Brian Lawrence Live

Monday, April 28
Tonight I’m heading out to Martin’s West for the annual awards dinner and gala for the Restaurant Association of Maryland. Though it starts with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., the dress code is black tie, and most of the attendees have followed suit, as it were. This is a huge event, with some 900 restaurateurs from around the state converging on the main ballroom in Woodlawn. Soon after arriving, I run into Downtown Diane and The Examiner‘s Anne Boone Simanski, so we take a turn around the room and sample a few of the appetizers. The lobster fritters from Brasserie Tatin and the crab soup from Big Fish Grille are particular stand-outs. I also chat with Stephanie Bradshaw of Select Event Rentals and with Hannah Byron of the state office for promotion and tourism. Soon enough, it’s time to go in to dinner— luckily, I’m seated next to my pal Celeste Corsaro from Baltimore Eats, and we proceed to attack our crab salads and surf & turf. I stuck around long enough to see The Oceannaire Seafood Room win for “favorite new restaurant,” Seacrets win for “favorite bar & tavern,” and to see awards go to Jordan’s Steakhouse and to DaMimmo. Managing partner of The Oceannaire, Nate Beachler, and chef Benjamin Erjavec stopped by our table and were justifiably thrilled with their restaurant’s win. 

April 25-27
I started the day on Friday with a stop-off at the Roland Park home of Andrea & Jimmy Stieff for the annual Shop for the Cure event, which was going on under a huge tent on their front lawn. I grabbed some coffee and spent the next 45 minutes strolling through the tent marveling at the products that the 20 vendors had on display, while also getting to catch up with Andrea, Karin Chriss and Liz Nuttle.
Although the weather forecast for Saturday had predicted rain, the day dawned and remained sunny and warm— perfect weather for this year’s Hunt Cup. We pulled in to the Patron lot off of Butler Road around 2 o’clock and proceeded to set up our tailgate. Our group included Peter & Eleanor Landauer and Dan & Mary Helfrich, and we spent the afternoon visiting with friends and we sipped Pimm’s Cups and nibbled on curried chicken sandwiches, couscous salad, asparagus and sherry cake. When it was time for the race, we ambled across the road into the meadow to watch several jumps, then ran with the crowd back across the road and up the hill to watch as Charlie Fenwick III won the race by a length.
Then on Sunday, I made a stop at Vince Peranio & Dolores Deluxe‘s annual ‘Blooming of the Wisteria’ garden party at their spectacular home in Fells Point. Over flutes of champagne in the rear garden, I talked with Dean Alexander & Donna Schafer, Hannah Byron of the state office of promotion and tourism, HGTV producer Mary Ellen Iwata and Mink Stole, a John Waters film veteran. Then it was off to join friends at the Cross Street Festival in Federal Hill, where, even though the weather was iffy, the crowds turned out to mingle in the streets while drinking beer and listening to bands.

Thurs., April 24
We invited some 40 folks (who worked on or were featured in our May/June issue) to help us roll out the latest issue of Style at Gallery Imperato. The weather was perfect, as were the cocktails and finger foods supplied by The Wine Market. The party crowd mingled both inside and outside the gallery, which was hung with the works of artist Eric Finzi, who is also featured in the issue. Then it was off to M&T Bank Stadium to catch the latter part of the Steppin’ Out party for TurnAround. I was greeted by board member Heidi Slacum, and caught up with party guests Helga Surratt of About Faces salons, New York Makeup guru Giella and Tracy Kwiatkowski. We capped off the evening with a stop at Junior’s, and chef Mike Russell was kind enough to whip up some exquisite couscous-and-greens salads, even though the kitchen was closed for the evening. (Put those on the regular menu, Mike!)

Wed., April 23
This evening the Spirit of Baltimore (formerly the Bay Lady) is being rechristened and relaunched after a million-dollar overhaul. I make my way down to the Light Street pier and am greeted by Dorothy Fuchs of Purple Dot Public Relations and Amy Taubenfeld, then after a brief speech by mayor Sheila Dixon, board the boat for some cocktails, dinner and mingling. I catch up with James Piper Bond of Living Classrooms Foundation, Reagan Warfield of Mix106, Downtown Diane and Celeste Corsaro of Baltimore Eats. The warm evening weather is perfect, and we loll about on the open third deck gazing at all the Harborplace activity until it gets dark, then head off a few blocks south to Junior’s Wine Bar, where Scooter greets me with a cold Miller Lite and I run into My City 4 Her’s Monyka Berrocosa and we catch up.

Tues., April 22
This evening I’m heading downtown to the beautiful Watertable restaurant at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel for a dinner featuring the bounty of local farms. The Slow Food movement is catching on here, and chef Garrett Gooch has put together a five-course dinner highlighting local resources such as Gunpowder Bison, Springfield Farms, Roseda Beef, Chapel Country, South Mountain Creamery, and Elk Run, Whitehall and Basignani vineyards. I’m greeted by Cynthia Glover and, over dinner, I get to chat with David Smith of Springfield Farms and Bert Basignani of Basignani Winery, both in Sparks.

Thursday, April 17
My buddy, bon vivant (and bad influence) Jim Burger rallied the troops of railbairds to Pimlico’s Opening Day today. It was a wonderful way to spend the sunny, warm afternoon, betting on the ponies and sipping some libations, trackside. I stopped betting after losing the exacta on three races, but still enjoyed hanging out with our mostly media crew of Van Smith, Mike Anft, John Ellsberry, Chris DiPetro, Denis Nash and Denis Porter.

Tuesday, April 15
I was invited to a wine-tasting lunch today by Fillipo Lapides of AV Brands being held at Corks restaurant in Federal Hill. Aside from sipping on six great wines from the Artesa vineyards in the Napa Valley, I got to meet winemaker Dave Dobson, and chat with Diane Macklin, Celeste Corsaro, Jerry Pellegrino and Jerry Edwards of Chef’s Expressions. And the spread put out by the Corks kitchen was amazing, as well.

Monday, April 14
One of the annual benefits that really brings out the full roster of Baltimore A-listers is the Great Chef’s Dinner for The Family Tree. Held again this year at the Masonic Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, the party was a sell-out (with a waiting list!), as always. The 40 tables in the grand ballroom are each uniquely decorated by area designers. For the fifth year in a row, I was honored to be a judge for the table design competition, and also made my own selections for five outstanding tables that we’ll be featuring in our November ‘Food & Entertaining Issue.’ After a lively cocktail hour, guests sat down to a sumptuous six-course dinner prepared by guest chef Jim Gerhardt from Louisville, Ky. My dining companion was Sun society writer Sloane Brown, so we had a great time catching up and comparing notes on recent parties we’ve been covering this season. It was a nice cap-off to the evening when they announced that $570,000 had been raised for the cause that evening. I’m proud to say that $10,500 came from a live auction item featuring our soon-to-open Style Lounge at Silo Point.

April 10-12
Whew! We’re in the midst of a busy spring party and benefit scene— with events going on almost every night of the week. Thursday night, I joined some 400 others at the opening of the Voss family equestrian paintings show at the Maryland Historical Society. The handsome crowd of included Stiles Colwill, Gregory Weidman, Michael Flanagan, Willis McGill, Stewart Shettle, Paul & Karen Winicki, Julie Kinney and Jim Halle. Over cocktails and dinner, guests roamed the upstairs galleries to view the 85 paintings of horses, pets and people by this local dynasty of equestrians.
On Friday night, several hundred artists and patrons jammed the galleries of Maryland Art Place for their annual Out of Order party. It was lively scene— art lining every wall, a great-looking crowd and fun ‘80s music. The crowd was so big, it spilled out into the lobby of MAP’s Power Plant Live digs. While trying to decide which pieces to bid on, I ran into Doreen Bolger, David & Michel Modell, Sam & Carter Polikoff, Lisa Poland, Jim Seay, Lisa Koogle, Jenn Marsh, John & Michelle Marsh, Jamie Campbell, Tom Brinkley, Carole Langrell , Pat & Jeanine Turner and Suzi Cordish. Around 11, we headed next door to Mosaic to check out the club scene there, in their beautifully expanded space.
Saturday turned out to be a beautiful, warm spring day, though the weather forecast had predicted rain. It made for a perfect day for the steeplechase race at My Lady’s Manor, one of my favorite spring events. With my pal Courtney Wood in tow, we roamed the grounds and visited with friends in the corporate tents, sipping Southsides all the while. I caught up with Greg Barnhill, Henry Wright, John Hargrave, John & Shannon Ware and Tom Koch, among many others. The only downside: the sunburn on my (unprotected) face from being outside in the sun all afternoon— but that’s a small price to pay for such a great day.
On Saturday night, it was downtown to the Patterson Theatre for Creative Alliance’s annual gala. This year, it had a circus theme, and was in full-swing when we arrived there at 9. Lots of people in costume and circus-style performances going on in every corner. In the crowd were Mimi Kapiloff, Michael Ross, Jon Kaplan & Joel Pearson, Tom Moore, Carole Langrell, Dolores Deluxe & Vince Peranio, Stiles Colwill, Doreen Bolger, Deni Tabor, Melissa Dickinson and Jim & Anne Burger. Great artwork in the show, too!

Monday, April 7
Meals On Wheels hosts their annual benefit this year at the Hippodrome— a Culinary Extravaganza where multiple chefs from around town each cook up a specialty. I made my way downtown and met up with pal Jim Burger to hit the party and tie on the feedbag. Over the course of two hours, I gamely tried dish after dish and, in my wanderings, encountered Rita St.Clair & Joe Shepperd, photographer Kevin Weber, Lauren Burger & Travis Holub, and media mavens Downtown Diane and Eddie Applefeld. After the festivites, we repaired across the street to Lucy’s Irish Pub, and were joined by participating chefs Jerry Pellegrino and Barry Fleischmann.

If you are using Firefox 2.0 or Internet Explorer 7.0:
Subscribe to this blog
Otherwise, copy and paste this url into your reader or aggregator:
www.baltimorestyle.com/index.php/style/blawrence_rss

An Alter Communications publication -- please be sure to check out our other publication's websites for a complete resource guide to Maryland living.
www.chesapeakelifemag.com www.jewishtimes.com www.paperdollmag.com
Privacy Policy