Witches, wizards and Harry Potter enthusiasts parked their broomsticks out front of the Crown and Thistle Tea Room in Sparks this past Sunday for an old-fashioned English high tea.
And it was all to celebrate J.K. Rowlings? latest and last installation of the Harry Potter book series ? “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
Their numbers were strong, and they were dressed to a “tea” for passionate Harry Potter discussions. From the young to the not-so-young, they celebrated the seventh Potter book with their pinkies properly placed around the fine china teacups.
Proprietors Jennifer and Michael Fiorenza have not missed a single detail ? from the hand-painted walls by Kyndl Walston that put you in the rolling hills of England to the hostess ? Jennifer?s mom, Diane Cromwell ? and the patient servers who try to educate those of us not so “tea” savvy.
“We have striven to create an atmosphere to educate the customer on the lost art of relaxation ? coupled with some fine teas and great homemade food,” said Michael Fiorenza. Tables full of Harry Potter look-a-likes munched on scones, fresh fruit tarts and the Tea Room?s signature “Banger Roll,” which is sausage wrapped in a pasty. “You must dip it in HP sauce [a British brown dipping sauce],” said Jeanette Groth, who is a server at Crown Thistle but who was taking a busman?s holiday and attending the big event along with her friend, Glenn Mathias.
As raffle tickets were being sold for prizes of high tea parties and the latest Potter book, Jennifer Fiorenza administered a series of quizzes to test folks on their Potter knowledge.
More than $200 was raised for the Hereford Library, where, I am told, they are going to buy a chair. Well, everyone needs a comfy place to read.
For information on the Crown Thistle Tea Room, visit crownandthistle tearoom.com, or call 410-472-4566.
STILL SAUCEY
Terry Coffman and his wife, Olga, owners of thehistoric Velleggia?s in Little Italy, hosted a 70th anniversary party for the restaurant recently. It all started in 1937, and this party ? dubbed Lost in the Sauce ? attracted a virtual who?s who of Baltimore, including WJZ-TV?s Richard Sher, WBAL radio?s John Patti, WCBM?s Marc Beaven, Comcast?s Colleen Thorner and one of the original “Diner Guys” ? Chip Silverman. Another homegrown attendee, who may have been a bit distracted, was Mark Rosenker. As chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, he has been directly involved with the investigation on the fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
BABY ON BOARD
Congratulations to Ritchie Schell, head coach for Boys? Latin?s varsity football team. Just a day before the team?s two-a-day practices were to begin this past Monday, he got to do some coaching of a different kind, as his wife, Sarah, delivered the couple?s second child, a girl they named Rowan.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
»What: The annual St. Athanasius-Curtis Bay Crab Cake Dinner.
»When: 5 to 7.30 p.m., Saturday
»Where: 4708 Prudence St., Baltimore.
»Tickets: $18 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under.
»Info: 410-360-2833 (carryout will be available).
»What: The Orioles? Brian Robert?s Baseball Bash to benefit The University of Maryland Hospital for Children.
»When: 6 to 9 p.m., Sunday
»Where: The ESPN Zone, 601 Pratt St. in the Inner Harbor.
»Tickets: $200 for adults, $150 for children 12 and under.
» Info: Krista Ellis at 410-328-6064, or [email protected].
Anne Boone-Simanski is the social columnist for The Examiner and can be reached at [email protected] or 410-878-6131.
