TABLE HOPPING: Chaimson Food Brokerage's Hanan "Bean" Sibel has sold Love's Restaurant, which he took over a couple of years back -- and redid in glitzy Alexander Baer fashion! -- to Jongsil Yee. The 25th street landmark is now called Nodagi and serves Chinese, Japanese and Korean dishes as well as featuring a complete sushi bar.
Meanwhile, the former JaFe at Charles and Eager streets, which became Flamingos and then closed its doors, once again has a new owner. The Allegro's Don Davis has taken over the property and expects to open it as Central Station the first week of September. The saloon-restaurant will feature a light fare menu until 1 a.m. as well as piano bar, pool tables and a game room.
And finally, the Fiske Cafe, on Cold Spring Lane, has changed hands. Now called the Roland Park Cafe, the restaurant was bought by Iam and Bill McKechnie, who plan to open in a couple of weeks. Iam, who's originally from Thailand, expects to add some Thai appetizers to the cafe's menu, which will feature seafood, steak, pastas and a few Thai entrees.
THE CAT'S MEOW: Falls Road Animal Hospital's Dr. Kim Hammond has found himself in the national limelight again. (Remember this was the vet featured as Cosmo's Bachelor of the Month?)
Seems Kim had a few of his "buzzwords" picked for a coming issue of Newsweek (get this one: "hedgeclippers" for a small dog that bites) and will be mentioned in -- sitting down? -- the National Enquirer for fixing up a cat that mysteriously appeared at its Parkville owner's doorstep three days after it had been left at another animal hospital to be put to sleep. What next?
YOU'RE INVITED to dress up as one of Baltimore's Best historic symbols for the Baltimore Artists' Exhibit at the Baltimore Artists' Party at The BAUhouse Saturday night, starting at 9. The BAE-BAP bash is a celebration of the opening of the BAUhouse's first exhibition of works from Baltimore's visual arts community.
City Councilman Carl Stokes will be on hand to judge the costumes, and prizes will be awarded. Admission is $5 if you dress in costume, $7 if you're uninspired! Light buffet, music and a cash bar complete the picture. Drop by.
THINK YOU HAVE beautiful eyes? Well, picture your eyes winning a prize! The Maryland Society for the Prevention of Blindness is sponsoring the fourth annual Maryland's Beautiful Eyes Contest and this year's grand prize is a real eye-popper -- an eight-day Caribbean cruise on the Queen Elizabeth 2 for two! Drop by Kenilworth Mall this Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. to have your eyes photographed and register for the contest. (On July 20, photographers will be at White Marsh Mall.) Anybody can enter, regardless of age or sex. For info, call 243-2020.
THE SECOND ANNUAL Lady Baltimore Tennis Bash takes place July 19 on board the Lady Baltimore at the Inner Harbor. The evening event and cruise is a benefit for the Ray Bender Scholarship Fund, and Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale -- who's co-chairing the event -- coach Kenny Cooper, Blast players and other notables will be on board to add to the excitement.
Tickets are $50 and include a buffet, open bar and silent auction. The Ray Bender Scholarship Fund is a fully endowed NCAA tennis scholarship established for Maryland area players by friends of Ray Bender, who lost his battle with cancer in December 1989. For ticket info, call George Duncan at 377-9420.
NAMEDROPPING: Roger Lyons, president of the Baltimore Urban League, was named the recipient of the United Way's 1991 Leadership of Distinction Award recently at a presentation at the World Trade Center. . . . Richard Sullivan, president of Ferris, Baker, Watts Inc., has been elected chair of the board of directors of United Way.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING for something to do tonight, why not take a picnic dinner to the open-air concert at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton? Starting at 6 p.m., the big band sounds of the Zim Zemarel Orchestra will perform with a dance floor in the great bowl. Nothing like dancing under the stars.
CROSS KEYS INN'S General Manager Jerry Temple played host at the unveiling of the Roland Park Centennial Quilt there recently. The quilt will be on display in the Inn's lobby throughout the summer.
Guests included Jeanette Festa, Susan Pfaff, Lynn Rausch, Betty Davis, Michael Lower, Marcella Schuyler, Alicia Haberman, Louise and Tom MacSherry and Bud Hatfield of the Valley Inn.
Back Wednesday!