It must be a sign of the times that so many organizations are hosting events in lobbies and not completed warehouse-type buildings. That was the case for the 2009 Groundhog Day party to benefit the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, held at the Gaslight Square in the Carroll Camden Industrial Business District of Baltimore.
This foundation, according to its brochure, is a membership organization, founded in 1987 for Baltimoreans who care about local architecture and are dedicated to sharing the knowledge to the general public through tours, lectures and published books on some downtown architectural neighborhoods.
Supporters kept warm dancing to tunes spun by the DJ, and we sipped on generous drinks poured by the foundation’s founder and local architect, Walter Schamu. “Now that’s a glass of wine” one young lady said after she was handed a full Solo cup of vino.
“We have been coming to this party for years, and it’s always a great time” said Teri Guarnaccia, whose hubby Greg is in the architectural biz. The two were quite the snappy couple dressed in their black-and-white for the themed party.
By the way >> Congrats to former prez and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore and Examiner.com blogger Christian Johansson on his recent appointment by Gov. O’Malley to serve as the secretary for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. Hey Christian, how’s about developing a social columnist job for me?
» Monday: Carroll County Chocolate Indulgence at Martin’s in Westminster
» Wednesday: VIP party for the grand opening of Sullivan’s Steakhouse to benefit the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation » Friday: 1st annual BOOG (Bunch of Old Guys) Lacrosse Bull Roast at Oregon Ridge in Hunt Valley.
>> The Columbia Festival of the Arts is now accepting applications for ArtPark 2009, the Fine Arts & Crafts Show at Lake Fest. The show runs in conjunction with the 2009 Columbia Festival of the Arts, June 12-27. For more information go to www.columbiafestival.com.
>> WBAL-TV Ch. 11 sure showed Bruce Springsteen who’s the boss last Sunday during the half-time of the Super Bowl. The highly anticipated show was minimized on-screen, so the Maryland Lottery drawing could be shown. Take that, Bruce, for throwing Baltimore under the bus with your megahit “Hungry Heart” — “Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, I went out for a ride and I never went back.”
>> Speaking of the Super Bowl, there are many, shall we say, mixed marriages locally that have suffered due to the Steelers’ win. Case in point being Overlea native Rodney Cool from Manchester, Pa. A die-hard Ravens fan, Rodney has a spouse, Suzanne, who is a Steelers fan, and as of this column’s deadline he still hasn’t spoken to her. In an e-mail sent to a local sports radio station after his amusing on-air rant on his drive home on I-83, Rodney stated, “Thanks for taking my call. I just got home, and it doesn’t look like my wife and I are going to talk again today. But I’m OK with that. I’m going to put in a tape of the Ravens’ Super Bowl win — that will make me feel better.” Love must have been blind at the start of that relationship.
>> A Valentine’s idea for you: The historic Senator Theatre in Baltimore will be transformed from a movie house to concert showplace all next weekend, and bands from all around town are stepping up to help raise funds for the theater. There will be a series of live concerts from Friday through Sunday. For more information and tickets, go to www.senator.com.
Anne’s top pick >> What: “Show Some Love Happy Hour” to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
>> When: Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
>> Where: Lebanese Taverna, 719 South President St. Harbor East, Baltimore
>> Tickets: The $25
>> Info: Contact Patti Neumann at www.citypeek.com/baltimore/events; call Kimber Goodwin at 410-534-0540
Anne Boone-Simanski can be reached at [email protected]. After Feb. 15, e-mail Anne at [email protected].
