PARTY LINES; THOSE GOLDEN MOMENTS OF SUMMER.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Fashion Editor

Summer is usually quiet, but there was plenty of noise at the lively Nosotros Golden Eagle Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The 29th annual awards gala drew more than 1,200 members and friends of Hollywood's Latino community, who squeezed into the ballroom in their black-tie best to honor their own.

Among them was Nosotros founder and event host Ricardo Montalban; Jose Feliciano, who performed several songs after receiving his award; and that famous family duo Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr.

Not only did they act as mistress and master of ceremonies but also opened the program with Lucie singing ``Cumbachero'' while her brother played the congos.

The ultra-glam Apollonia was there, too, ready to present awards in a racy animal print ensemble by edgy L.A. designer Eduardo Lucero.

Others spotted in the crowd were actors Edward James Olmos, Erik Estrada, Hector Elizondo and Esai Morales.

And the honorees were Feliciano, as well as Henry Darrow, best-known for his role of Manolito Montoya in the TV series ``High Chaparral''; comedian Pedro Gonzalez; recording star Tito Guizar; film and TV star Eddie Albert (his late wife, Margo, founded the Plaza de la Raza culture center in East Los Angeles); star of Telemundo's ``Solo en America'' Laura Fabian; TV news anchor Maria Elena Salinas; and Raul Yzaguirre, president of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest Latino organization in the country. Not part of the entertainment industry, Yzaguirre was presented with the Golden Eagle Community Award.

Much of the buzz that night focused on the Doolittle Theatre in Hollywood, a small theater that will be restored by the Nosotros Foundation and made into a permanent showcase for Latino performers, artists, directors and playwrights. According to event producer Margarita Cannon-Martinez, they're planning to open in early 2000.

Also announced were the latest projects of Nosotros' New Filmmaker Program, which include ``Portrait of a Family,'' written by Ruben Romo; and ``Native Wisdom,'' a true story of an American Indian law enforcement officer that will be directed by Yvette Fernandez. Both movies will begin production in the fall.

Sponsors for the chicken and prime rib dinner were Coca-Cola, Walt Disney, Boeing, Continental Airlines, the California Lottery and Univision.

Fashion's trend-setters gathered

last week at the chi-chi West Hollywood restaurant Le Colonial to announce the winners of the CaliforniaMart's fashion awards.

While sipping icky-sweet leechee nut cocktails and grazing on chicken sticks, chopped filet mignon in lettuce cups and California rolls, L.A. fashion journalists, stylists and designers were the first to hear the news that the Gap will receive the newly created Entertainment Style Award.

The Emerging Designer Award went to SOLD, designed by Jenisa Washington; the Fashion Legacy Award to Richard Tyler; the Fashion Performance Award to Julie Harris and Chelsea Bergrren, designers of the junior line Roxy by Quicksilver; and the California Designer of the Year Award was presented to William B's designer, William Beraneck.

After helping to announce the winners, magazine stylist Jonathon Skow, who's married to 1998 Designer of the Year Trina Turk, talked with several guests about how his business has changed. ``Now it no longer matters if the dress fits the celeb cover girl very well, because the computer not only corrects it but also changes the color of the dress to match the magazine cover. And that takes some of the fun out of the job,'' he commented.

Dresses that do fit well will be seen on the runway at the CaliforniaMart's annual Designer Awards gala, scheduled this year for Oct. 3 at the trendy Skybar on top of the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. That's when the honorees will present their fall collections and receive their trophies. The event, says CaliforniaMart president Sue Scheimann, is a benefit for Starlight Children's Foundation, and tickets are $500 each. For ticket information, call [phone].

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4 Photos

PHOTO (1) Nosotros Golden Eagle Awards host Ricardo Montalban and wife Georgiana.

(2) Marabina Jaimes in a gown by Testilo.

(3) Apollonia in an Eduardo Lucero design.

(4) Esai Morales, left, and Dr. Nikolas Chugay at the Latino entertainment industry bash.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer