Brian Lawrence Live
Wed., Jan. 27
This evening is the media preview cocktail reception for the new Little Italy restaurant/lounge Milan. I arrive on the early side and immediately see fellow media peeps Dara Bunjon, Randi Rom, Diane Macklin, Anne Boone Simanski, Eddie Applefeld and Reagan Warfield, who’ve claimed a nice corner niche near a glowing firepit in the lounge area. Some of us wander around through the large property that’s undergone an extensive renovation (it used to be Luigi Petti). There’s a large dining room upstairs, along with some private rooms, and a sizeable indoor/outdoor terrace lounge off the first level. It’s all tricked out in shades of white, South Beach cool. I meet general manager Peter Mooradian, who gives me some background on the project. There’s a large invitation-only crowd here tonight, and I encounter Da Mimmo’s Mary Anne Cricchio, Jess Blumberg from Baltimore magazine, Marc Kantrowitz, Christian Johannsson and Marty & Sharon Bass. A few of us take up residence out on the (heated) terrace in a comfy lounge area and sip some sparkling wine. I catch up with Faith Deutschle and Jason Albert while taking it all in, and pause to hear more about the project from Amy Elias and Amy Burke, both of Profiles. After that, it’s a quick stop at Pazo to say hello to some friends, then headed home for the evening.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/29/10 at 03:40 PM
Wed., Jan. 20
Two planned stops tonight, the opening party for the restored Hotel Brexton on upper Park Avenue and a birthday celebration for Diane Macklin at Roy’s. My stop at the Brexton turns out to be quite brief, as it is mobbed with people, most of whom I don’t recognize. I managed to sqeeze down the narrow hallway to a steep spiral staircase and alight on the fourth floor. The renovation of this historically significant structure looks lovely, but it was hard to really see much with so many people clogging every square inch, clamoring for the free glasses of wine and cubes of cheese. I left after 10 minutes.
Headed over to Harbor East, where I nipped in to the bar at The Oceannaire for a Manhattan to warm up, and owner/manager Nate Beechler came over to chat and show me the menu for the upcoming Restaurant Week (we’ll be there on Thurs. for dinner). Next to me at the bar were Sally Rich from B-mag and Teddy Bauer, owner of the Oregon Grille, so we had a nice chat while I waited for the birthday party to begin. Then, pals Celeste Corsaro and Scooter Holt posted, so we walked across the plaza to Roy’s. In a large private room in the rear, the party was in full swing with a live Polynesian band performing, complete with authentic hula dancers. Caught up with lots of media pals at the bash: Sloane Brown, Ron Matz, Reagan Warfield, Edie Brown, among others. Roy’s version of a pineapple vodka martini was tasty, and many were ordered. As that bash wound down, it was on to the new Rowhouse Grille in Federal Hill, then over to Ropewalk Tavern to end the evening when they kicked us out at 2:05.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/26/10 at 02:27 PM
Sat., Jan. 16
The Contemporary Museum held its Winter Party this year as a progressive party, with the initial cocktail hour held in its Center Street galleries, then moving to the top floor of the Peabody Court Hotel around the corner for dinner and dancing. In the galleries, I looked at the site-specific installations created for the “Participation Nation” exhibit, while chatting with committee members Tracy Kwiatkowski and Marcy Sagel, as well as gallery owner Jordon Faye Block and Sun columnist Sloane Brown. Later, I joined the crowd as we moved to the rooftop ballrooms of the Peabody, where I chatted with MAP director Cathy Byrd and architect Peter Fillat. But all eyes were on the Ravens/Colts play-off game, which was being televised in a viewing lounge adjacent to the ballroom. That’s where most of the crowd ended up. But by halftime, it wasn’t looking good, and by the fourth quarter, I left to head home to take solace in some nouveau beaujolais.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/20/10 at 04:30 PM
Thurs., Jan. 7
Tonight I joined some fellow media foodies for dinner at the Gin Mill in Canton. I remember the Gin Mill of old— when both upstairs and downstairs bars would be packed shoulder-to-shoulder on weekends with beer-quaffing revelers. The scene here now is way more sedate (it’s been completely redesigned), with dim, romantic lighting, quiet niches (try to snag a spot in the back room next to the roaring fireplace) and a decidedly more grown-up vibe. The bar prides itself on its list of handmade classic cocktails— a Sidecar or Harvey Wallbanger anyone? The friendly bartender mixed me an excellent Manhattan, since I always go the bourbon route on cold nights like this. After we made our way to our table, our waiter informed us that is was Comfort Food Night (as it is every Thursday) and that in addition to the regular menu, they were offering Chicken Pot Pie, Meatloaf (made with sausage and bacon) and an open-face Hot Roast Beef Sandwich— I had to opt for the pot pie ($10) and it was fantastic. I then ordered a Sazerac from the bar. The bartender wasn’t initially familiar with this rye-based vintage cocktail popular in New Orleans, but he did a little Internet research and returned to the table with a perfectly-mixed specimen. Even though my tablemates all initially declined dessert, I ordered a banana bread pudding for sharing. Needless to say, it disappeared quickly.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/11/10 at 12:00 PM
Wed., Jan. 6
TV crews for TLC’s ‘Orange County Choppers’ were in town taping a segment for the show in Canton Square. Baltimore-based company Monster Diesel took delivery of a customized diesel engine bike while several hundred spectators looked on. It was a cold day, but lots turned out for the taping of the show, which airs on TLC on Jan. 28. My pal Barb Clapp‘s PR firm handled the event and kindly invited me to the VIP party afterward, upstairs at the Claddaugh pub. There, I got to meet Paul Teutul Sr. from the show, and chat with Keiffer Mitchell, Mickey from 98 Rock and Tim & Liz Rhode, owners of Maryland Athletic Clubs.
Then it was off to Broadway in Fells Point for a happy hour reception hosted by Downtown Diane at the new Tapas Adela. Lots of hardy souls braved the cold to sip sangria and cocktails and sample some of the great tapas dishes from the kitchen. Among those mingling in the crowded bar area: Celeste Corsaro, Denis Nash, Jon Wilkin, Tiffany Zappulla, Filippo Lapides, Sloane Brown, Larry Macklin and Cindy & Kerry Plackmeyer. After that, it was half a block down Thames Street to the Waterfront for live music— a perfect way to fight the winter cold.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/07/10 at 03:29 PM
