Oscar wild

John Wortmann may not be old enough to see the Oscar-nominated movie “The Departed” for another six years, but that did not dissuade him from dressing as the film’s director, Martin Scorsese, for a viewing party Sunday evening at a restaurant in Newport Beach.

With his mother Anne Wortmann, 11-year-old John joined a number of locals at the 508 29 restaurant to celebrate the 79th Academy Awards. Guests were invited to dress as their favorite celebrity while viewing the awards on any of the six television sets mounted throughout the restaurant.

Anne Wortmann, dressed as Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres, was eager to attend with her son simply for the chance to get in costume and character.

“We love to dress up,” she said. “Well, I guess [John] got it from me, but we have so much fun doing it.”

John was confident Scorsese would win the award for best director since, “I’m the best, I deserve it,” he said — very much in character — clad in a grey wig and thick black-rimmed glasses.

“It’s more than just watching it at home,” he said.

The majority of guests crowded the bar ordering cocktails while they chatted about who should win for best actor, best film, best director, and so on. The intimate group of guests watched not only the awards ceremony, which was brimming with Hollywood A-list actors, but could enjoy the very films that were up for awards that evening. A pile of DVDs rested next to a television set playing “Babel,” which was nominated for best original screenplay and best picture.

Having been open for only the last six months, 508 29 occupies the space formerly known as Aubergine. With a refined-yet-casual atmosphere, the restaurant offers quality wines side-by-side with California Sliders, and seasoned french fries.

Considered to be one of the foremost wine retailers in the country is owner Dennis Overstreet, who resides part-time in Newport Beach and in Beverly Hills, where he also owns The Wine Merchant. He is also author of “Overstreet’s Wine Guide: Celebrating the New Wave in Winemaking” and has gained a reputation for supplying celebrities with hard-to-find wines.

Tomorrow will be a busy day at The Wine Merchant. Overstreet will be charged with the task of filling numerous gift baskets and sending them en route to studios and individual Oscar recipients. “But tonight I am here,” Overstreet said, elated to share his wines and a good time with a few of his Newport Beach neighbors.

“It’s kind of fun doing it here in Newport Beach,” he said. “We wanted to make this a very important thing, so we didn’t want a lot of pressure,” wife Christine Overstreet said. Coming off of the holiday weekend, the Overstreets felt that a more impromptu party would fit the style of the city more appropriately. Invitations were sent out only days before the event.

Christine watched the awards intently, rooting for her favorite pick — the Warner Brothers film “Blood Diamond” — to win at least a few awards.

“Many of the films were very poignant this year,” she said.

Attempting to conjure the classic after-parties of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Dennis summed up the party plan as an effort “not to mimic, but [to] enjoy, something much bigger than Super Bowl.”

“The Academy Awards are for the world,” Dennis said. “It’s what makes California the most important place in the universe.”