Pyott’s Play: Cash Out and Carry On; F&M’s New Starter

This week’s Special Issue on OC-based public companies marks a farewell appearance for perennial leader Allergan, which has held the top spot ever since the Business Journal switched its ranking criteria for our annual list from revenue to market cap some years ago. Look for former Allegan boss David Pyott to retain plenty of influence locally and beyond, though, and not just because of his $534 million cash-out (see related story, right). He’s been nominated for a board seat at Netherlands-based consumer electronics brand Philips Electronics, continues to serve as the lead independent director for Avery Dennison in Pasadena, and is expected to ramp up his involvement as a trustee of Chapman U. and continue in charge of the Allergan Foundation … Just about any foundation or philanthropic group could take lessons on how to handle their big night from the Orange County School of Arts, which brought it fully once again for its annual fundraising gala on March 28 at Hotel Irvine. Hard to pick a highlight amid all the talent and enthusiasm, but here goes: the shots of portraiture by OCSA students that flashed on screens in the ballroom during an ensemble’s performance of “Eleanor Rigby,” with its refrain “all the lonely people.” Highly stylized illustration of teen angst? Or more simply a fine pairing of art forms? Kudos to co-chairs Missy and Chris Callero, Maria Newkirk-Fong and Michael Fong, and Julie and Doug Garn, in any case, because the pairing worked either way—and so did the whole show, which raised $950,000 and netted $610,00, according to the school … Martha and James Newkirk surprised the gathering with a $2 million gift for a 60,000-square-foot visual arts center that will bear their family’s name … Students from two other local schools impressed at the recent California Restaurant Association Education Foundation competition in Pasadena. Teams from Newport Harbor took first in the Boyd’s Coffee Culinary Cup and third in the BJ’s Restaurants Management Cup, while a squad from Westminster High placed third in coffee … Back to the Hotel Irvine, where Chef Jason Montelibano is pulling quite a caper in the kitchen of Eats. Make that capers, actually. And tell the Insider—if you can—what the recent import from Chapter One in downtown Santa Ana does to give the capers served with the nicoise salad at Eats so much flavor … More on DTSA, which can claim another rising star in Hop Phan of Dos Chinos, which continues to impress with “Latin Asian Grub” as part of the lineup at the recently opened 4th Street Market food hall. It’s a bit of brick and mortar that nicely complements Dos Chinos’ popular food truck …The arrival of baseball season prompts this quiz: What does our national pastime have in common with banking? Hope springs eternal in both, whether you see it in a dugout on opening day or in the eyes of a hopeful borrower at the SBA desk. Want to see the connection in the flesh? Visit Nolan Nicholson, an SBA specialist in Farmers & Merchants Bank’s office in Seal Beach. The recent veteran of the Railcats, an American Association franchise that plays ball in Gary, Ind., is part of the fifth generation at the 108-year-old family-owned operation. Now he’s in a spring training of sorts for his new career under a couple of uncles, CEO Dan Walker and President Henry Walker.