Brian Lawrence Live

Tuesday, Nov. 20
Every year, caterer/restaurateur Sascha Wolhandler and husband Steve Suser host a pre-Thanksgiving party on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in their Fells Point rowhouse. It’s always announced with an invitation that urges “Eat, drink, gossip. Come, don’t call,” but— invitation or no— everyone on the list knows to automatically show up on that Tuesday night. It’s always fun and it’s always a crush of people crowding the front room (where a large table in the center groans with crab dip, bacon cheese straws, coconut chicken skewers, ham and biscuits, and all matter of delicious delicacies), kitchen (where the bar is set up, four people deep), and the walled rear courtyard (where smokers and those seeking extra standing-room head to). Some folks even stake out territory upstairs when the crowd gets to be too much. It’s always a nice way to catch up with folks before the onslaught of the holidays, and it always signals the kick-off of the seasonal party whirl. I’ve been to it for the past 5 years, and it’s been going on for a lot longer than that. This year, in the course of the evening, I ran into John Waters, Sloane Brown, Dean Alexander, Donna Schafer, Mary Ellen Iwata, Vince Peranio, Dolores Deluxe, Leslie Sheppard, Susan Garabedian, Stan and Edie Brown, Tom Hall and way too many others to list. After and hour and a half, we headed back out, secure in the knowledge that the holiday season was officially underway.

Saturday, Nov. 10
The searchlights scanning the night skies over Fells Point/Harbor East drew hundreds of partygoers to the grand opening of Lemongrass and Tsunami, the dynamic duo sushi/Thai restaurant and lounge, spin-offs from Annapolis. Hundreds of people clogged every corner of the massive space (the two restaurants are joined by a connecting hallway at the rear). Funny thing was, I didn’t recognize the majority of the crowd (something rare for me) and surmised that most must be from DC or Annapolis. Our group finally settled in on the second floor lounge at Lemongrass where the music was great, but the thick crowds prevented anyone from dancing. 

Thursday, Nov. 8
Tonight is the 1-year anniversary party for About Faces Canton branch, located in the 1st Mariner Tower. The party is in full-swing when I arrive at 7:30, and my friend Edie Brown seizes my arm and guides me through the crowd. She points out several of the free spa services being offered to party guests, including manicures, massages and teeth whitening (the list was full by the time I got to that room). After chatting with City Council president Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, floral designer Joe Ennd and fashion stylist Pascale Lemaire, I congratulated owner Helga Surratt on a wonderful party and then say goodbyes so that I can head over to the bar at Cinghiale to meet up with some friends and catch up over a glass (or two) of wine. We then decide to move to Pazo where, lo and behold, Edie and Helga have decided to have after-party drinks as well!

Friday, Nov. 2
Gaines-McHale’s furniture galleries were the setting for this year’s Wine Opener to benefit Cystic Fibrosis, and some 375 supporters roamed the premises sampling wines from multiple distributors and food from eight caterers. During the VIP pre-party, I got to chat with this year’s co-chair Ross Flax and his wife Sandra, as well as Julia and Michael Keelty. At the VIN table, after sampling some of chef Chris Patternotte‘s delicacies, I spoke with sisters Mary and Sarah Moran, then set off to cover the territory. Event hostesses Angie Delp and Stacy Murray were on hand to answer questions, and I ran into friends Jim Halle, Willis McGill and Brooks Amiot among lots of others. After sampling a coconut cupcake from Baltimore Cupcake Co., I joined a few friends who headed around the corner to Pazo, where, from the looks of the crowd, the official after-party was in full-swing.

Thursday, Nov. 1
This evening is Maryland Art Place’s annual fall gala and benefit. It’s a relatively intimate affair, with 140 patrons enjoying a cocktail party followed by a seated dinner in MAP’s three galleries. This year’s theme is ‘The Nude,’ and the walls are hung with invited local artists’ interpretations of the theme. All pieces are up for bids in a silent auction that lasts from 6:30 to 9:30. The crowd turned out in all their evening finery, and I followed Art and Pat Modell into the party from the valet stand. On hand to greet the crowd are MAP director Julie Cavnor, and board honchos Suzi Cordish and Sam Polakoff. At our table were J.M. and Mindy Shapiro, Patrick Sutton, Tracy Kwiatkowski, Jim Seay, Jack Hoffberger, and father-and-son developers Pat and Eric Turner. In the galleries, I ran into arts supporters Rhea Feiken, Leelee and Jeff Durkee, Jerry Pelligrino, Frances Reeves, David Oros, Sloane Brown, Steve Sobelman, Chuck Nabit, Stuart Amos and Greg Barnhill, among many others. Bidding grew tense as the cut-off approached and bidders hovered closely to “protect” their intended pieces. After the dinner ended around 10, many in the crowd headed two doors down to Mosaic for some after-dinner cocktails and dancing.

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