Spring benefit season is still in full swing, so I stopped by the gala for Harbor Hospital being held at the Hyatt Regency hotel at the Inner Harbor for the cocktail hour. Got to catch up with gala co-chairs Greg & Lisa Barnhill and perused the silent auction before heading out to Montgomery Park for the Contemporary Museum’s Sustain-a-Ball. A large space on the 6th floor had been transformed into party central, and the cocktail hour was just morphing into dinner when we arrived. After a chat with past-board president Steve Ziger at the bar over a Southside cocktail, we joined friends at the Credit Suisse table. Over dinner I got a chance to talk with John Molli, Edwin Warfield and Marcy Sagel. Then after dinner, spent time chatting with the Contemporary’s executive director Irene Hofmann, as well as supporters Ray Michener, Maureen Gold and Brian Combs. After that, it was off to “The Treehouse” (otherwise known as Jr.’s) to cap off the evening, where I happened to spot old friends Mike Lors & Michele Li, and got the latest from them. ]]>
My plans for attending the O’s day game today got changed due to the unseasonal weather (cloudy, rainy and a bit on the chilly side), so I accepted an invitation to a wine lunch at the Rusty Scupper with a pack of other media types. Winemaker Rick Boyer was in town from the West Coast to introduce a new line of wines by Robert Mondavi, Solaire Chardonnay and Solaire Cabernet Sauvignon. During a spirited (literally) cocktail hour I got to talk to Reagan Warfield from Mix 106, Eddie Applefeld, Downtown Diane and Steve Rouse. Then I shared a table with WLIF’s Diane Lyn, The Examiner‘s Anne Boone Simanski and Celeste Corsaro from Baltimore Eats. I can’t go into the topics that were discussed at the table, but I have to say, it sure beat sitting at Camden Yards watching the O’s lose to Tampa Bay on a chilly, rainy afternoon.
]]>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.
]]>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. ]]>
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!) ]]>
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. ]]>
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. ]]>
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. ]]>
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. ]]>
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. ]]>