Stars Will Ring in the New Year at New Club

Social alert: Restaurateur David Wilhelm says the new Roxbury South nightclub in Santa Ana, sister to the super-chic Roxbury in Los Angeles (you know, where members of the silver-screen set schmooze in the shadows), will open on New Year’s Eve with a BLAST.

I hear you knocking: How can I get in ? Well, there are ways (but no guarantees). One would be to become a regular at Roxbury north. Another would be to get to know Wilhelm, a Roxbury investor. Lately, he’s ever-present at his newest bistro, Diva at South Coast Tower. Another: hitch yourself to a star--we hear they will be all over the place on Dec. 31.

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Save-the-date: The Laguna Art Museum has announced it will stage a 75th anniversary gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach on May 6. The event will honor arts philanthropist Barbara Steele Williams. Tiffany & Co. will be a major underwriter.

Another biggie: The Exhibitionists Council of the Laguna Art Museum will be one of the beneficiaries of the opening festivities of Planet Hollywood at South Coast Plaza Village in October.

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Gallery opening: Posters commissioned by artist Aldo Luongo were offered for $100 each at a benefit for the City of Hope on Sunday at the new Galleria D’Arte in Fashion Island Newport Beach.

Seems gallery owner Jeri Dawson, a Hodgkins disease patient, was so grateful for the efficient treatment she received at City of Hope she and her partner, Eileen Inderbieten, wanted to give something back. And Luongo--famous for his paintings of the Hawk, an old, lovable man he says represents “friendship”--couldn’t wait to help.

“I mean, look at Jeri!” Luongo said during the reception. “Doesn’t she look great?”

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Diva again: Supporters of the Orange County Philharmonic Society partied at Diva on Saturday night after attending a concert in Segerstrom Hall performed by the Prague Chamber Orchestra. More than 100 guests paid $25 each to sip champagne and dine on a dessert buffet while they mingled with Georgia-born violinist Robert McDuffie. McDuffie made his Orange County orchestral debut at the concert.

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Prager’s piece de resistance: Stuffed quail was on the menu when Hans Prager welcomed members of Hoag Hospital’s “Spirit of Christmas Ball” committee to his private cellar at the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach.

“This is one of my favorite dishes,” Prager said at last week’s event. “We don’t offer it very often.”

One had to wonder why. Guests, who included ball chairman Paul Nyquist, dined with gusto on the tiny birds. Prager said quail would also be on the menu when Hoag honors ball patrons at the Ritz in November.

During the luncheon festivities, artist John Cosby unveiled the Christmas-themed marine painting that will be used to decorate ball invitations.

Proceeds from the Dec. 5 gala will be used for the hospital’s emergency care unit. Tickets are $552 per couple and $276 per person.