Harrises’ Home for the Holidays

Visions of Santas, Christmas trees and creches from all over the world danced in the heads of guests who wined and dined at Ben and Barbara Harris’ home on Harbor Island in Newport Bay on Monday night.

Christmas is the Harrises’ thing . Everywhere party-goers looked they saw treasures from Christmases past, including a lively tableau--Mr. and Mrs. Claus and toy-making elves--set up under the entry staircase for the couple’s three grandchildren. (Grandmas take note: The alcove also featured a tiny table set for tea. It was being used by a quartet of stuffed bears.)

“I’ve never seen such a plethora of riches,” said Bobbitt Williams, co-chairwoman of the event with Ginny Smallwood, gazing around the Harris manse.

Supporters of the Orange County Protocol Foundation and Orange County Philharmonic Society gathered to salute the Yuletide and have dinner before they attended a concert by the Chieftains at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

When guests weren’t digging into internationally themed appetizers such as bastilla (game hen, almonds and Morrocan spices wrapped in filo dough) or ka ta tong (pastry cups filled with curried chicken, Thai style) they were talking holiday talk: “I can’t imagine what I’ll want for Christmas,” said Ben Harris. “I already have too much.” Even a set of custom armor. “Yep, it fits,” said Harris.

Occasionally, he marches around the house in it. “It doesn’t make much noise,” he said.

Said Barbara: “One night, during a gathering of friends, Ben put the armor on and just stood there, quiet as a mouse. Then, suddenly, he started walking around--scared us all to death.”

The Monday night bash, which included a sit-down dinner, marked the second of three parties in a row for the Harrises. On Sunday, they had their annual holiday splash for about 200 pals. “Everybody in Newport Beach was there,” Ben said. On Wednesday, about 60 members of the Promontory Bay Assn. crowded their English-style home.

How do they do it? “Oh, we have elves,” Barbara joked.

The couple like entertaining so much they have their own red carpet. “We always roll it out for special occasions,” Barbara said. (Now, there’s a gift idea for the person who has everything.) “The rest of the time it sits in the garage.” After the concert by the Chieftains--an Irish traditional music group--the Philharmonic Society staged a reception for its major donors. Among those congratulating the singers were Eva and Fred Schneider, Howard and Judith Jelinek, Stan and Jane Grier, Elaine and Fritz Westerhout and Elaine Redfield.

Preconcert party guests also included Court and Missy Prowell, Carl and Pat Neisser and Gayle Anderson, Orange County chief of protocol, who was escorted by Declan Kelly, a Dublin-born Irish consul general who came from San Francisco for the occasion.