If you had any doubt about how much Marylanders love equestrian sports, check these numbers. Some 5,000 folks attended the Columbia Classic Grand Prix, and more than 10,000 horse lovers posted at Shawan Downs for the Second Annual Legacy Chase recently.
Columbia Classic's board chairwoman, Kathy Rensin, says the recent turnout was one of the highest in the jumping competition's 15-year history. And having movie and television star Jane Seymour as the grand marshal didn't hurt.
"Jane Seymour was the consummate grand marshal," says Kathy, "she mixed and mingled the whole day, signing autographs. ... I can't tell you how many hundreds of pictures she took with people. Everybody was impressed with her accessibility."
Kathy says Jane couldn't have been more gracious - even when it came to using the portable toilets along with everyone else.
"We were on our feet from 9 to 5," Kathy says, "and she never complained about a thing."
Meanwhile, over in Hunt Valley's Shawan Downs, there were loads of local faces to recognize at what's quickly become one of fall's "musts" for B-more's social set
All you had to do was take a tour through the rows of corporate tents set up alongside the steeplechase course. Faces like those belonging to: Greg Barnhill, Mike Lewin, Suzi Cordish, Karen Bokram, Ted and Nancy Herget, Carolyn and Kevin O'Keefe, Sandy and Steve Glover, Robin Kelley O'Connor, Bill Hopkinson and Mary Sue McCarthy, Paul Wolman, Howard and Michelle Rosenbloom, David Nevins, Edie and Stan Brown, Nancy Hinds, Mark and Sarah Winkler, Chuck Geser, Courtney Wilson, Gail Kaplan, Debbie Culotta, and Joan and Bill Davidson. Just to name a few.
The most popular tent had to be P.W. Feats', where some of Charm City's best-dressed could complete their race-day outfits by fashioning fanciful hats from painted paper, ribbons and feathers.
And one couple had more to celebrate than just a gorgeous day at the races. There was that gorgeous diamond ring sparkling on the hand of Dina Klicos - a little surprise from her sweetie, Bob Groth.
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The American Visionary Art Museum's preview party for its new exhibition, High on Life: Transcending Addiction, had its own surprise celebrity guest: Patch Adams. AVAM founder-director Rebecca Hoffberger says the famous funnyman-doctor is a big fan of the museum. Patch wasn't alone. He was joined by some 1,000 other folks who wanted to get first gander at the show.
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Meanwhile, Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore had its most successful Taste of WEB fund-raiser ever. WEB board chairman Bill Schaefer says about 500 people came to the Evergreen House event, where they could sample treats served up by about 25 local chefs.
Bill says one of the evening's hits was the spicy meat and veggie concoction created by WEB graduate Paulette Merrills, whose Caribbean Cafe Catering is based in Severn.
What impressed Bill the most was the great cross section of local folks who came to the get-together - and who helped raise nearly $40,000 for WEB.
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We're right in the middle of show-house season. As the BSO Decorators Show House threw its Closing Night shindig, Historic Ellicott City Inc. was holding its Show House Preview Party. Both were big successes, with about 250 folks attending each bash. Jean Lubke, this year's BSO Show House chairwoman, says this year's redone mansion, Rainbow Hill, raised more than $200,000. Meanwhile, you've got until Oct. 20 to check out Historic Ellicott City's Cloverdale mansion in Mount Airy.
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It was quite a heartwarming night for another crowd of 250 at the recent Baltimore Incentive Awards Dinner. Attendee June Streckfus says the evening's purpose was to fete nine students, each from a different Baltimore high school, who had achieved academic excellence despite tough life circumstances. Each student is being awarded full four-year support at the University of Maryland, College Park.
"It was fantastic," June says of the Marriott Waterfront dinner. "We all felt enlightened hearing from [the students], and they felt tremendous support and warmth from everyone in the room."
June says the whole night was filled with hope. "We need more of these hopeful programs in life," she concludes, "rather than just reading about all the bad things that happen."
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Trying to create something positive from tragedy was the purpose behind the "Yellow Dress Golf Classic," which made its debut at Hayfields Country Club last week. The day of golf and the dinner that followed became the first fund-raiser held for the Kristin Rita Strouse Foundation. After Kristin, a talented artist and freshman at New York's Parsons School of Design, ended her life a year ago, her parents, Doug and Sharon Strouse, created the nonprofit to increase awareness and prevention of teen suicide.
The day was a testament to Doug and Sharon's efforts. About 250 friends like Jon and Joan Schochor and John and Jan Kenny as well as sports figures including Gary Williams, Joe Washington and Stan White, filled the dining room to show their love and support - and raised about $100,000 for the foundation.
Emcee Gerry Sandusky summed up the evening's emotions as he told the crowd, "A life can end, but tonight can prove that a legacy is forever."
Social Calendar
Oct. 15: "3rd Annual Luncheon for the Love of Kate Offutt." Benefits International Rett Syndrome Association. Cash bar, seated lunch. Columbus Gardens, 4301 Klosterman Ave. 11 a.m. Tickets $25. Call 410-377-6663.
Oct. 17: "Makin' Music." Benefits Baltimore School for the Arts theater program. Beer, wine, hors d'oeuvres, music-dance classes, performance by BSA alumni and students. Baltimore School for the Arts, 712 Cathedral St. 6:30 p.m. Tickets $40 in advance, $50 at door. Call 410-347-3043.
Oct. 18: "2nd Annual Oh, The Places You'll Go! Dinner Dance & Silent Auction." Benefits United Ministries' Earl's Place Transitional Housing Project. Cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, seated dinner, live music, dancing. Belvedere Hotel, 1 E. Chase St. 7 p.m. Tickets $75. Call 410-522-0225.
Oct. 19: "11th Annual Music Diversity and Scholarship Award Banquet Gala." Benefits Rosa Pryor Music Scholarship Fund. Open bar, hors d'oeuvres, buffet dinner, live music, dancing, musical performances. La Fontaine Bleu, 3120 Erdman Ave. 9 p.m. Tickets $45. Call 410-833-9474.
Arena Players
How do you celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the oldest continuing African-American theaters in the nation? You throw a heckuva party and invite 450 of your closest friends. Which is just what Arena Players did at its Gala Awards Banquet.
First, folks had a chance to meet and mingle. Then, a performance by Three Baltimo' Tenors Plus One - Arden Garnett, William Johnson, James Nathan Jones and Rodney Wing - kicked off the dinner, followed by awards to some of arena's veteran players and a tribute to Baltimore native and Broadway star Andre De Shields.
Among those enjoying the starry evening: Bonita Perry, event chairwoman; Randi Vega, event vice-chairwoman; Cheryl Goodman and Desiree Urquhart, 50th anniversary co-chairs; Edward Smith Jr., Arena Players board chairman; Amini Courts, Louise Murphy and Catherine Orange, Arena Players board members; Rodney Orange, Arena Players managing director; Edward Terry, Arena Players artistic director; Verna Day Jones, June Thorne, Nancy Barrick, George Barrick, Lorraine Brown, Robert Russell and John Taylor, honorees; Charles Tilden Jr., Baltimore City Community College retired president; Cheron Porter, WMAR television community affairs director; Larry Young, WOLB radio talk show host; James Brown, Coppin State College technical director; Thomas H. Wise Jr., Prince Hall Grand Lodge Masons junior grand warden; Michael Bradley, Prince Hall Masons William F. Taylor Lodge #57 senior deacon; Shirley Watson, Baltimore public schools teacher mentor; Gloria Dutton, retired florist; Cheryl Pasteur, Randallstown High School assistant principal; James A. Maddox, Time Printers president/CEO; Willia Bell, Flair Studio of Dance director; Genevieve Massey, IRS tax adjuster; Camay Murphy, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center executive director; Calvin Garlic, Allfirst Bank senior vice president; E. Gaines Lansey Jr., Morgan State University procurement official; Tawana Moore, Ideal Federal Savings Bank branch manager; Patricia Tunstall, Federal Reserve Bank, Baltimore branch assistant vice president; Alice Sue Cooper-Lee, Catonsville Middle School counseling chairwoman; Valerie Bell, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, human resources director; Deborah Ramsey, Baltimore-based public relations consultant; and Reggie Thomas, Morgan Stanley financial adviser.
The gala raised some $11,000 for Arena Players.