Mashed potatoes in a martini glass? "They make me feel so elegant," said attorney Shirley Bigley, as she nibbled the caviar-capped mound.

Elegance was in the air at the Maryland Science Center's Solstice '99 celebration. Subtitled the "Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer," the fete featured an old-fashioned lawn-party theme, with Astroturfed areas in the Hyatt Regency Hotel offering jim-dandy diversions such as a putting green and a spot of croquet. There also were handouts of hand-cranked ice cream.

Among the 550 swells stepping out: James H. DeGraffen-reidt Jr., event chair; Bill Crowley, event vice chair; Tom Bozzuto, Science Center board chair; Greg Andorfer, Science Center executive director and CEO; Barbara Melera, Michael Meehan, and Dr. Ron Fishbein, board members; William Baukhages, architect, GHK Inc.; Dr. Russell Kelley, Morgan State University professor; Jack Zemil, attorney with Saul Ewing; and Tim Fisk, Trigen Energy engineering director.

The chichi soiree secured some $180,000 for the Maryland Science Center.

Pub Date: 06/27/99