A High Season for Tea and Debutantes

Though teas have become year-round events--we can think of seven last summer--December still ranks as the epitome of tea-taking time. The taking of the yummy accouterments also.

That means the wonderful watercress sandwiches, the chic chicken and chutney sandwiches, the fruit breads slathered with butter. It also means the pink meringue kisses, the chocolate-covered strawberries, the irresistible creamy fudge, the chocolate chip cookies and the sweet lemon bars (all leading, of course, to overconsumption of calories and a January wake-up to excess avoirdupois).

An important signed antique silver tea urn, polished to the hilt, and an equally important antique silver coffee server on prized lace and linen surrounded by precious china dessert plates and dozens of lace-entwined napkins--all enhancing a Georgian table centered with a silver and crystal epergne laden red tulips and pine and holly--these can cause tea-goers to pause for oohs and ahhs.

Such was the Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital June Debutante tea at the home of Ginie and Henry August Braun in late December.

While debutantes held their graceful tulip nosegays and stood in a long receiving line in the Braun living room, caterer Isabelle Linenberger was behind the closed doors, bustling to fill containers with fragrant tea and coffee and ready, at the hostess’ signal, to lift the protective cellophane from the tea table.

Mind you, what followed was not the crush of a crowd at a rock concert. But, a plate of two pretty sandwiches and a discreet sweet, was almost always repeated by another plate and maybe an apologetic third.

(At another event, one guest who had been at the tea said to her husband, “Oh, tea food is my most favorite.”

(Retorted the husband, “I wouldn’t know; I’ve never been to a tea.”)

Rary Simmons, guild president, headed the receiving line of debutantes who will be presented in June. They are Catherine Cheney, Melinda Baker, Jennifer Popovich, Jennifer Rogers, Margaret Judy, Julie Angeloff, Lara Boultinghouse, Jennifer Barnum, Cherie Copare, Margaret Cook, Katie Bolton, Carrie Engemann and Lisa Giuntini.

SOCIAL: It was much the same at the Pasadena home of Patti and Edward Turrentine where 16 young women who will be presented to Cardinal Roger Mahony at the Social Service Auxiliary Presentation Ball May 28 were honored.

Jayne Sullivan, president, presided. Presentees in the spotlight (earlier that day they had attended a father-daughter brunch) included Darcy Mullin, Jennie Nunn, Tannis Turrentine, Darby Woods, Kelly Cochran, Leeanne Ducot, Rebecca Vinton (Bobby Vinton’s daughter), Ashley Polito, Nancy Culver, Deborah Doane, Kimberly Nuccio, Kelly Hobson, Lisa Giuntini, Mary Melissa Gerstner, Cassandra Hennigan and Mary Dee.

DEBUTANTES: Numerous balls surround the holiday season. At the 36th annual Evergreen Ball Saturday at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, Las Madrecitas, an auxiliary of the Crippled Children’s Guild of Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital, will honor Las Ninas (the senior girls of its junior auxiliary). Each has given at least 100 volunteer hours to the hospital and another 100 to community service. Since 1965, Las Ninas also has donated more than $144,000 to the Children’s Brace Fund.

Presentees will be Caroline Stewart, Devon Warren, Michelle Elbert, Jennifer Beed, Kiley Blackstad, Jenna Tinley, Amanda Tankersley, Doriana Schriebman, Kimberly Peterson, Kamryn Calcott, Allison Frankel, Kimberly Krasnove and Carrie Nibarger.

HOLIDAY REPASTS: At Sunnylands, their expansive desert enclave in Rancho Mirage, Walter and Lee Annenberg continued the tradition of their New Year’s Eve party . . . .

In Hancock Park, the Terrys--Carole, Norman, Emilie and Brenda--called their holiday party “Cajun Christmas Time” and turned on the spice. In the same neighborhood Liz and Craig Black celebrated the season with an open house . . . .

In Beverly Hills, Lee Minnelli held her annual holiday luncheon at the Bistro Garden, and Ellen and Bambi Byrens hosted their “First Stop” New Year’s party.

FASCINATING CALENDAR: Thomas Hoving is sure to tell all about his courting of museum patrons such as Brooke Astor and the late Nelson Rockefeller when he lectures Jan. 24 at Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach.

The Newport Harbor Art Museum has booked the former director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and past editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Connoisseur magazine to speak on his new book, “Making the Mummies Dance: Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” What he doesn’t say in the lecture may be gleaned over the fund-raising “elegant dinner” the museum plans after book signings.