THE CROWD:

Newport’s ultra-sexy blond hostess Debbie Simon Debbie Simon on the arm of boyfriend Bob Mills opened the formidable doors of her waterfront mansion this week to host the underwriters of the 2008 Candlelight Concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Simon, a former Miss America contestant from New Jersey, and the former wife of one of the nation’s most successful financiers known in part for his role in backing international fashion houses, has become a prominent figure on the Newport social scene. One of her primary passions is supporting the center in conjunction with her own love of music and the performing arts.

In recent years, the Candlelight underwriters event was at a local restaurant. This season the crowd enjoyed Simon hospitality in what is arguably the most classic and well-situated waterfront estate on the harbor.

The party flowed in and out of the formal French Limestone maison grande with an auction set up on the bayfront terrace overlooking the harbor lights and a sliver of harvest moon.

Inside, martini glasses clicked as guests, including Candlelight Concert co-chairwomen Pat Poss, looking smashing in a dramatic high-swooping-collared cocktail jacket over her dress, and the ever-elegant Marta Bhatal, welcomed an impressive list of generous performing arts center patrons.

Hope Miller, who will chair this season’s Candlelight Encore Event, co-chairwoman Cindi Morales and Simon reception co-chairwomen Eve Kornyei and Harriet Sandhu made the most of the fall gathering creating a buzz for the upcoming fundraiser, the most important of all for the center.

The incomparable diva Diana Ross is set to headline the private concert for Candlelight and the next evening Broadway sensation Barbara Cook joins opera star Deborah Voigt for Candlelight Encore.

The two events set for Dec. 5 and 6 mark the 35th annual holiday extravaganza, a cornerstone of fundraising support for the center.

Meanwhile, back inside the Simon estate the crowd sampled a light supper and explored the walnut-paneled library transformed into a make-shift jewelry salon.

A large chocolate-colored velour ottoman centered the room in front of a crackling fire framed by an antique white Carrera marble Louis XIV mantelpiece.

Light from the flames illuminated a dazzling collection of jewels custom created by The Lugano Collection, a very exclusive Israeli-based firm handling the world’s finest quality diamonds and colored gem stones magnificently set in artistic settings of platinum and gold.

Stuart Winston, vice president of Lugano joined the most charming Lugano proprietors Idit and Moti Ferder placing the Lugano jewels on statuesque models parading the Simon residence.

South Coast Plaza was also well represented as the slinky models wore fashions from some of the shopping center’s design houses including Oscar de la Renta and Escada.

Social standouts sharing cocktail conversation were Zee Allred, Dorothy and Don Bendetti, Jennifer Condas, Barbara and Jim Glabman, Maralou and Jerry Harrington, Roger Kirwan, and Lido Isle’s lovely Margaret Larkin and husband Tom Larkin.

Twyla and Charles Martin dropped in. Twyla was dressed as a Sarah Palin look-alike. She was better than Tina Fey.

Suki and Randy McCardle, Sandi and Ron Simon, Susan and Tim Strader, Karen and Jack Swickard, Olivia and Howard Abel, and the performing arts center’s boss Terrence Dwyer were all front and center to launch the Candlelight season.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.