Thanks to the generosity of Maserati of Baltimore GM Jack Davis and his wife Kay, the dealership’s Timonium showroom was transformed into a New York-style fashion runway for the first “Drive 2 Thrive” event, presented by Echelon Life, a luxury lifestyle resource network.
Who better to make an appearance than Annapolis native — and Baltimore School for the Arts grad — Christian “Fierce” Siriano, who gained a remarkable amount of fame as last season’s winner of Bravo’s “Project Runway.” Siriano donated one of his designs for the live auction and shared that he will be launching a maternity line in 2009.
Prior to the designer show, event chairs Monica Beeman and Tanesha Boldin welcomed all the pretty people, which included Lynette and Tony Gambino, who is chef and owner of Ciao Bella Restaurant in Little Italy, Patrick Brennan and Helga Surratt of About Faces Day Spa and Salons, Ken Banks of Banks Contracting and interior designer extraordinaire Stephanie Bradshaw.
Jackie Brown represented Gov. Martin O’Malley and bestowed a “Pride” citation on Christian for shining a spotlight on Maryland through his fashion designs. After a fabulous charity auction, guests gathered outside to greet Johnny Soyak, creator of Cigar in the Bottle who was sharing samples of his fine apple brandy.
“I combined my two loves — great cigars and a premier brandy” Soyak said.
“And the one who finishes the bottle gets the fine cigar encased inside,” added Cigar in the Bottle’s manager Dellas Edmisten.
The event benefited children’s literacy programs in the Greater Baltimore area.
Toast to an ex-Raven
If you think Baltimore fans will be missing the talents of All-Pro offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden, how about the Ravens’ starting quarterback, whoever that may be.
Ogden has been busy in retirement, and debuting in October will be an Ogden Cabernet with all its proceeds going to the Jonathan Ogden Foundation, which benefits inner city kids. This is the second installment of Charity Wines, which already has distributed — through Reliable Churchill — the Brooks Robinson Chardonnay and the Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet, both of which benefited the Baltimore Community Foundation.
Pedaling to beat cancer
Howard County resident Brian Wessner was one of 5,400 cyclists who participated in the recent Pan-Mass Challenge Ride in Massachusetts. This year’s 83-mile ride was part of a fundraiser that has a goal of $34 million, all of which will go to the Jimmy Fund for children’s cancer. “There is still time to be a part of the of the PMC family,” Wessner said. “Please go to www.pmc.org to help us get to that goal.”
Cooking up a campaign
Handsome restaurateur Sergio Vitale, owner of the Aldo’s Ristorante in Little Italy and Cibo’s Bar and Grille in Owings Mills, has thrown his apron in the sauce for a state senate seat (District 7) to succeed Sen. Andy Harris, who is running for Congress this November. If Sergio, 31, wins and is half as good in Annapolis as he is in the kitchen, then that’s amore.
