Major League Christmas

More than 1,500 party-goers got a jump on holiday shopping Thursday when the Junior League of Orange County staged the opening night gala for its annual gift fair, the Christmas Company.

Clad in cocktail attire, guests roamed an exhibit hall of the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa and filled shopping bags with jewelry, clothing, home decorations and other wares. The Christmas Company, which concludes its five-day run today, is expected to attract 20,000 shoppers and net about $250,000 for league programs.

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Countdown to Christmas

To put shoppers in a holiday mood, organizers decked the halls of the exhibition room with Christmas trees, twinkle lights and garlands. Christmas carols played nonstop.

“We’re calling this ‘A Town and Country Holiday,’ ” said Michelle Roth, opening night chairwoman. “It’s a fox hunt theme.” A pair of topiary horses stood at the door of a country manor, complete with fireplace and a trimmed tree.

About 62 vendors-- representing specialty stores nationwide and selling everything from birdhouses to baby clothes--were selected by a league committee.

“We really try to get a variety,” said Robin Lyall, exhibitors’ chairwoman. “We turn away about 100 vendors only because their products conflict.”

Throughout the night, party-goers crowded the boutiques or lined up at food stations. Local restaurants served specialties such as crab cakes from Habana Restaurant, prime rib sandwiches from Five Crowns, soft tacos from Chevys, pan-seared scallops over sun-dried tomato risotto from Chanteclair and pumpkin ginger creme bru^lee from the Ritz.

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The Doctor Is In

Proceeds from the $100-per-plate opening night gala and boutique will go to league programs aimed at preventing child abuse and adolescent pregnancy.

The league honored Laura Schlessinger --”Dr. Laura” to fans of her KFI radio talk-show--for promoting the welfare of children.

“As families have disintegrated, children are more vulnerable,” said Schlessinger, who drew a circle of admirers. “We live mostly for material gain and immediate gratification. We’ve lost our morality. Kids have no foundation and no role models.”

When asked how to improve the plight of children, Schlessinger was her usual, no-nonsense self:

“No single motherhood and no divorce,” she said. “Even a bird this big knows enough to build a nest before it lays an egg.”

Schlessinger said she’s occasionally asked advice off the air. “I tell them I’m off duty--I try to use humor,” she said.

Among the guests were Emily Ristau, chairwoman of the Christmas Company, and her husband, Ken; Alison Forkey, board president; Larry Metzler; Kathleen Bauer; Whitney Mace; Roger and Marion Palley; Sue Willett; Debbie Cruttenden; Suzan Moore; Jeanne Curtis; and Linda Colton.