UCI Salon brings more talk to the town

The Salon gathers formidable local intellect this evening as

Elizabeth Loftus, professor at UC Irvine in the departments of

psychology and social behavior, criminology, law and society, speaks

on the malleability of memory.

The evening will be hosted by locals Bob Cole, Ed Gotschall and

Brad Morrice at New Century Financial Corporation in Irvine.

Newport’s Gloria Zigner is producing the cocktail event. She can be

reached at (949) 720-1665 for last-minute reservations and

information.

Loftus is listed among the 100 most emanate psychologists of the

21st century and has written 20 books on various subjects relating

psychology and contemporary society.

The purpose of Salon is to bring together the community for

stimulating conversation on a variety of subjects led by notable

speakers. This is the third in Zigner’s series of Salon events this

season, which is becoming the “talk of the town.”

Groundbreaking for the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is

set for Feb. 6 with a celebration honoring the beginning of the

expansion of the Orange County Performing Arts Center. A ceremony

will be followed by a program and concert in Segerstrom Hall to mark

this milestone in Orange County cultural history.

The expansion began with a $40-million gift from the Segerstrom

family, and has attracted major contributions from local patrons of

the arts, raising the tally to more than $200 million needed to fund

the project.

The Decorative Arts Society, a support group for New Directions

for Women, a nonprofit, tax-exempt local organization that provides

treatment services to women with alcohol or other chemical abuse

problems, will welcome Lord James Crathorne on Feb. 11 at the Newport Stadium Theater in Fashion Island.

Crathorne is an expert on the art market, a former buyer for

Sotheby’s and a fine art consultant. The art market is currently a

“buyers market,” and Crathorne will discuss the insider’s view to the

buyers art market that exists today.

A $40 admission charge will benefit New Directions for Women.

Please call Elana Donovan at (949) 721-0874 for more information.

The Jewish Federation of Orange County welcomed Norman Pattiz,

chairman of Westwood One Companies, one of the nation’s leading

communications giants, at a reception and lecture this week at the

Hyatt Regency Irvine.

Pattiz, a member of the United States Broadcasting Board of

Governors, is the force behind radio Sawa, an Arabic radio station

that broadcasts news and information to millions of listeners in the

Middle East arena. In some respects, the station is considered a lone

voice of American values and ideas in a region not exposed to both

sides of the complex issues at hand.

Coming up, the Federation will produce the annual “Women’s Voices”

luncheon on March 18, honoring Donna Weinstein of Corona del Mar. She

will be named the 2003 Anne Entin “Woman of the Year” at the luncheon

forum, which will unfold at the Hyatt Regency, Irvine. The event

attracts a sold-out crowd of ladies from all over the county.

This year, the featured speaker is Erin Gruwell, two-time

California Teacher of the Year. Gruwell’s work is being chronicled in

a movie that will star Reese Witherspoon this fall. The film is based

on “The Freedom Writers’ Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used

Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them.”

Appropriately, Donna Weinstein is being honored this year for her

community work as a school volunteer and Girl Scout leader.

For tickets and information, please contact Alison Mayersohn at

(714) 755-5555, ext. 241.

Jacqueline Du Pont Baum, a distinguished local advocate of senior

services, involved specifically with Alzheimer’s disease in Orange

County, will join Mimi Johnson as an event chair of the upcoming

third annual Captain’s Ball.

The gala black-tie-optional dinner dance will honor Sheriff and

Mrs. Mike Corona and Dorothy Visser for their community

contributions. Special guest Stephanie Edwards of TV fame will grace

the event at the Ritz Carlton on Feb. 15.

Funds raised will benefit Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Care and

other senior services. For tickets and information, please call Becky

Lomaka at (949) 855-9444.

P.S.: Congratulations to Jacqueline and David Baum on the birth of

their daughter at Hoag Hospital last year.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.