Candlelight Concert
Segerstrom Center for the Arts transformed its stately Segerstrom Hall into an art deco ballroom for the 41st annual Candlelight Concert held Dec. 5, 2014. The glamorous affair raised nearly $1.9 million to support arts and education programs in Orange County. Chaired by board member Shanaz Langson and her husband, Jack, the event brought together 350 attendees for an evening that kicked off with live holiday music from the Sonora Elementary School handbell choir, a Veuve Clicquot Champagne bar and a dessert truffle bar. Guests enjoyed a multicourse dinner during the special presentation. A highlight of the evening, Chairman Lawrence Higby took the stage to announce that the center’s Founders Hall is being renamed in honor of Executive Vice President Judy Morr, a longtime employee who is responsible for bringing prestigious programming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Following dinner, Frank Sinatra Jr. (son of the famed Rat Pack actor and singer) entertained attendees with his 37-piece orchestra as they danced the night away. —Allison Hata
Christmas at The Ritz
When the women’s support group of Chapman University, Women of Chapman, gathered for a 28-year-old tradition, Christmas at The Ritz, on Dec. 6, 2014, only one thing was missing—The Ritz Restaurant, which closed last year. The event committee recreated the experience inside the Island Hotel, which played host to Dickens carolers, an appearance by Santa Claus and a luncheon that featured a familiar menu item: The Ritz Egg. After event chair Adrienne Brandes lauded the accomplishments of both the Women of Chapman and the university (and took some playful jabs at USC), models showcased St. John apparel and David Yurman jewelry in an informal fashion show; following lunch, winners of an opportunity drawing were announced. The change in venue didn’t deter attendance or fundraising, however, as the larger space drew 405 guests and the crowd raised an estimated $223,544 for the event’s major beneficiaries, Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts. —Linda Domingo
Jewels By Joseph Holiday Party
Festive cheer abounded at Jewels by Joseph’s annual holiday party held Dec. 5, 2014. Operated by the Hartstein family for four generations, the shop buzzed with the murmurings of guests admiring—and purchasing—glimmering pieces of new and estate jewelry from designers such as Roberto Coin and Peter Storm. Meanwhile, a saxophonist set the mood with jazzy background music, and models outfitted with the host’s jewels and designer ensembles from On Que Style circulated in the indoor-outdoor space. Throughout the evening, guests sipped festive, fizzy cocktails and Champagne provided by Mark Scott Associates, as well as sweet and savory bites from Sprinkles and Tommy Bahama’s Island Grille. The spirit of the season also prompted the Hartstein family to raffle prizes that included $1,000 to spend at Jewels By Joseph and gift baskets from other Newport Beach businesses, with a portion of the proceeds from the raffle and that night’s sales benefiting the Orange County Food Bank. —Lauren Matich
