Brian Lawrence Live

Thursday, Dec. 20
I miss Vespa. But now, the restaurant space has been reincarnated, refurbished and rebranded as Junior’s Wine Bar. The space is now about three times bigger, and chef Mike Russell is still overseeing the kitchen. I’ve spent the past three evenings here, having dinner on Tuesday (penne pasta in a meat sauce— pulled pork in a traditional Italian ‘gravy’), meeting a friend for drinks on Wednesday, and joining some more friends here tonight for a late-night bar stop. Scooter, formerly of Corks, is overseeing the wines, and the atmosphere is warm, friendly and casual. This is what Federal Hill has been lacking— a ‘grown-up’ restaurant that isn’t stuffy, with first-rate cooking and great wines. Bravo!

Wednesday, Dec. 12
Tonight, I’m meeting two friends, Christian Johansson and Jim Halle for the evening in Federal Hill. We start out at the Harbor Court Christmas party, then head out into the neighborhood. The bars look pretty dead for a Wednesday night, and Jim suggests going to an art opening for Melissa Dickinson being held at Blue Sky Factory, an e-mail marketing company, off Cross Street. We find the party in full swing with lots of people, overflowing open bars and tons of food, being served buffet-style— much more than the ordinary box-wine and cheese cubes offered at most art openings. I look around and don’t see the artist or recognize any of the people that I expect to see there. Then it dawns on me that this is actually Blue Sky Factory’s company Christmas party.  It turns out that it is actually both— art opening and company party. We end up staying for an hour and a half and having a great time. I talk at length with Corks chef/owner Jerry Pelligrino about his impending re-opening of Abacrombie, run into my friend Kristen Keener, and meet Sandra Creamer of Proctor & Gamble (it turns out we have a mutual friend in common). A pleasant ending to the evening, for sure.

Monday, Dec. 10
I’m a big fan of the Stoop Storytelling series, co-founded by Style senior editor Laura Wexler. The series perpetually sold-out the performance space at The Patterson, and this past fall made the move to CenterStage, which accommodates more people (and still sells out). Tonight a friend, Michelle Mutert, is one of the seven locals who will have 7 minutes to relate a personal story on stage. A group of friends, including Tom Brinkley, Tracy Kwiatkowski and Tiffany Zappulla, are are out to support her. We originally plan on meeting before the show at Iggie’s on Calvert Street, but pull up to find it closed on Mondays. We opt instead for some excellent Thai food at the new My Thai on Mt. Vernon Square. Then it’s off to CenterStage where warm-up band Caleb Stine and the Brakemen are performing. The seven storytellers are fascinating, if a bit downbeat. (I guess the theme for the evening’s stories, ‘Holidays from Hell’ should have been a tip-off.) After the show, we all troop off into the rainy night to the Owl Bar for some late-night brick-oven pizzas and beer.

Thursday, Dec. 6
To celebrate the holidays (and the annual monument lighting), a group of friends decided to spend the evening over dinner at the Prime Rib. Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite Baltimore restaurants are, this one always makes the Top 3. Our group included DJ Lamdin, Bruce Alderman, Denis Nash, Jordan Faye Block, Eleanor Landauer and Jim Halle. The dining rooms were crowded with buzzing guests, the service was impeccable and the steaks absolutely perfect. This place never fails to impress.

Dec. 1 & 2
Saturday evening was Jim Seay‘s annual Christmas party and benefit for Toys for Tots. Held in his waterfront Canton home, it held four full floors of partying. A vodka bar on the first level, live bands performing on the second, another bar on the third, and desserts and make-’em-yourself s’mores over a burning firepit on the fourth. Everyone got into the giving spirit and the mound of toys around the Christmas tree grew throughout the evening into a pile of goodies several feet high— lots of needy tots will have some shiny new presents to open on Christmas morning. As I navigated the levels, I talked to Diane & Larry Macklin, Marcy Sagel, Jordan Faye Block, Tracy Kwiatkowski, Lisa Koogle, and Pat & Janine Turner.

Then on Sunday evening, the annual Guilford Christmas Cocktail Party was held at the beautiful home of Felix & Deborah Dawson. All the rooms on the first floor were full of neighbors in their holiday best enjoying cocktails and foods prepared and brought by attendees. It’s always a special night to catch up with friends and neighbors while helping the Women’s Civic League of Guilford raise funds to maintain Sherwood Gardens. After being greeted by Beverly & Carlos Quinones, I chatted with Eleanor & Peter Landauer, Mayo & Molly Shattuck, Greg Pease and Joan Royals.

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