The Pacific Symphony sounds ready for its September move into the new OC Performing Arts Center hall. Its “groupies” still are buzzing over the triumphant European tour. “It was a coming of age. It was like watching your kid graduate high school, college and go on to world recognition,in two weeks,” said Doug Freeman, one of 20 local supporters who followed Carl St. Clair & Co. around on its nine stops. There were glowing reviews in the restrained German press. “The audiences stood,and they never do that,” observed Janice Smith. “We would love to tour again,” said Prez John Forsyte. “We were billed as an American, Southern Californian, OC and ‘south of Los Angeles’ orchestra.” The symphony’s upcoming dates include April 30 in Cal State Fullerton’s new V.J. Meng Hall and June 2 in the north-of-Costa Mesa Disney Hall …
“My standing here is the story of America,” Emile Haddad, Lennar Corp.’s chief investment officer and the OCBJ’s co-Businessperson of the Year, told a sold-out audience of 250 at the OC Forum. Twenty years ago Haddad and bride Dina escaped civil strife in their native Lebanon. Now, besides calling shots on the corporate level, Haddad oversees Lennar’s massive California operations, including the Great Park and Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle. Haddad said he’s not a forecaster, but he suggested if there is a downturn in the housing market, it won’t be as severe as the one in the early ’90s. Why? In 1990, only one of the state’s 10 largest homebuilders (KB) was public, now only one of 10 (Shea) is private,and public companies are generally more adaptive to changing market conditions, he said …
Media watch: The Sacramento Bee profiled The Irvine Company as “a quiet force in the state’s political scene,” noting the company has spent $5.5 million on lobbying and campaigns since 1999, including $418,000 to the state GOP. The OC Reg’s Steven Greenhut, opining in the Wall Street Journal, lauded Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle for his free-market approach to economic development (“The Anti-Kelo”). Pringle and Imax filmmaker Greg MacGillivray appear Wednesday night on “Inside OC” …
“The Studio,” playing at South Coast Repertory, has no nudity! …
A dinner at the Marconi Automotive Museum featured boxers and kickboxers, drew 500 and raised more than $300,000 for the Mustard Seed Ranch and the Marconi Foundation for Kids. But ex-Gold Glover Dick Marconi, a fighting-trim 71, didn’t get into the ring …
Coastline Community College has chosen a mascot,the Dolphins …
Sports interviewer Roy Firestone speaks at the Real Estate and Building Industry Luncheon May 9 benefiting OC United Way’s Keeping Kids On Track initiative. Call (949) 263-6176 …
Muslim comic Ahmed Ahmed and Rabbi Bob Alper give a free performance of their noted show, “One Muslim, One Jew, One Stage” Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Chapman U. Call (714) 628-7260.
