for one.”

Everywhere guests looked they saw art--in the living room, with its breathtaking view of Avalon, in the dining room, where a gourmet lunch was served, in every hallway and alcove.

Rose began collecting his uncle’s works because he wanted to keep them in the family, he said. “It’s all about quality of life,” Rose said. “There’s a lot of things I would give up before I gave up my art.”

Also among party guests were Tim and Debi Bremner (chairwoman of Perspectives), Howard and Anne Cusic, Mary Newman, Mary Hendrickson, Irene and Dr. William Mathews, and Denise Burns, director of the Plein Aire Painters of America art show held each year in Catalina (coming up Oct. 18-20).

On Saturday, museum supporters gathered for Perspectives party number four--an Oktoberfest--at the home of restaurateur Helmut Reiss (owner of Rothschild’s in Corona del Mar).

Up for fun was polka dancing and a groaning board of German fare--bratwurst, kraut, giant pretzels and chicken. Among guests were Lauri and Mike Mendenhall, Jacque Schroeder, Don and Claudette Shaw, and Rosalee Friedman.

This year’s Perspectives series is expected to net $40,000 for the museum.

Early Thanksgiving: It was turkey and the trimmings for ballet buffs on Tuesday night when Jack Kepper, acting consul general of Canada, presided over a feast at the Center Club in honor of National Ballet of Canada’s premiere appearance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center (through Sunday).

“Canada celebrates Thanksgiving this coming weekend,” a consulate spokesman explained.

After the performance, the Center’s board of directors feted the cast and special guests at Birraporetti’s in South Coast Plaza.

Birthday party: Supporters of Planned Parenthood celebrated the organization’s 75th birthday on Sunday at Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach.

Receiving awards at the dinner were Sen. John Seymour, Assemblyman Tom Umberg, community activist Molly Lyon and Times columnist Dianne Klein.