Ready for my clawsup!

"Hooray for Howlywood" marqueed the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' fundraiser at Mardi Gras World's Grand Oaks Mansion that hailed cinemeowtography and cover grrrls and boys. All with good bones. To launch the patron pawty, Johnny Angel & the Swingin' Demons with the Rat Pack of old Hollywood purrveyed the sounds, and La Petite Grocery, the fine food. Fur the main gallivanting, Damion Yancy spun high energy tunes into the night and a host of restaurants and drinkeries fed the pooch pack. All the while, red-carpet glam or "favorite Howlywood character" was the suggested attire. Paws and effect created such part-time Orleanians as Brad Pittbull, Sandra Bullock and Nicolas Cage. All feline fine.

Heading up Howling Success and its auction were LA/SPCA CEO Ana Zorilla, Shannon Jones, Lynda Woolard, Donna Richardson, Dean Howard, and Thea Pagel Productions. Fur-ther spotlighting zeroed in on members of the LA/SPCA Board of Directors, which includes as president Sally Knight and officers Alan Philipson, Ellen Kempner, Kerri Kane, Jackie Shreves, and Ginny Lovell. Others making this a pet project were Susan and Bill Hess, Alexa Georges, Julia Reed, Dr. J. Coller Ochsner, Francoise Richardson, Louie and Sally Roussel, Keith and Machelle Hall, Margo and Clancy DuBos, Billy and Mary Kohlmann, Paulette and Frank Stewart, Terri and Henri Hall, Clem Goldberger, Eleanor Farnsworth, Yvette and Rick Jones, Elizabeth and Carlos Zervigon, and the NOLA City Bark Board of Directors, 2009 recipients of the Dorothy Dorsett Brown Humanitarian Award. Giant Oscar statues and director's signs, along with the "green" cats-and-dogs centerpieces, made Tinseltown the SPCA's reel thing.

Standing head and shoulders above every crowd is Paris' best-known star: the Eiffel Tower. It was depicted on the invitation and the program for Fete De La Salle, the 2009 Auction Gala given by De La Salle High School at the Hilton Riverside with Chip and Michele Fostall as honorary chairmen and Holley Guidry and Barri Kammer as auction chairwomen. More notables were musicmakers Bobby Ohler and the Harbor Band; auctioneer Ruthie Winston with celebrity assistance from Bob Breck; the school's president Kenneth Tedesco, principal Gina Hall, Francis P. Moises, Verna Boulet Aucoin, and Hillary Molony Suthon; and Cheryl Cabes and Mary Elizabeth Platt, the decorations' duo. Holley and Shane Guidry, Helen and Dennis Roubion, Dee and Fred Fuchs, Vic Castellon, and Donna and Darren Duhon figured as top bidders.

Within the supporting cast were Lynn Bailey, Sister Cecile Brown, Maureen Cremaldi, Beverly Gianna, John J. Hainkel III, Mary Elizabeth and H.J. Platt, Donna Pizanie, Paul G. Richard, Ryan Romano, Janell Weber, Deedee Blake, Jeanne Booth, Michael Cobb, Vera Dickey, Debbie Gros, Kathy Harris, Deb Hedrick, Lynnette Judge, Rhonda Ladner, Genny Melillo, Wendy Miller, Helen Morrison, Sandra Oster, Sharon Rodriguez, Tom and Kelli Arnold, David and Becky Benelli, Mary Cobb, and Tammy and Duncan Cox.

More sidereal socializing! "A Salute to our Rising Stars and Junior Achievement" announced the ado chaired and vice-chaired by Kristen J. Ponthier (joined by Tim Barkledge) and Leslie L. Keen at the Junior League Training Room and JA BizTown on Orleans Avenue with entertainment by The Bucktown Allstars, a caricaturist and strolling magician, a reception and soiree, auctions, Peoples Health as the Shooting Star sponsor, and 13 participating restaurants. Six entrepreneurs, the above Rising Stars, were lauded: Kyle Berner, Feelgoodz Flip Flops; David Blossman (with Caroline), Abita Brewing Company; Michael Hecht, GNO Inc.; Peter Menge (with Shannon Carradine), The Savvy Gourmet; Chris Schultz (with Dr. Megan Ciota), Voodoo Ventures; and Aaron Wolfson (with Dahlia), The Savvy Gourmet. Each received a Steuben crystal piece and kudos galore.

Established in 2003, the City Stars Soiree, a celebration of Junior Achievement-New Orleans, included among its 2009 constellation, more than 200 total "stars," 2008 chairwoman Lee Anne Sciambra with Craig, JA board chairwoman Katharine Kay, David and Mary Ellen Andignac, Ryan and Jess Berg, Robby and Leith Moss, and Clark and Laura Todd. For those who wanted to know what the future holds, and how stars align, a tarot card reader was on hand to deal one.