Brian Lawrence Live

Thursday, Sept. 20
Those City Paper folks sure know how to throw a shindig. Their annual ‘Best Of’ party gets bigger and wilder every year. I’ve been attending it for the past dozen years or so, from when it used to move around each year, to its extended stay at the Belvedere, to Ram’s Head Live and this year to the Museum of Industry. Publisher and host Don Farley was on hand to greet us as we waded into the crowd of 1,200 people. The crowds stretched from the main hall to the waterfront area outside and across to the outdoor pavilion. I said hello to CP advertising director Jenn Marsh, then spent the next two hours chatting with WAY too many friends to list here. Suffice it to say, this is the one party that everyone comes to (everyone who can wangle an invitation, that is). The weather was perfect and the crowds lingered after the scheduled 9:30 end of the party. My crew headed next door to Little Havana afterword, then on to Sky Lounge, where we took over the second floor for some late-night dancing.

Tuesday, Sept. 18
This evening I’m joining about 60 members of the Restaurant Association of Maryland for a wine dinner at Spice Company. The dinner is to kick-off the Food Expo that’ll be going on downtown at the Convention Center for the next two days. During cocktail hour, I meet Paula Kreuzburg from the association and Bill Irvin from Phillips Seafood. Spice Company owners John Yuhanick and Kehar Singh are the perfect hosts for the evening. At dinner (which included a scallop mousseline in shrimp broth, pan-seared salmon with a Middle Eastern rub, Carolina braised short ribs and marinated venison chop) we had a lively table that included Richard and Dort Mollett, owners of Antrim 1844 Inn (and newly featured on radio spots for K Bank), and Todd and Samantha Yuhanick. After dinner, I caught up with Celeste Corsaro in the bar, where the party moved to after the dinner adjourned.

Friday, Sept. 14
Tonight I’m meeting some friends, DJ Lamdin, Bruce Alderman, Denis Nash and Tom Brinkley for an outdoor concert at Power Plant Live. Beach favorites Mr. Greengenes and Burnt Sienna are playing alternating sets on the plaza. After a while outside, we duck into the Lodge Bar for a bit, and then around 11 o’clock, head to the grand opening party for Angels Rock Bar. This hot new club brings a rock’n’roll vibe to the offerings at PPL, and we are immediately escorted to a private VIP booth that overlooks the action. Developer Reed Cordish is in the adjoining booth, and we end up joining the two groups. Both club impressario Patrick Osuna and general manager Tony D’Angelo are on hand to show us around the attractive club and to make sure we’re having a good time. We are.

Sunday, Sept. 9
A glorious, sunny Sunday afternoon was the perfect backdrop for the chic garden party thrown by film production designer Vince Peranio and his wife, style maven Dolores Deluxe. Billed as the “Palace on Dallas,” the party was part of the ‘Art to Dine For’ series for the Creative Alliance. The couple hosted 80 people in their spectacular walled gardens at their home in Fells Point. Guests sipped champagne and wandered through the extensive garden rooms while a string duet played and Sasha provided a spread of tasty hors d’oeuvres. I caught up with Vince and Dolores, who were just about to depart on a Carribbean cruise, and chatted with Buddy and Betty Rosen, among others.

Saturday, Sept. 8
The plaza at Power Plant Live! was the place to be tonight for the semi-annual Strut fashion show. A stage and catwalk were the focus of the evening, as four local boutiques (Urban Chic, South Moon Under, Fresh and Form) showed what’s new for fall. Approximately 120 VIPs had seats around the catwalk, and many more people crowded around the perimeter to crane and gawk at the show, slickly produced by Sonic Soul Productions. Newcomer designer boutique Form drew gasps and spontaneous applause for the gorgeous, smart looks they sent down the runway: chic Audrey Hepburn-style swing coats, twirly party dresses and sophisticated suits. The after-party at Mosaic welcomed the VIP spectators, sponsors and models from the show, for a high-energy evening of lounging, dancing to the rhythms of DJ Lovegrove, and sipping Moet & Chandon champagne. On our way out, we encounter local party promoter Bobby Dyer on the sidewalk, and he invites us up to the Havana Club for the new Saturday night Privilege party. The scene in the club is in full swing when the elevator doors open, and we spend the next hour getting into the groove of things amongst the attractive and energetic crowd. I also get a chance to catch up with another club scenester, Warren Heminway, who now splits his time between Baltimore and New York, where he’s embarking on a successful acting career.

Wednesday, September 5
I stopped by the Grimaldis Gallery this evening to attend the invitation-only opening of ”Betty Rosen: Wishes,” the new show that’s currently on display there. Photographer Rosen has been traveling the world for the past few decades photographing native cultures and people. This show is specifically portraits of Thai transsexuals and tranvestites, mostly photographed in clubs where they perform. The gallery was packed to the rafters when I arrived, and I had to fight my way through the throng to see the show. Among those taking in the show were Mimi Kapiloff, Stan and Edie Brown, Carole and Bean Sibel, Leroy Hoffberger and Michael Harrison. The temperature in the gallery rose due to the crush of the crowd, and after viewing the show, many took refuge outside on the sidewalk, creating a party atmosphere in front of the gallery. At 8 o’clock, many headed a few blocks uptown to the swank home of Curt Decker, who was hosting an after-party for Betty Rosen. The rooms here were equally crowded, as guests noshed on crab cakes and carved prime rib. Making my way through the crowd, I chatted with Michael Ross, Barbara Hecht, Jimmy and Barbara Judd, Leslie Shepperd, Rhea Feiken, Sascha Wohlhandler and Steve Suser.

Thursday, August 30
Un Kim, owner of swanky dining spot IXIA, invited me to dinner to check out executive chef Kevin Miller‘s Grand Tasting Menu, a seven-course affair offered on Thursday nights at the restaurant. I’ve always been a fan of dining in these gorgeous, high-style rooms, and chef Miller is holding up his end of the bargain by providing a caliber of food that is as inventive and stylish as the space. My girlfriend’s mom was my dining companion for the evening, and we sat down to our first course of tempura tiger shrimp at 7:30. Over the course of the next 3+ hours, we feasted on crispy skin rockfish, seared sea scallop and lobster risotto, pulled pork ravioli, and beef tenderloin with vidalia onion puree (and the excellent wines paired with each course). Miller stopped by our table to see how we were enjoying everything and explained that he changes the tasting menu depending on what ingredients are freshest and in season. By the time we were tasting the chocolate mousse and sipping coffee, it was coming up on 11 o’clock. Each course was beautifully presented, and all were uniformly excellent. If you have the time to linger over a leisurely, creative meal, this is the ticket.

Wed., August 22
This evening, Style invited 60 of our favorite friends (all folks who had either worked on, or been featured in, our big Sept./Oct. ‘Music’ issue) to party with us at downtown lounge Mosaic. Mex provided tasty treats and Patron Silver tequila flowed from the bar. It’s always fun to gather people together when we publish a special issue, and more fun to see these interesting people mingle. Regular contributors such as Chris Corbett, Kathy Hudson, Mary Zajac, Erik Kvalsvik, Lisa Simeone, Suzin Boddiford and Christianna McCausland joined Sept. issue subjects like ‘Stylemaker’ Lisa Mathews, interior designer Steve Appel, photographer Betty Rosen, Jon Kaplan, Jason Tinney, Barry Glassman, designer Missy Connolly and radio DJs Sonjay, Melissa Goode, Dyana Neal and Sarah Fleischer. Go to our Web site (Baltimorestyle.com) and click on ‘Social Seen’ to see pictures from the party.

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