PARTY LINES : IN THE (PARTY) SPIRIT OF THE SEASON.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Fashion Editor

The party circuit has been possessed by the holiday spirit.

Take the recent Twelve Days of Christmas silent auction to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation held at Gearys of Beverly Hills, for instance. It included holiday songs by the Crenshaw Choir (looking awesome in royal blue and gold robes) and a quartet of carolers decked out in winter white ensembles, but the focus was on snazzy Christmas tree ornaments (think Baccarat, Gorham, Lalique), signed by celebs. High-profile attendees included Gillian Anderson, Drew Barrymore, Courteney Cox Arquette, Cindy Crawford, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Salma Hayek, Dustin Hoffman, Lisa Kudrow, Jenny McCarthy, Courtney Thorne-Smith and Mary Steenburgen.

All the ornaments, plus original designs by famous jewelers (such as Aaron Basha and Charriol), are being auctioned with all proceeds going to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, according to party hosts, Darrell and Susan Ross.

At the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where the Teddy Bear Ball was held, the crowd was treated to ``Beverly Hills 90210's'' Luke Perry as Santa Claus.

The third annual ball to benefit Housing, Education, Language and Psychology (H.E.L.P.) Group attracted 550 guests, including Gov. Gray and Sharon Davis, Supervisor Zevand Barbara Yaroslavsky, Mayor Richard Riordan, Michael and Jane Eisner, Steve and Jamie Tisch, Quincy Jones, and actress Jane Krakowski, who dressed up as Mrs. Claus and helped Santa lead the H.E.L.P. children's choir in a few holiday songs.

Master of ceremonies Pat O'Brien of ``Access Hollywood'' announced this year's Spirit of Hope Awards recipients, Mellon 1st Business Bank and Dyan Cannon. The actress who plays the sexy judge on TV's ``Ally McBeal'' was surprised by the unexpected appearance of her daughter, Jennifer Grant, who spoke lovingly of the tremendous inspiration her mother has been throughout her life. Greg Germann also gave a touching tribute to his friend and ``Ally McBeal'' co-star.

A very choked-up Cannon held back tears over the kind words.

Also recognized for their support of children were Merv and Thea Adelson, Irving and Shelli Azoff, Robert Davidow, Michael and Ronnie Kassan, Michael and Lori Milken, and Joy and Jerry Monkarsh.

According to gala chairmen Ken and Lissa Solomon, the sold-out gala raised $250,000 for the Sherman Oaks-based H.E.L.P. Group, which helps abused and neglected children, as well as those with learning disabilities.

The Rockettes also helped kick off the season with their high-stepping Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Universal Amphitheatre. The opening-night performance and party, which included a reading of `` 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'' by Christine Lahti, was a benefit for the International House of Blues Foundation, CHIPS for Kids, Violence Policy Center and Coach for Kids. Among the party-goers were Vanessa Williams, Terri J. Vaughn of ``The Steve Harvey Show,'' supermodel Cheryl Tiegs and ``Baywatch'' star David Hasselhoff. By the way, the Rockettes' holiday program continues through Dec. 26.

Neil Simon's ``The Dinner Party'' also opened with a cast dinner party that moved from the Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center to the more intimate Nick & Stef's Steakhouse downtown.

The place was packed, with guests rubbing elbows with strangers to get a chance to congratulate Simon and the cast. ``Happy Days'' star Marion Ross was there, and she made her way through the crowd to give her old co-star Henry Winkler a hug. A star we haven't seen for several years, ``Dinner Party'' co-star Winkler posed for pictures with everybody who asked.

Spotted grazing on the massive spread of fun food - chicken-and-carmelized apple fritters, chicken griddle cakes and baskets of beer-battered oinion rings - were cast members, including Van Nuys actress Anette Michelle Sanders, fans such as Tony Danza, Paul Michael Glaser, Marlee Maitlin and ``Dinner Party co-star John Ritter's wife, Amy Yasbeck. The play continues through Jan. 16.

Some organizations get in a tizzy over a title. After all, a provocative fund-raising theme can help sell tickets.

But the Center Theatre Group of the Ahamanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum simply called their event ``A Marvelous Party'' - and it was.

The eighth annual Salon at the Taper, which paid tribute to the playwright-composer-lyricist Sir Noel Coward on the 100th anniversary of his birth, began with a champagne toast to the theater icon and included performances by numerous actors such as Kirk Douglas, Tammy Grimes, Nancy Dussault, Anna Gunn and Allstair Duncan.

The event ended with dinner and dancing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, hosted by Michael Feinstein and organized by Marla Hummer and Bob Tuttle. Salon at the Taper was sponsored in part by United Airlines, Mikimoto Pearls and Kristone Cambria Winery.

Olivia Newton-John has been seen a lot lately offering her name and help to a number of charitable orgainizations, but this time she was the honoree.

At the annual luncheon of the Women's Guild of Cedars-Sinai, the Grammy award-winning recording artist and star of ``Grease'' was honored as the Guild's Woman of the 21st Century. She was saluted for her numerous humanitarian causes, including Operation Smile, Make-a-Wish and Starlight Foundations, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Also honored was guild member Caryl Golden, who received the Evelyn Clayburgh Award for leadership.

The organization raised $450,000 this year for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Other recent galas included the Hispanic Women's Council's California Star Awards at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, where Gov. Gray Davis accepted the Woman of the Year Award on behalf of his wife, Sharon, and stayed to present the group's Humanitarian Award to actor Jack Nicholson, who wore a tuxedo but kept his sunglasses on during the ceremony.

Also honored at the black-tie gala that attracted 700 guests and raised $160,000 for the Rescue Our Children program, were L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, District Attorney Gil Garcetti and L.A. Police Protective League President Dr. Ted Hunt, who, like the governor and Nicholson, received black leather jackets.

The event was hosted by Maria Conchita Alonso and Erik Estrada, and sponsored by Delta Air Lines and the Chrysler Corp.

More partying was going on at Dominique Cohen's downtown showroom where the designer-to-the-stars threw a holiday reception for her friends and fans. Among the guests spotted sipping champagne and celebrating the season were Oscar nominee Robert Forster, ``The Nanny'' mom Renee Taylor, Lisa Robin Kelly of ``That '70s Show,'' Concetta Tomei of ``Providence'' and Angela Landis, who's in the the Robin Williams film ``Bicentennial Man.''

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6 Photos

Photo: (1) Barbara Firestone, left, president and CEO of H.E.L.P., with honoree Dyan Cannon and H.E.L.P Group chairman Gary Carmona at the Teddy Bear Ball at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

(2) Actors Jane Krakowski and Luke Perry played Santa at the Teddy Bear Ball.

(3) Doing the party scene at the Women's Guild of Cedars-Sinai luncheon are Claude Hughes, left, honoree Olivia Newton-John, event chairwoman Mimi Meltzer, and Women's Guild president Abby Levy.

Lee Salem

(4) Marion Ross congratulates ``The Dinner Party'' star John Ritter at the play's opening night party at Nick & Stef's Steakhouse in downtown L.A.

(5) Elaine Joyce Simon, left, playwright Neil Simon, and ``The Dinner Party'' star Henry Winkler at the cast's opening-night party.

(6) Sherry Vrooman of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, left, with actress Mary Steenburgen at the 12 Days of Christmas soiree at Gearys of Beverly Hills.

Alex Berliner Studios