R S V P / ORANGE COUNTY : ‘Christmas at Ritz’ Makes Fashionable Tradition
Like Santa Claus and “The Nutcracker,” the annual “Christmas at the Ritz” benefit for Chapman University has become a favorite holiday tradition.
The Fashionables, a support group for Chapman, heralded the holiday season with its eighth annual get-together on Saturday at the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach. The $85-per-person luncheon drew 350 guests and was expected to net $50,000 for Chapman.
Tradition
The Fashionables’ holiday party has become so well-loved by its devoted followers that organizers have learned not to mess with certain key aspects of the event.
“The invitations are always the same; the menu is always the same,” said Mary Dell Barkouras, event chairwoman. “It’s just a lovely, rather Victorian way to start Christmas.”
Committee members learned the hard way that people like the party just the way it is when, several years ago, they decided to experiment with the menu and nixed the traditional cold poached king salmon in dill sauce.
“Everyone was upset,” said Mary Lou Hornsby, president of the Fashionables.
As in Christmases past, fashionable guests wearing their holiday best were greeted by Santa and carolers dressed in Dickens-style costumes. While sipping champagne from flutes of Kir Royale, they explored the restaurant’s dining rooms, which glowed with Christmas trees strung in white lights.
Later, while guests were enjoying their salmon and raspberry creme brulee , models in evening wear from Neiman Marcus visited each table (I. Magnin had been scheduled to provide the models, but when the store suddenly announced its closing and had to pull out, Neiman Marcus agreed to fill in on just one week’s notice.)
One feature was added to the luncheon this year, courtesy of the video department at Chapman: Monitors were installed in all rooms of the Ritz so everyone could see and hear the speeches and thank-yous.
Fashionable Cause
Called the Fashionables because its founder, Mildred Mead, was a fashion columnist, the group was formed in 1971 to raise money for Chapman University in Orange. Proceeds from the luncheon are designated for the university’s All-Faiths Chapel, which is in need of a major donor before ground- breaking can begin. Each guest received a crystal ornament with an etching of the future chapel, designed by architect Fay Jones.
Many Fashionables members are not Chapman alum; they support the school because they believe in higher education.
“The Fashionables have been around a long time,” said Jim Doti, Chapman University president. “They’re part of our extended family.”
Among the guests: William Haney, a 40-year Chapman trustee, and his wife, Georgia; George Argyros, Chapman board president, and his wife, Judie; Ritz owner Hans Prager and his wife, Charlene; Herb Sutton, honorary chairman; Donald and Nancy Wynne, Elon and Mary Ann Wells, Edward and Roella Edwards, Jim and Patty Edwards, Peggy Goldwater Clay, Gloria Gellman, Charles and Nora Hester, Tita Loza, Virginia Leishman, Lois Aldrin, Matt and Tina Schafnitz, Cerise Feeley, Russell and Marla Patterson, Lee and Dawn Wood, Jim Johnson and Nora Jorgenson Johnson.
