A group of Howard High School teachersput Alice Cooper?s “School?s Out” to the test recently by celebrating the start of summer vacation with a school-year-ending bash.
Bobby Nyk, DJ extraordinaire and one of Baltimore?s biggest sports fans, hosted the event. A Spanish teacher at Howard, Bobby left no doubt that he was the “principal” of this party, as more than 100 guests, not all of them teachers, whooped it up for a great cause ? “School?s out for summer.”
Decked out in everything from bathing suits to bow ties, they came from near and far ? just to hang out. No pretentiousness, other than a spattering of BMW and Corvette convertibles parked in front of Casa Nyk. Two things this gang definitely had in common were that they were all over 21 ? some barely, some not so barely ? and that they were there to kick off summer 2007.
Tunes were nonstop, thanks to a vintage jukebox filled with 45s, and many guests munched on Grand Marnier-injected strawberries on steroids (an idea borrowed from the annual Zoomerang bash). The clanging of horseshoes complemented the squeals of people getting a nudge into the pool.
Seen enjoying the festivities were WJZ-TV?s morning anchorman Don Scott, Howard High cafeteria worker Kristin Maier, retired teacher Jerry Berkowitz and his wife, artist/potter Gail, former high school coach turned vegetable farmer Frank Rhodes, Sam Small and Chester Craig ? both proud Vietnam vets, Barbie Craig, Mark “The Hitman” Hunt and Kim Cavanaugh.
This was an eclectic mix for sure, but it seemed as if everybody had a love for the Baltimore Ravens. Even famous Tennessee Titan beer man Tom “T-Ball” Ballman made the trek to experience a little Northern hospitality. It was Ballman and Nyk who joined forces last season, prior to a Ravens away game against the Titans, by holding a pregame tailgate party that raised more than $4,000 for a Nashville special-needs school.
Cafeteria worker Maier, very schooled in the art of makingJell-o, added an adult touch to the wiggly wonder, passing out colorful Jell-o shooters, as conversations between old and new acquaintances carried into the evening.
SPOTTED
Houlihan?s, on Pier 4 in the Inner Harbor, knows how to attract the ladies, especially those of the media variety. Recently, the restaurant paid homage to the guests? “inner diva” by letting the ladies have a first taste of four new drinks that are being added to the menu ? the X-rated Flirtini, the Zentini, the Blueberry Martini and the “painless” Brazilian Wax, which is the official cocktail of Fashion Week in New York. Seen sipping were Yolanda Vasquez (Maryland Public Television), Kellye Lynn (WJZ-TV?s health reporter, who no doubt opted for the green tea Zentini), Judy Carmichael (public relations, Bon Secours Health System) and Theresa Keysar (regional publisher of WHERE Magazine).
ANNE?S PICKS OF THE WEEK
» What: An Open House at the Downtown Sailing Center (This nonprofit organization offers an introduction to sailing and sailing lessons.)
» Where: 1415 Key Highway in Baltimore
» When: 10 a.m. to noon Sunday
» Admission: Free
» Info: 410-727-2884
Anne Boone-Simanski is the social columnist for The Examiner and can be reached at [email protected] or 410-878-6131.
