PARTY LINES : A STYLISH `TRIBUTE' TO THE MILLENNIUM.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

Rodeo Drive has been many things to many people over the years, but always associated with style. So it was a natural choice of venue for the ``Tribute to Style: The Millennium Exhibition and Concert'' by Italian opera tenor/pop singer Andrea Bocelli.

Yep, right there on the south end of Rodeo Drive, with the lights of the Regent Beverly Wilshire glittering in the background, Bocelli performed ``Ave, Maria'' with a full symphony orchestra conducted by maestro Steven Mercurio, and had most of the 1,300 guests jumping out of their seats shouting, ``Bravo!''

In spite of a sore throat that caused him to cancel an earlier concert date, Bocelli said he wasn't going to miss this event because he was committed to helping the Entertainment Industry Foundation's inner-city and arts education programs at California State Summer School for the Arts, Teach America and Museum of Contemporary Art. And thanks in part to his presence, the bottom line for the evening was $760,000.

Bocelli was the star of the gala, but the evening was a multifaceted jewel. There was a futuristic white tunnel that led guests to the exhibition and silent auction of numerous millennium-themed designer garments by the likes of Chanel, Christian Dior, Ermenegildo Zegna, Escada, Armani, as well as the British sporting goods company Holland & Holland and Tiffany & Co. jewelers.

The party started with cocktails, where everybody was buzzing about the new Mandarin orange cocktail that's quickly surpassing the pink Cosmopolitan in popularity.

Dinner followed with a buffet catered by Along Came Mary and served alfresco.

After guests piled their plates with lamb chops, roast beef, fish and warm chocolate cake, they lounged on huge white pillows decorated much like the Sky Bar on top of the Sunset Strip's Mondrian Hotel.

It was a perfect spot for star gazing in comfort, and there were plenty to watch. Among the brightest were Michael Douglas with his new love interest Catherine Zeta-Jones on his arm. She was gorgeous, as usual, in a black gown with handkerchief hemline by Emanuel Ungaro.

Jennifer Love Hewitt of ``Time of Your Life,'' ``Medicine Woman'' Jane Seymour and supermodel Paulina Porizkova also wore black, but their ensembles were by Escada.

Almost everybody from TV's ``Frasier'' was there, including Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin, who topped her silvery Randolph Duke dress with a pistachio-green pashmina stole.

Pashminas, the season's must-have accessory, were seen on numerous guests, including Portia di Rossi of ``Ally McBeal'' (who wore hers as a top), and Nanci Chambers, who was there with her husband, David James Elliot of TV's ``JAG.'' Elliot said he was thrilled to have a special evening to dress up for (he was wearing a Dolce & Gabbana suit with Gucci shoes), and claimed Bocelli was a big reason for his attendance.

Ditto with film icon and AIDS activist Elizabeth Taylor, who didn't do the party scene, but quietly slipped into her seat just before the concert began, looking elegant in a white coat with a fox scarf by Christian Dior.

``ER'' star Kellie Martin was there, too, and so was ``10'' star Bo Derek, who said we'll be seeing her soon in four small, fun (as yet unnamed) films.

Event chairmen of the awesome benefit extravaganza were Ruth and Jake Bloom, Megan and Peter Chernin, Susan and Jonathan Dolgen, Jo Champa, Joe Farrell, Wendy and Leonard Goldberg, Kelly Champman and Ron Meyer of the Entertainment Industry Foundation; Colleen O'Kane of Christian Dior; and Greg Stewart of Gucci.

Earlier in the week was the 41st annual Fernando Award dinner, the Valley's Academy Award for public service.

The black-tie gala at the Warner Center Marriott began with strolling violinists, and included a dinner of sliced tenderloin with wild mushroom sauce and Chilean sea bass on wilted spinach with lemon leek sauce, followed by cannolis and creme brulee.

But the highlight was the much-anticipated announcement of the Fernando Award honoree, Lee Kanon Alpert.

At the podium with his wife, Arlene, waving to sons Scott, 21, and Brett, 24, the Encino attorney said, ``I'm shocked and humbled by this, and want to thank you, as well as my wife, who is obviously my better three-quarters.''

He ended his short acceptance speech by saying how thrilled he was to be able to work with Dave Fleming, a past president and honoree who co-hosted the evening's program with Irwin Rosenberg.

Rosenberg, who is the current Fernando Award president, praised Alpert and the other four finalists, claiming that together they represented 200 years of volunteer efforts that our children and grandchildren will benefit from.

Each finalist had a different reason for calling the Valley a terrific place.

``It's got to be the people,'' said Bob Scott, a Woodland Hills attorney.

Ruth Richter, who operates the family's motorcycle business in Winnetka, said, ``The idea that the Valley is an independent community waiting to become a city,'' is what makes it wonderful.

Bob Voit, a Woodland Hills developer, said he agreed with Richter, adding, ``The best thing about the Valley is the opportunity to live good lives and succeed.''

Rose Goldwater, a Woodland Hills community activist, said, ``It's the challenges I like best. They're different than those in L.A. But I also think the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas is great. You meet everybody there.''

And Alpert cited the giving quality of Valley residents: ``Forget the favorite landmarks. It's the sense of community and unity. We have more volunteers here in the Valley than any other part of L.A.''

The Fernando Award symbolizes leadership, volunteerism and dedication, and recipients' names are engraved on a huge bronze statue of a young Indian brave that stands in the Van Nuys Civic Center.

Although Mayor Richard Riordan was a no-show, (even District Attorney Gil Garcetti was surprised), there were pBlenty of local dignitaries, including Congressman Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, Sen. Cathie Wright, Sen. Richard Alarcon, Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, Councilwoman Laura Chick, Councilman Hal Bernson and former Sen. Ed Davis.

The event was organized by Sally Thompson and her committee, including Janine Bowles, Karl Boeckmann, Jeffrey Glassman, Fred Thomas, Thomas Soule, Jill Truelsen, Daniale Perry, Rosenberg and Fleming.

The bottom line for the evening was $10,000 for college scholarships.

The Arthritis Foundation's Commitment to a Cure gala honored Mark Meyerson and Albertina Rodi with the Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award for their volunteer efforts at a formal dinner held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Nov. 6.

Meyerson is a Valley Village resident who heads the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.'s Legal Rights Clearance Section, and has served in numerous leadership roles for the Arthritis Foundation, including chairman of the Foundation's Valley chapter.

Rodi, of Los Angeles, works for the Tina C. Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for lupus.

The event attracted 400 guests, including Susan Sullivan and Alan Rachins of TV's ``Dharma & Greg,'' who were the mistress and master of ceremonies. The event raised $300,000 for arthritis research, according to dinner chairwoman Beverly Froelich of Sherman Oaks.

Steve and Jamie Tisch hosted the Boys Town of Southern California gala at the Dennis Tito estate in Pacific Palisades, where guests such as Tom Arnold, Buzz Aldren, Nancy Davis and Ken Rickel gathered to honor Dallas Price and the Price Family Foundation for their many contributions to Boys Town.

The event featured Mary Ann Mobley and Gary Collins as mistress and master of ceremonies and included entertainment by Lora Luft.

For those who never saw the movie ``Boys Town,'' the organization was founded in 1917 in Omaha, Neb., and cares for more than 33,000 children each year.

The Oscar de la Hoya FoundatBion's Evening of Champions was truly an evening of champs, including its honorees, actors Whoopi Goldberg, David Hasselhoff, Lakers owner Jerry Buss and Global Health Sciences president Richard Marconi, who were recognized for their personal dedication to inner-city youth.

The black-tie gala was held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where more than 700 guests dined on rack of lamb and chocolate boxing gloves filled with vanilla ice cream, while Enrique Iglesias perfomed numerous songs, including ``Cielito Lindo'' with Oscar de la Hoya.

Party hosts Giselle Fernandez and Bob Goen reported that the event raised more than $800,000 for the Oscar de la Hoya Foundation that provides organized athletic opportunities for children, and fights gang activity and drug abuse.

More music was in the air at the Allegro Awards, a newly created benefit for Phoenix House and Musician's Assistance Program (MAP), held at the Universal City Hilton Hotel.

The event honored recording artist Eric Clapton; Gary LeMel, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Music and CEO of Warner/Sunset Records; and Buddy Arnold, founder and CEO of MAP.

As Arnold received his Allegro Award, he praised the other recipients. ``Clapton has brought his very personal problem with substance abuse out into the open . . . and has created a great public awareness and advocacy for treatment,'' Arnold said, ``and he deserves recognition for that.''

Among the celeb guests were Cindy Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber; Quincy Jones; and Bonnie Raitt.

Chairmen of the gala included Hilary Rosen, president of the Recording Industry Association of America; Tom Freston, chairman of MTV Networks; Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros.; Russ Thyret, chairman of Warner Bros. Records; and Grant Tinker, president of GTG Entertainment.

CAPTION(S):

5 Photos

PHOTO (1) Tribute to Style co-chairwoman Wendy Goldberg, left, with Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry FouBndation.

(2) Portia di Rossi wears a Holland & Holland pashmina stole as a blouse at Tribute to Style gala.

Berliner Studio

(3) Fernando Award winner Lee Kanon Alpert, with wife Arlene and sons Brett, 24, and Scott, 21.

(4) Past president David Fleming, left, dinner co-chairwoman Janine Bowles, and current president Irwin Rosenberg at the Fernando Awards.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News

(5) Beverly Froelich of Sherman Oaks, left, Mark Meyerson of Valley Village, and Steven Fuld of Hidden Hills at the Arthritis Foundation's Commitment to a Cure gala.