It’s Young, Hip and Culturally Cutting-Edge--It’s the Nixon Era

With an eye toward turning on a younger crowd to the sounds of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and to setting the stage for its upcoming “Nixon in China” series, the Phil put on a razzle-dazzle Nixon-era party Wednesday at Fabio Restaurant in Venice Beach.

“It’s about time they put on a party like this,” said violinist Guido Lamell, who describes himself as the orchestra’s “camaraderie specialist.”

Bubba’s out, Dubya’s in, and for purposes of the party, Dick was back working the room. The former president, portrayed by actor Michael Laskin, greeted guests with the old Nixon style. A veteran Nixon impersonator, Laskin played the president in the off-Broadway production “The Basement Tapes.” The evening was a setup for the Phil’s Feb. 2-4 performance of John Adams’ grand opera “Nixon in China” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Adams will personally conduct selections from his 1987 work.

The party, which drew more than 200 trendsetter types, was co-sponsored by Venice magazine.

“We want people to know we’re hip,” said Phil staffer Vanessa Butler, as she counted the packed house.

Party guests were given a choice of Pat, Dick or Henry Kissinger masks. The “president” personally distributed period postcards and campaign buttons--including “Pat for First Lady,” “Nixon’s the One” and “Nixon/Agnew.”

There were some intriguing connections to the late president. Between bites of Chef Fabio Flagiello’s Chinese fare, a quick survey revealed that violist Nick Wiedman’s granddad, John Moore, was ambassador to Ireland during the Nixon administration.

And actor Bud Cort (currently in “Pollock”) recalled, “I once sent President Nixon a candy-gram with a nice note urging him not to blow up something in Alaska. The FBI showed up at my house. But I really didn’t do anything naughty.”

Not everyone was so schmoozy. When a suit from the L.A. Phil office was invited to share why he happened to choose the Kissinger mask, he replied with a touch of Nixonian paranoia: “Please address all questions from the L.A. Times to our development director.”

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The Los Angeles chapter of the I Have A Dream Foundation celebrated the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 16 at its third annual Gospel Brunch held at the Ebell Club of Los Angeles. More than 300 guests turned out for the event featuring traditional soul food and performances by the award-winning SeDay Gospel Choir. Among the celebs spotted were Sharon Lawrence, Scott Foley, Jennifer Garner and Lisa Gay Hamilton, who emceed the event, honoring the Pasadena Unified School District with the foundation’s Community Partnership Award. Proceeds, which exceeded $25,000, will help fund the foundation’s sponsorship of college scholarships for at-risk students.

Upcoming

* Jeff Bewkes, chairman and CEO of HBO, will receive the American Jewish Committee’s Sherrill C. Corwin Human Relations Award on Feb. 1 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Named in memory of Corwin, a respected film industry exec and spokesman, the award is given to entertainment and communications industry leaders whose efforts have promoted intergroup understanding and cooperation. Gerald Levin is honorary chair of the dinner, and Peter Chernin, Brad Grey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Sherry Lansing, Barry Meyer and Bruce Ramer are co-chairing the dinner. Reservations are $1,000 a person. For information, call (310) 282-8080, Ext. 306.

* The weekend that Ol’ Blue Eyes used to refer to as his “little party in the desert” is coming up Feb. 2 and 3. The 13th annual Frank Sinatra Celebrity Golf Tournament benefits the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. Gregory Peck will join Barbara Sinatra as co-host this year, with longtime Sinatra pals Wayne Newton and comedian Tom Dreesen set to headline the Saturday night black-tie gala at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Palm Desert. For non-golfers, there’s a $125-per-person fashion show and luncheon. For $10,000, stargazers can attend all the events, including a post-gala nightcap party with Jack Lemmon, Kirk Douglas, Angie Dickinson, Kenny Rogers, Robert Wagner, Mike Connors, Jerry Vale and Suzanne Somers. For information, call (760) 202-4422; (800) FS-STARS.

* The St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral’s Philoptohos Society of Los Angeles will present 19 young women of Greek heritage at its 44th Ball on Feb. 3 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Proceeds from the biennial event are earmarked for Philoptohos programs, which include St. Sophia’s and Axios Summer Camps, UCLA’s pediatric unit; Kids ‘n’ Cancer Foundation; Children’s Medical Fund; the Mother Teresa Charitable Fund and the Student Aid Endowment Fund.

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Social Circuits runs on Tuesdays. Patt Diroll is at pattdiroll@earthlink.net.