Swells
Catherine Bigelow
Twinkle, Twinkle: In the grand tradition of a
Danielle Steel novel, the author herself has lived a life as full as her
fictional heroines. There's been adventure, motherhood, fame, parking-permit
dramas, fortune, disappointment and love. But it was a chapter on personal
tragedy that inspired Steel to create her finest real-life role yet: Advocate
and fund- raiser for mental health programs.
When Steel hosted a gala benefit last week at
the Ritz-Carlton, her guests at the head table (in no particular order)
included former vice- presidential first lady Tipper Gore (who with husband
Al Gore, also attended Steel's preparty for 100 the night before in the
ballroom of Steel's historic manse); Barry Bonds; Princess Michael of Kent;
actors Peter Coyote, Michael York and Joanna Poitier; Hollywood author
Jackie Collins; and rocker Ozzy Osbourne with his wife, talk-show host
Sharon Osbourne.
Folks, it ain't called the Star Ball for nothing.
And those were but a few sparklers who turned
out for the third biennial gala, raising $700K for the Nick Traina Foundation.
Named in honor of Steel's son, who suffered from
bipolar disorder and died of a drug overdose in 1997 at 19, the foundation
supports local and national organizations that directly serve those whose
suffer from mental illness and their families.
"It just doesn't make sense,'' said Tipper Gore,
a longtime advocate of mental health treatment and research. "People talk
rationally and compassionately about every other organ in the body, except
the brain.''
The mellifluous Coyote served as emcee, keeping
the boisterous crowd on track for the evening's events: "Please, ladies
and gentlemen, take your seats. We've just gotten word that Mariah Carey
is in the elevator and on her way down to perform.''
Yes, it was that kind of night.
More than 500 guests gladly ponied up $500 (and
then some) to attend the black-tie fete. Among the bon-tons: Arista
Records founder and president Clive Davis (who was mistakenly asked by
a non-MTV watching reporter if it was he who'd discovered Mariah. "No,''
said the mogul, smiling graciously. "You're thinking of Whitney.'' Oops!
Pass the People magazine -- please!); Davis' cousin, "Beach Blanket
Babylon'' producer Jo Schuman Silver; the fabulous and always elegant Vogue
editor-at-large and columnist André Leon Talley (who donned a kimono
over his tux); psychic Gary Spivey (ask about the hair later); actor Gary
Collins and wife Mary Ann Mobley (looking as though she'd just been crowned
Miss America, again) and Steel's former husband, John Traina.
Members of Danielle's brood included Beatie Seidenberg
and husband Michael; fashionable Victoria Traina (wearing YSL couture and
Schlumberger jewels) and a Chanel-clad Vanessa Traina; Zara Traina and
Maxx Traina, who was just named to the Foundation's board.
From our local firmament, heavy-hitting sponsors
(and good friends): Susie Tompkins Buell, with her husband, Mark Buell;
philanthropists Ann Fay Barry and Alexander Mehran; the Giants' original,
irreplaceable, super slugger Willie Mays, an unquestionable star in any
crowd; Mayor Gavin Newsom (making a brief fly-by); former Mayor Willie
Brown with a striking blond named Sonya (whose last name he claims not
to remember); Ann and Gordon Getty, Stanlee Gatti (who helped Steel produce
the event), Jeannette Etheredge, Bond's mom, Patricia Bonds, and wife Liz
Bonds; Vanessa Getty, with pals Paul Price and district attorney Kamala
Harris; Bobby and Adrianna Pope Sullivan; Peter and Kaylea Bakker, with
daughter Kimberly Bakker; Libby Pfau and Donna Miller Casey. And accentuating
the "sparkling'' theme (like a diamond on black velvet): Hermes' Terry
Howard, Cartier's Robert Atkinson and Tiffany's Giles Marsden.
Awards were presented to Bonds, Tipper Gore and
Sidney Poitier (unable to attend because of a prior commitment with the
United Nations) for their work with children's issues and mental health
organizations. Sharon Osbourne then introduced Steel (whom she'd met during
her battle with colon cancer -- out of the blue, Steel had sent her a letter
of support). Osbourne, earrings in hand as she took the podium, joked:
"My husband's going to kill me -- my earrings keep popping off. And they're
on loan!'' When Danielle came up onstage (dazzling in Rochas couture, sparkling
in major carat-age) she jibed back: "Well, I don't have a husband, and
the earrings are mine!''
Steel gave an impassioned speech, not just on
mental illness but on the disease's cruel grip among many of the city's
homeless.
"Mental illness is the second cause of death
among young people under 20,'' she said. "What we're doing tonight is a
very small drop in a very big bucket. But we must celebrate the survivors,
not just the losses.''
In the cause of filling that bucket, a live auction
of luxury goods was held, sparking a spirited battle between two Gettys
and a Gatti for tickets to Silver's "Beach Blanket Babylon.'' "As soon
as I saw Gordon raise his bid card, I dropped out,'' said Gatti, laughing.
Ann Getty made up for losing that item to her
husband by winning an autographed Barry Bond's bat and a Giants' package
that included four tickets plus a Bonds "meet & greet.'' All told,
the Gettys enriched the cause by almost 25 grand. Plastic surgeon Douglas
Ousterhout won the Fred Leighton diamond necklace which retails for 85-thou
-- but was a "steal'' for just 24K. And Angela Janklow, daughter of legendary
literary agent Mort Janklow, fought hard and bid high (14K) for a chocolate
Lab puppy.
Then it was show time. Mariah Carey slinked
onstage in a slip of a dress to great cheers. As she began hitting her
trademark high notes, Gatti turned to Clive Davis, and whispered: "She's
pretty good.'' Not used to the small venue and shortened format, Carey
was unable to make her usual number of costume changes. "This is what's
known as rough-neck, diva-style,'' she joked, snapping open her compact
and powdering her nose onstage in-between songs under the hot lights. San
Francisco Botox king Seth Matarasso exclaimed (throughout much of the show):
"Oh my God, I love Mariah!''
But it was homegrown legend Bonds who proved
himself Carey's biggest fan. As the double-sided tape holding the fuchsia
gown to Carey's generous décolletage threatened to slip away, the
singer called out for her staff. Bonds immediately stood up, waved his
arms and cried out, "Hey, I can do it!'' Alas, her dresser arrived onstage.
However a second potential costume malfunction loomed. This time, Bonds
strode purposefully up to the stage and gallantly offered his assistance.
Mariah's eyes grew wide as a security guard waved Bonds back to his seat.
Holy smokes! Didn't she recognize the National League's six-time MVP? Perhaps
in Carey's universe, there's room for only one superstar?
Earlier in the evening, as the sky glowed pink
and the night's first stars began to glimmer, Steel said that today would
have been her son's 26th birthday. "I find myself wondering, would Nick
be married by now? Would he be finished with college? Would he be a rock
star?''
Though May is Mental Health Month, Steel acknowledged
that having the event on this particular day was a little painful.
Earlier in the day, she'd told her daughters
that she couldn't make her usual visit to Nick's grave; that it would just
be too much.
"We hold the Star Ball in the hope," Steel said,
as guests clamoured to greet her, "that this doesn't happen to anybody
else.''
Source: San
Francisco Chronicle (All rights reserved)
Posted on May the 10th. |
.
,
huh... I'm almost always in a good mood, except when someone trash Mariah
or tries to hurt her. So, like I said, I'm in a good mood... I bother
you huh 
? Whatever,
I'm in a good mood
)
What's this mess? 
