Home on the Back Bay, where Sophisticates play

The glamorous Pilar Wayne Upchurch, former wife of movie star John

Wayne, opened her waterfront estate on the Back Bay in Newport Beach

last week for a sunset cocktail party benefiting the Sophisticates of

the Assessment Services Treatment Center.

Wayne is now married to Texas millionaire Jessie Upchurch.

Together, they have created a palatial mini-estate that Pilar has

decorated with movie star pizazz. Massive crystal chandeliers hang in

triplicate down an entrance loggia that bisects the house from front

to rear, and Pilar, the artist in residence, has done a masterful job

faux-painting the walls and columns of her home.

The barroom of the home is especially noteworthy, painted to

resemble a Venetian palazzo, with a surrounding ocean vista and

striped, swaged drapes framing the view that looks so real you can

almost feel the wind blowing the painted fabric off the oil-painted

sea.

The local crowd always loves a little celebrity hobnobbing, and

the Sophisticates, led by reception chairs Eve Kornyei and Nili

Stevens, were clearly enjoying cocktails and supper at the Upchurch

residence.

More than 100 Sophisticates and their escorts arrived at the

bayside valet station to support the upcoming annual fashion show and

luncheon to be held at the Hyatt Huntington Beach Resort and Spa on

April 1.

Entering the Wayne-Upchurch villa, pianist Ron Levy, the son of

local movers and shakers Carol and Don Julian, entertained at the

keyboard. On the waterfront terrace, bartenders in crisp white

starched jackets served Pilar Wayne’s famous Peach Martini featuring

Gray Goose Vodka donated for the occasion. There was, however, no

tequila, which was the late Duke’s favorite and only libation.

Sophisticate’s President Denice Mock was on hand, along with

fashion show underwriting chairs Debbie Newmeyer, Tora Brown and

Shari Ciko, who was a knockout in a body-hugging black pants outfit

complete with a feather trimmed black hat -- part Sophia Loren and

part Cat Woman. Fashion show chair Grace Thelen was there chatting

with supporters and enjoying the fabulous hors d’oeuvres, which

included Asian boneless beef short ribs in Hoisin sauce, which sent

the crowd chasing after the waiters from chef David Coplin’s staff

carrying the silver trays across the marble floors of the

Wayne-Upchurch residence.

Coplin, formerly with Five Feet, Laguna Beach also served such

delicacies as a truffle pate with poached pear encrute, skewered

grilled bay scallops and a margarita of swordfish martini.

Also spotted in the crowd were Newport Coast’s classy hostess

Sally Crockett and the beautiful trio of Karen Hardin, Martha Green

and Cathy Lowden. Carleen Brennan graced the party, as did the

vibrant Yolanda Biewers, dressed to kill in a gold lame mini-skirted

suite that would leave Joan Rivers speechless.

Generous underwriter and society leader Nora Hester arrived with

her daughter Marilyn Gianulias. Patsy and Tim Marshall toasted a

peach martini on the terrace with Harriet and Sandy Sandhu and Mary

Ann and George Wentworth. Debbie Schweickert wins the award for the

biggest hat. Ev Parrella was spotted in the crowd with the very sexy

Shelley Elam.

For last-minute reservations to attend the fashion show next week,

please call Christy Netro at (714) 730-6529. The show is being

produced by Nordstrom, South Coast Plaza.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.