Officials of the 55-year-old Mount Royal Democratic Club have announced that the organization will disband and hold its final holiday party tonight at the Maryland Institute College of Art, 1300 Mount Royal Ave. Former state Sen. Jack Lapides said, "It's the end of an era for the club." The group's founder, retired Baltimore Circuit Judge Tom Ward, said, "We only had two meetings last year, and only a few people came." They said the door is open for others to form a new organization. Tickets to tonight's event, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., are $20.

- Jacques Kelly