THE CROWD:

Karen and Andrew Littlefair aren and Andrew Littlefair opened their elegant Lido Isle villa to host a recent “thank you” reception honoring the women and men who supported the Lido Isle Women’s Charitable Foundation holiday fundraiser.

Andrew Littlefair is a national figure working in association with T. Boone Pickens promoting the use of natural gas as both an economic and environmental solution to America’s energy crisis. Littlefair’s business association with an entity known as Clean Energy has been at the forefront in the news.

He raced home from his office in his natural-gas-powered converted Lincoln Town Car to greet the more than 50 dedicated guests who converged upon his residence for a mid-week supper hosted by his very charming and talented interior designer wife, Karen.

Andrew dashed in the front door, removed his suit jacket, straightened his tortoiseshell, horn-rimmed glasses, stepped behind the handsome granite-topped bar off of the formal living room and went to work as the evening’s bartender. Crystal wine glasses were lined up like soldiers in a battlefield standing at attention.

Karen put her final touches on beautiful floral arrangements throughout the home, lit strategically placed candles, dimmed the French wall sconces lining the entry corridor and checked on last-minute catering details in her kitchen.

She slipped into her hostess attire, ran over to the bar to kiss her husband hello as the doorbell rang and in came the glamorous blond Marion Pickens with Camille Reno and Cynthia Niblo.

The handsome couple Christine and Dennis Overstreet, world famous wine merchant to Hollywood, were right behind. Dennis had just fought the crush on the 405 Freeway south returning from his Canon Drive headquarters in Beverly Hills just in time to mingle with his friends and neighbors.

The stunning, cool blond Linda Colton, savvy businesswoman heading up The Laguna Design Center and new Lido Isle resident, was greeted by friends and admirers including Diana and Chris Miner, Anne and John Wortmann, the beautiful (inside and out) Linda Giannini escorting her mother Mrs. Martin, in from New York, where she is one of Broadway’s most prolific and longtime producers.

Corky Winters, Ida Middlesworth, Pat Hopkins, Debbie Benedict, Lois Tingler and Donna Shockley all converged on the Littlefair home as well.

The crowd mingled and schmingled as Andrew poured the Chardonnay freely. Mary Manno, Anissa Gurnee and another very talented Lido Isle resident and interior designer Pam Nestande gathered in front of Karen Littlefair’s French fireplace as the hostess asked for the crowd to be silent as she and Diana Miner, founder of The Lido Isle Women’s Charitable Foundation, presented a check for $10,000 to Laura Morrelli, director of the Hoag Cancer Center. Morrelli was joined by Sandy Firestone and Doe Girling accepting the donation.

The funds were raised by all of the guests in attendance at their very successful Lido Isle Holiday Home Tour, which exceeded expectations. The money is earmarked to create an informational DVD to be given to women who come to Hoag as newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. It is a cause very close to many in attendance including hostess Karen Littlefair, a breast cancer survivor.

A rousing applause filled the Littlefair residence, and the crowd was invited to supper being served in the dining room.

Underwriters, including The Paperhouse and Haute Cakes on Westcliff Drive, were acknowledged for their generosity supporting the earlier home tour.

Littlefair served a wonderful buffet supper that featured a creative chopped salad, which was the best ever made in the history of salad. Does salad really have a history? Karen’s salad had all the normal ingredients plus an assortment of grilled and chopped vegetables. Sabatinos famous grilled sausage and fresh French bread added to the fun of the evening.

Also spotted in the crowd was the tres chic Lido Isle fashion model Sharon McKinnon, tennis-pro-turned-real-estate agent John Flagg and Gloria Parker.

The Lido Isle Women’s Charitable Foundation was created in 2001 and has lent its support to a variety of community causes over the past eight years. To date, more than $135,000 has been raised and donated with approximately 97% of net profits going directly to the charities designated.

Many of the people in the crowd commented that they are especially proud of the fact that they are one of the only neighborhood charitable bodies in not just Newport, but possibly all of Orange County that has come together to make a difference for others.

The evening was supposed to end at 8 p.m. but continued well beyond. Andrew was still pouring Chardonnay and Karen offered dessert and coffee as this very close-knit house full of friends and neighbors shared polite conversation on this warm winter night in Newport Beach.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.