Brian Lawrence Live

Monday, April 23
Tonight I’m pulling double duty— two worthy benefits: The Family Tree and Baltimore School for the Arts. I’ve been involved with both for several years, though they’ve never coincided with each other on the same night before. This is the fourth year in a row that I’ve been a judge at the Family Tree’s Great Chefs Dinner, being held at the Grand Lodge at Bonnie Blink in Hunt Valley. Some 40 area designers have each decorated an extravagant table for the 400-plus guests who will be dining on a five-course meal prepared by guest chef Louis Osteen. This year, the tables were decorated to reflect the theme “Way Down South.” I and two other judges spent nearly an hour marveling at the creations that had been carefully constructed by the designers. Two tables featured live models as centerpieces: one in a magnolia-festooned gown and another with a transvestite dressed as Carol Burnett-as-Scarlett O’Hara (complete with the curtain-rod dress) from the infamous TV show sketch. We finally narrowed the winners to four: the Carol Burnett table, a “Fried Green Tomatoes"-themed table, a Voodoo-themed table and a New Orleans Garden District-themed table. At 6 o’clock, guests started arriving for the cocktail hour and the silent auction bidding. I had time to chat with Ross and Sandra Flax and Sloane Brown and Steve Sobelman before I had to leave by 6:30, in order to make it downtown for the School for the Arts performance. (Look for photos of my favorite tables in the pages of the Nov. “Food & Entertaining” issue of Style.)

I lucked into a parking spot two blocks from the school and made it inside by a few minutes past 7. The place was already filling up with patrons there to see the evening’s performance and to tour the school’s new and recently renovated spaces. I’ve been coming to the school’s Monday Night Expressions show for the past 7 years, and it never fails to amaze me. These young people from the Baltimore area who put on a dazzling show every year to showcase the talent and the hard work of the student body are a tribute to the work that goes on there year after year. We mingled for 45 minutes over cocktails and a light dinner, and strolled through the student gallery and the school’s new library. Then the show started and we were mesmerized for the next hour: a symphonic orchestra, an operatic duet, ballet, modern dance, an acting ensemble, a big band with singers… the range is amazing. We were lucky enough to have seats near the front of the stage, and at the show’s conclusion, the kids were greeted with a rousing standing ovation. If you’ve never experienced one of these shows, you really don’t know what you’re missing.

Thursday, April 19
Tonight, the new Lebanese Taverna hosted a VIP reception in the stunning bar at the new Inner Harbor East restaurant. It was a young, fun crowd of 80 or so who packed the room, enjoying martinis and a Middle Eastern buffet. Ran into Marcy Sagel, Tracy Kwiatkowski, Hope Schab, David Schleider and Karen Meisel, among others. The whole Harbor East development is really picking up steam now, and has become a dining destination: besides Lebanese Taverna, within a block’s walk in any direction, one can choose from The Oceannaire Seafood Room, Roy’s, Fleming’s Steak House, Cindy Wolf’s Charleston, Pazo and James Joyce Irish Pub. Opening later this year will be another restaurant concept from Tony Foreman and Cindy Wolf, just around the corner.

On Sunday afternoon, I joined 50 or so for a reception at Linwood’s, welcoming chef Louis Osteen to town for his stint as guest chef at this year’s Great Chef’s Dinner tomorrow night benefiting The Family Tree. Nibbling on crab salad and marinated shrimp, among other things, we were given a cooking demonstration by chef Osteen as he prepared his trademark Low Country favorite, shrimp and grits. I enjoyed chatting with Julia and Michael Keelty, Paige Cali, Missy Connolly, Lauren Hurlbrink and Larry Macks. After that, with the weather being so perfect, I decided to head downtown for the late afternoon deck party still going on at Little Havana. The O’s game was just letting out, and my friend Tom Neuberger and a few pals wandered over from the game to continue celebrating his day-long bachelor party; I caught up with Jeff Stein, Tom Brinkley and a few of the other guys who’d been to the winning game (Baltimore bested Toronto, 7-3) and friends Jamie and Meg Kelly, before calling it a day.

Wednesday, April 18
Tonight, CenterStage hosted ‘Puchi Nippon,’ a Japanese-themed evening of food, performances and fun. The crowd of several hundred enjoyed bars, food stations from eight Baltimore restaurants, strolling performers, artwork and fashion shows spread out over three floors of the performance complex on Calvert Street. As soon as I walked in, I ran into Downtown Diane and Sloane Brown, who showed me her handy-dandy new digital recorder, which she uses at events to do on-site interviews and then posts on her Sun column’s Web link. Cool! I was joined by friends Tracy Kwiatkowski and Tom Brinkley, and we set out to explore the multi-level party. After sampling some saki and and a special theme shot, we wondered upstairs, where I came upon our own Style fashion editor Suzin Boddiford and past Stylemaker from our Sept. issue Jennifer Brown. In keeping with the evening’s theme, Suzin was rocking a beautiful vintage kimono, while Jen opted for a sleek Missoni dress. In the dining salon, we joined frequent Style fashion photographer Dean Alexander and Dean Krapf, who is the hair & makeup mastermind behind many of our Style fashion shoots, including the current issue. After posing for a series of group shots, we continued to wander. In the Chapel bar, I stopped to chat with Jim Halle and with CenterStage director Michael Ross and Susan Garabedian. Architect/designer Patrick Sutton joined us as we attempted to get into the 9 o’clock fashion show, but the auditorium was already at capacity. By then, there’d been a power outage that prevented some of the food stations from cooking; faced with hunger, a few of us decided to trek the two and half blocks up to Minato (still in its old digs just off the square, but soon to move into new ones two blocks up Charles St.). After more saki, some Sapporos, sushi and sesami chicken, we decided to head two blocks north to Red Maple for its Wednesday night Shanta party, complete with belly dancers. Inside, we joined developer Pat Turner and Christian Johannssen, who’d also just come from the same party, at a table in the front room next to one of the glowing firepits. That made a nice perch to enjoy the dancing and the rest of the evening. Check out photos from the party in our Social Seen pages.

Tuesday, April 17
Last night I attended the annual Restaurant Association of Maryland’s Industry Awards Gala, held at Martin’s West. At our table were Dorothy Fuchs, head of Purple Dot Public Relations, Lars Rusins from Baltimore Foodies, media maven Downtown Diane, Reagan from the Mix 106 morning show, chef/owner Jerry Pellegrino of Corks restaurant and Anne Boone Simanski of the Baltimore Examiner. No doubt it was the most fun table on the floor. After a cocktail reception, the evening got down to the business at hand: recognizing the best restaurants from around the state. Baltimore winners were represented by the following: Hospitality Hall of Fame: Alonso’s, Chef of the Year: Masood Masoodi of Da Mimmo, Favorite Caterer: Classic Catering People, Wine & Beverage Program of the Year: Iron Bridge Wine Co., Pastry Chef of the Year: Nick Vaccaro, Favorite Restaurant: Ruth’s Chris Steak House. During the evening, I ran into mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell Jr., Chris Spann from the Wine Market, and antiques dealer Jimmy Judd and his wife Barbara. After a steak dinner, we repaired to the “casino,” where I proceeded to spend the next hour losing brilliantly at the blackjack tables.

Monday, April 16
I spent the past weekend in Farmington, Pa., at Nemacolin Woodlands. My girlfriend and I discovered this hotel/spa resort an hour outside of Pittsburgh about 6 years ago, and have made it an annual trip ever since. We were last there in November, when we usually try to squeeze in a long weekend before the holiday rush consumes us. This past weekend, we were invited up to help celebrate the resort’s recent 5-Diamond status bestowed by AAA. Stayed at the new Falling Rock hotel (the other options are The Chateau and The Lodge); I indulged in a massage at the spa and then spent Saturday afternoon skeet shooting at the resort’s Shooting Academy. Saturday night was spent at a cocktail reception followed by a seven-course dinner in the Aqueous restaurant at Falling Rock. Over dinner, I met Brian Egan and his wife Jenn; Brian is the morning show host on DC’s WMZQ. We discussed the Don Imus firing at length, and enjoyed the wonderful wines that accompanied each course (the Big Apple wine from a Bridgeport, N.Y. winery was the hit of the evening). After dinner, a few of us repaired to the bar, where we continued to “sample” the wines, long into the evening.

Thursday, April 12
I’m just back from 4 days of sun and indulgence in Sin City, otherwise known as Las Vegas. When a group of friends planned this trip a few months back, none of us realized it was coinciding with Easter weekend. But the action was as hot and heavy as ever there, in addition to the city hosting its first-ever Gran Prix race that Sunday through its downtown area. We were all staying on the glittering Strip, the group of 10 split between The Palms, The Wynn and THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay. It was a perfect time to escape Baltimore’s chilly spring weather, with temps in the low 90s, clear sunshine and no humidity. We spent one afternoon at the Palms pool, lounging and playing poolside blackjack. And two afternoons at the gorgeous Wynn pools, with its poolside gaming cabana and “European style” pool (yes, that means topless). The group got together for a festive al fresco Easter brunch at Tableau at the Wynn; other restaurants that hosted dinners were Little Buddha, Del Frisco’s Steakhouse and Noodles at Bellagio. I was particularly intigued to see the new Playboy Club at The Palms, and I wasn’t dissappointed. The rooms are dark, clubby and beautifully designed. Occupying the 50th floor of the new Fantasy Tower at The Palms, the chic club features its own casino and eyedroppingly gorgeous Bunnies. It truly was like stepping back into the swank ‘60s. During our nights out, we also hit Light at Bellagio, Tryst at the Wynn and Jet at the Mirage. Four days flew by, and I found myself back in Charm City.

Just in time to accept our invitation to a dinner party at the home of designer Rita St. Clair and painter/scupltor Joe Sheppard. Ensconced high up in the stately Warrington, their beautifully designed condo overlooks the surrounding neighborhood of Guilford. The first person we saw as we came through the door was MPT’s Rhea Feiken, looking smashing in an ivory suit. After snapping up some cocktails at the bar in the library, we circulated and chatted with Michael and Julia Keelty, Terry Rubinstein, designer Richard Taylor, Pam Malester, The Walters’ Gary Vikan, Baltimore Opera’s Michael Harrison and Ruth Shaw. I met Dr. Susan Aldridge, who is the recently installed vice president of University of Maryland University College, and she explained to me the new gallery that is underway there that will bear the name of Joe Sheppard and house a collection of his works. The evening’s dinner of veal, lobster and chicken in white wine was provided by the charming chef/owner of Poulet, Jonathan Soudry, who was on hand to personally prepare the entrees. And during dinner, Mike Batza regaled me with the entertaining tales of his now-abandoned attempts to raise a 1000-head flock of emu on his Eastern Shore farm several years back. It was a smart, witty group, and the evening flew by. 

Wednesday, April 4
Two items on the docket for this evening: a VIP opening party for the new Urban Outfitters store at HarborPlace, and the one-year anniversary party for Juxtapose PR and advertising at Kasbah in Canton. Urban Outfitters, the eclectic, trendy boutique featuring fashion for men and women as well as home accessories, is just opening its first Maryland store, and it’s here in downtown Baltimore. (UO’s slightly more mature, upscale cousin— Anthropologie— has been in Towson Town Center for a couple of years now.) Back in the day, the Georgetown Urban Outfitters store was a regular stop for me for stone-washed jeans, chunky work boots, retro T-shirts and the like. And the UO store on Collins Avenue in South Beach is still a favorite when I’m down there. The HarborPlace store is set to open to the public tomorrow, but this evening a select few people have been invited to sample wine and cheese, and to shop the sparkling new, just-stocked store, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting AVAM. The store is a fresh mix of trendy street clothes, funky housewares, gifts and a super-cool book selection (pop cultural and coffee-table variety, mostly). I stop to speak with Greg Harris and Nicole Halsey, both of Weinberg Harris Associates, and snap up a pair of dark denim retro-distressed jeans that’ll be good for clubbing this weekend in Vegas.

Next, I head over to Canton to Kasbah. The Juxtapose party is being held in the Genie Room, and the crowd of 60 or so are dispersed between the small barroom and the adjoining lounge where DJ Alex Funk is manning the turntables. I congratulate Juxtapose founder Jennifer Price on the one-year anniversary of her company, and spend some time chatting with Leonard Clarke from Red Maple and with Mike Russell, the longtime chef at recently shuttered Vespa. Mike tells me he and some partners are renovating and expanding the old Vespa space and will reopen it as a newly renamed venue soon. That’s good news for Federal Hill. Mike Nguyen from SEN magazine has a photographer and a small film crew documenting the party for their Web site, and later I’m led upstairs to sit down for a filmed interview with Jenn Price to talk about how she started her company (I actually had a hand in naming it, as I tell the story to the cameras). 

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