A Grand Old Party Time in New Orleans

Lester B. Korn, ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, was honored at a special party in New Orleans where he and wife Carolbeth are attending the Republican Convention. The party at the New Orleans’ City Club was hosted by Ronald H. Walker, managing director of Korn-Ferry International, and his wife Ann. The ambassador is on leave as chief executive of Korn-Ferry, an executive search firm.

Among the guests were: Robert Tuttle, director of White House executive personnel, and his wife Donna, deputy secretary of Commerce; Craig Fuller, Vice President George Bush’s chief of staff, and his wife Karen; Fred Malek, Republican Convention chairman, and his wife Marlene; Secretary of Labor Ann Dore McLaughlin; former Secretary of Transportation Drew Lewis; former California Lt. Gov. Mike Curb and his wife Linda; columnist Pat Buchanan and his wife Shelly; KABC commentator Bruce Herschensohn; Jim Lake of the Bush campaign; William Timmons, political analyst; Edward Rollins, political consultant; and Dwight and Susan Chapin.

DAZZLING: Everything’s dazzling gold, silver and turquoise at the Southwest Museum as chairman Dawn Douglas goes into the countdown on the “Gold and Silver Gala” on Sept. 24. It will feature the “Sun, Moon and Stone” exhibit, billed as California’s first invitational sales exhibition of contemporary Native-American jewelry. Party-goers will have a chance to bid on the one-of-a-kind pieces by 25 artists, many of whom will be flown in by Southwest Air for the black-tie opening and who will be feted the evening before at the museum Collectors’ Club exhibit preview headed by club president and museum trustee JoAnn Balzer.

The gala honors Dr. Norman F. Sprague Jr., trustees president between 1980-87, for his contributions in keeping the museum vibrant and alive through financial hard times. And it’s also a tribute to Cybill Shepherd for her role in the 1988 membership campaign. The letter from her and acting director Stirling Huntley brought in 1,600 new memberships.

It seemed appropriate to lunch at the Sonora Cafe the other day on Southwestern cuisine and hear chairman Douglas and trustee Charmay B. Allred discuss the fine points: $5,000 donors for their generosity will receive lagniappes of Juan Jimenez-designed sterling silver sahuaros (cactuses) punctuated with turquoise florets. Sommerset Catering will create the exotic Southwest cuisine--tequila-cured salmon with crusty squaw bread, handmade tortillas stuffed with shrimp and chiles, barbecued trout with cilantro pesto, chile cheese timbales, lime-marinated chicken breasts with tomatillo sauce--that will make the fund-raiser unique. And board president Jim Dickason and his wife Linda will be home from the Soviet Union to celebrate.

The Southwest’s Collectors’ Club will also host its second annual fund-raising Pan-American Indian Art Show and Sale on Sept. 10-11 at the Pasadena Center. The sale of $2 million in Indian and Latino art, artifacts and books will draw more than 250 dealers. Shoppers can attend for $5 or take in the preview party Sept. 9 on $25 tickets. The show is produced by Federico Jimenez.

FASHION VERSATILITY: At the Assistance League of Southern California/Nordstrom benefit highlighting Dallas designer Victor Costa’s fancy wear at the Biltmore the other evening, chairman Jaclyn Tilley Hill (now vacationing three weeks in the August sun at Rancho Mirage) was wearing a bright blue Costa ball gown that she borrowed from 23-year-old daughter Ranlyn who had worn it to the Spinsters Ball last year. By her side was another daughter Anita-Marie, 19, in a new bright green short taffeta Costa. It amused designer Costa, who said he really has no idea what the average age of his customer is, but he sells 50,000 dresses for evening wear a year. When league member Kathleen Ramos approached him in a flowered Costa, he mused: “Let me see: Seven-years-old? Thanks for wearing my dress.” She replied, “I can’t get rid of it--it’s too pretty.” Then league member Barbara Hardesty came up in black with strawberries--”An oldie, but a goodie,” he laughed, and retied the bow at her waist.

There was a crush at the door for president Beverly Thrall (in emerald green Costa) and her daughter Elizabeth. Nordstrom’s Los Angeles regional head--Cody Kondo--mingled in the crowd. Yvonne Cazier brought Hancock Park neighbor Pamela Clyne, sipping Chandon Brut around the seafood buffet. Carol Terry escorted daughters Emilie (she’ll do the Medallion Ball in April) and Brenda. Leslie Jenkins of Manhattan Beach and Diane Watson of Santa Monica took mental fashion notes. So did Martha Porter and Iris Craddock. Later, the crowd poured into the boutique area Nordstrom had thoughtfully organized in the gallery and tried on Costas in preparation for the fall social season--over more champagne and coffee.

GENEROUS: Beverly Hills residents lunched at the home of Deanie Levine to celebrate the raising of $120,000 by Women’s Group of the Friends of Tel Hashomer, established just a year ago. . . Natural History Museum director Dr. Craig Black has announced a $25,000 annual award, to be called the Irving and Jean Stone Prize for Science Writing. It will be given for the first time in the fall of 1989 to the writer who best communicates science to the general public.