A ‘Beachy-Keen’ Party for Bishop’s

LA JOLLA — The horticultural police may be on the prowl this week, seeking the person(s) responsible for the bald patches that have appeared on several hillsides and look much like the handiwork of inattentive barbers who, distracted by chatty cronies waiting along the back wall, have plied their scissors a little too closely.

The culprits responsible for cropped La Jolla hillsides belong to the committee of this year’s annual Bishop’s School fund-raiser, “The Beach Ball,” who scavenged local pampas and buffalo grasses to spiff up the beachy-keen decor chosen for this benefit for the school’s faculty endowment fund.

An informally formal, black tie gala--described by several long-time attendees as “very much a family party”--Saturday’s Bishop’s School Ball attempted to maximize proceeds by imitating the birds of the air and making do with those elements that came readily to hand. In other words, and according to both chairman Anne Dick and co-chair Marge Palmer, the intention was to create a scene and mood on the cheap.

Aided by free sand and lifeguard stands lent by La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, the result was the transmogrification of the normally staid Ellen Browning Scripps Dining Room from a student refectory to a whimsical re-creation of a select East Coast beach--at least as such beaches existed during the pre-bikini days in which most of the 285 in attendance reached voting age.

Reduced to its essence, the Beach Ball came down to an elegant party, but the intention to keep it lively showed through constantly, in such details as the band, Lil Elmo and the Cosmos, but especially in the decor.

“This is an East Coast ‘Beach Ball,’ not West Coast,” said Anne Dick. “We’re emphasizing style and soft colors, not a ‘surf’s up’ mood or designer wet suits.” (Actually, a plan to costume waiters in wet suits was abandoned only when it was realized that, in such garb, they might be cooked more thoroughly than the entree of duck in honeyed lemon sauce. The young women students who volunteered to sell raffle tickets, however, did their bit to help with the theme by wearing bathing costumes similar to the “bloomer suits” common on beaches at the turn of the century.)

The recorded sounds of crashing surf greeted guests at the entrance, and gave way to such details as the salt water taffy strewn over the dining tables, and the garlands of pampas grass woven into the chandeliers. Buffalo grass and small bouquets blossomed from hollows carved into the logs of driftwood that served as centerpieces--all gathered freely from La Jolla hillsides, according to Palmer and Dick, who called their handiwork “an indigenous decor.”

Even salt and pepper were served from scallop shells, rather than shakers. “This is good fund raising; we made everything ourselves so that it wouldn’t cost anything,” said Palmer.

“We’ve been creative and resourceful, and as a result we’re going to make a lot more money,” added Dick, who noted that the committee had even scattered sand over the outdoor concrete terrace in front of the bandstand to save on the cost of renting a dance floor. “The money we’re earning is important because without the faculty, the Bishop’s School would just be a collection of empty buildings. I’ve been on the board of directors for eight years, and I really and truly believe that the backbone of this school is the faculty. The fund we’re supporting tonight doesn’t go for salaries, but for enrichment, for special projects proposed by individual faculty members.”

Despite the cost-cutting measures (working in the garage of the headmaster’s cottage, the committee painted cylindrical concrete molds to resemble pier pilings, wrapped them in rope and even splattered white paint to suggest the recent presence of sea gulls), there was a lavishness to the evening that typified the privileged status of the school. Hors d’oeuvres included a shellfish bar and miniature beef Wellington logs, and the menu ran to Gorgonzola-stuffed ravioli, roast duck and chocolate beach pails filled with white chocolate mousse.

Costs were offset by substantial underwriting and by the auction of a painting, titled “The Cove” and executed by Bishop’s parent Lisa Hill, that also was used as the program cover. A second auction item was an edible white chocolate sandcastle, crafted by the same chocolatier that made the chocolate seashells offered as party favors.

The guest list included Bishop’s Headmaster Michael Teitelman and his wife, Marlene; Elsie and Frank Weston; Alixanne and Tom Baxter; Marilyn and Jon Bilger; Karen and Orrin Gabsch; Kris Jeffery; Linda and Sal Caltagirone; Jimmie and Leroy Brockbank; Chuck Dick; Gail and Bob Lichter; Tricia and Bill Kellogg; Sandy and Tom Melchior; Gray and Kraig Kristofferson; Jeanne and Bill Larson; Paul Palmer; Ann and Marc Sandstrom; Peggy and Peter Preuss; Monica and Leonard Teyssier; Judy and Randy Strada; Sukey Beasley; Judi and Dick Freeman; Anne and Vince Ricchiuti; Carolyn Yorston and Louis Gessay; Marilee and Steven Warfield; Anne and John Gilchrist; Carol and D.J. Ware; Marvie and John Norris; Lacey Colmore, and Patti and Jim Clark.

SAN DIEGO--It probably never occurred to the designers of the San Diego Convention Center’s sail-like roofs that, were someone to build a 41-story tower across the street, these fabric constructions would look like enormous trampolines when viewed from on high.

There actually are two penthouses at the new One Harbor Drive condominium towers, and one of them was used Friday as a springboard for “Fever,” the annual San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts gala to be given March 14, in conjunction with a performance by the Martha Graham Dance Company and as a celebration of the foundation’s 10th anniversary. Some 150 committee members and principal patrons were invited to Friday’s preview party-in-the-sky as a way of building a fire under “Fever.”

Co-chairs Phyllis Parrish and Reba Brophy made arrangements to use the pair of apartments on the East tower’s 38th floor, as well as the double-decker penthouse above, despite the fact that the luxury building (prices range up to $2.6 million per residence) is not yet ready for occupancy. It helped that developer Bruce Stark, who flew in from Honolulu for the event and was deposited on the rooftop landing pad by his own helicopter, has become a major SDFPA sponsor.

Nonetheless, guests were required to sign waivers before ascending in the elevator, and the units utilized for the soiree had to be wired for electricity at the last moment. According to one committee member, wrangling the grand piano to the 38th floor was “an adventure.”

Brophy and Parrish crammed the apartments with crimson balloons (naturally, the sole color chosen for “Fever” is flame red) and arranged for pastas, salads and pastries to be catered by several outfits, but the views generally stole the show.

Several impetuses will fuel “Fever” (“the idea is to get people in a fever for the arts,” said Brophy), but SDFPA founder Danah Fayman said, “I hope the gala helps us to balance our budget.” Fayman added that she will not be donning a blond wig to reprise the “Red Hot Mama” role she played at the 1991 SDFPA fund-raiser, saying “I’ve already had my one brief fling on the stage.”

The official “Fever” will be given at the Westgate hotel and will begin with a 5:15 p.m. cocktail hour and an early dinner. After the 8 p.m. performance at the Civic Theatre by the Martha Graham troupe, guests will return to the hotel for dessert and for dancing to The Heroes.

Tickets to the black-tie event cost $225 per person, or $325 for admission at the benefactor level. For further information, call the San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts, 234-5853.