Missing the Old and Ringing in the New

A few were lamenting that the longtime location for Les Amies’ celebrated Christmas party--the Bistro Garden--was gone forever. But then, they recovered and partied happily at the Bel-Air Country Club, kicking up their heels to Rudy Varon’s Orchestra and dining in elegance with the night lights of Los Angeles sparkling below like so many diamonds.

“We’re so thrilled with this location,” said co-chairwoman Linda Pennell. She and her co-chairwoman, Rue Byars, bustled to greet the crowd.

The Christmas trees were bright; the centerpieces, elegant. Stephanie Ehlers took over Susan Smith’s garage and with Sarah Yort, Betsy Link, Nancy Clayburgh and Barbara Devine risked their nails to cover the wire obelisks with ivy and pine. Another group had addressed invitations while downing Jo Fisher’s homemade potato salad.

Funds will support Children’s Institute International, which aids abused children.

Dining and dancing were Maggie Edwards and Gene Croft, Natalie and Gwynn Robinson, Beverly and Chase Morsey, Nancy and Arden Day, Marion and George Scharffenberger, Doris and Paul Coleman, Marty and Bruce Coffey and Doris and John Visscher.

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New Bachelors: The Bachelors inducted 11 at their L’Escoffier stag dinner planned by Derrick Coleman and James Shotwell. President Steven Leland welcomed Brooks Borror, Keith Dartley, Michael Kezirian, Richard Lieber, David Meyer, Mark Morgan, Brent Smith, Mark Sprague, Thomas Sturges Jr., Bruce Veaco and Nico Vilgiate.

Heritage: On Dec. 6, the anniversary of the date that the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion opened to the public in 1964, 50 members of Heritage of the Music Center, headed by Alyce Williamson, gathered to mark the anniversary and hear remarks from Music Center chairwoman Andrea Van de Kamp. They then shuttled over to the Museum of Contemporary Art to view the Walt Disney Concert Hall exhibition. Heritage co-chairs included Caroline Ahmanson, Hannah Carter, Diane Disney Miller and Barry Taper.

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Kudos: To Vicki Reynolds, former Beverly Hills mayor, given the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by French Consul General Guy Yelda . . . To Roy H. Aaron, new president of the UCLA Foundation . . . To John H. Michel, reelected chairman of St. John’s Hospital and Health Center . . . To Richard S. Ziman, presented the Scopus Award by American Friends of the Hebrew University . . . Pepperdine University announced an endowed scholarship at a dinner in honor of the late Peggie Bales.

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The Season: The Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace is exhibiting the 1963 Kennedy Christmas card, signed by John and Jacqueline Kennedy on the morning of Nov. 22. Thirty cards were signed on the day the president was assassinated; they were never mailed. Other presidential cards also are on display.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

Pasadena Alumnae of Kappa Kappa Gamma will attend the annual holiday tea today at the home of Nancy Kerckhoff in San Marino.

* Chandler School hosted the West Coast premiere of “101 Dalmatians” at El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. Mary Luck, there with husband Dr. James Luck, headed the benefit, netting $77,500. Viewing and feasting were Dick and Bonnie Cook (he is chairman of the motion picture group at Walt Disney), Jan and John Thompson, Steve and Susan Ascher, Cindy Costner, Dennis and Shelly Lowe and headmaster Jeff Stephens and his wife, Peg . . . Boyd S. Smith and Maggie W. Navarro headed the preview of “101 Dalmatians” for the Pasadena Humane Society . . . “Fifty Years of Memories” had nearly 1,000 Delta Delta Delta sorority members and alumnae nostalgic at their Sleighbell Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton benefiting hematology-oncology research at Childrens Hospital.

* On the eve of her 90th birthday, Mary Lowman, widow of Orthopaedic Hospital founder Charles LeRoy Lowman, was in the spotlight. More than 200 paid tribute to her lifetime of volunteerism at the 18th annual Lowman Club dinner at Annandale Golf Club. Newly appointed hospital foundation chairman Jack R. Borsting and his wife, Peggie, were also recognized.

* The International Myeloma Foundation Jurassic Park fund-raiser claimed a $40,000 net.

* It was a “Starry Night” theme when National Charity League of San Fernando Valley presented 13 young women at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The debutantes: Kristin Gagliardi, Danielle Greene, Heather Greenfield, Kirsten Gross, Sarah Kaiman, Jennifer McBroom, Danielle Saunders, Lee Straney, Tara Strauss, Andrea Ter-Velde, Jennifer Viane and Amanda and Rebecca Washton.

* The Metropolitan Associates will host a wine reception and holiday musical today in the Valley Hunt Club library. Later, members will jaunt a block away for a festive supper at the home of Alice and Joe Coulombe.

* Melanie Sherman is all aglow telling about the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera’s fund-raiser, “An Evening at Rick’s Cafe Americain.” Betty J. Stephens transformed her Hope Ranch home into a Casablanca scene. Stockton Briggle produced entertainment. Wine Cask catered the dinner, and opera supporters created a Moroccan bazaar with authentic goods for purchase.