January 01, 2006|By SLOANE BROWN
Ahhh. Jan. 1, 2006. Sure feels great to kick back and relax, without another holiday function in sight, doesn't it? But give yourself a few days. Next thing you know, the walls are closing in on you, and it feels like winter will never end! You find yourself getting nostalgic for those holiday parties. Spring - and all the shindigs it brings - seems so far away.
Not to worry. There's a heap of events around Baltimore in the next couple of months. Plenty of things to do, people to see, and causes to help - to help you warm both body and soul.
Just check these out.
Jan. 7 / / 84th Annual Oyster Roast. Benefits Rotary Club of Baltimore. Beer, huge oyster and bull roast buffet, games of chance. 5th Regiment Armory, 29th Division Street. Noon. Tickets $40 in advance, $45 at door. Call 410-685-5087.
Jan. 21 / / "10th Anniversary Grand Gala: Everything's Coming Up Roses." Benefits American Visionary Art Museum. Host Rosie O'Donnell, grand honoree Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Open bar, hors d'oeuvres, dinner buffet, surprise entertainment. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway. 6 p.m. Tickets $500, $1,000 including 5 p.m. VIP reception and museum tour with O'Donnell. Call 410-244-1900.
Jan. 28 / / "Heartfest 2006." Benefits the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Preventive Cardiology Center. Wine, cash bar, heart-healthy food stations from more than 25 restaurants and caterers, live music, dancing, celebrity guest of honor John Astin. Martin's West, 6817 Dogwood Road, Woodlawn. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $100. Call 410-560-2230.
Jan. 28 / / "An Evening of Breaking Bread with Friends." Benefits Our Daily Bread. Open bar, hors d'oeuvres, seated dinner prepared by chefs Michael Gettier, Nancy Longo and Gino Troia. Our Daily Bread, 411 Cathedral St. 6:30 p.m. Tickets $200. Call 410-261-6766.
Feb. 4 / / "20th Annual Gift of Life Gala." Benefits National Kidney Foundation of Maryland. Open bar, hors d'oeuvres, seated dinner, live music, dancing. Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, 300 Light St. 7 p.m. Tickets $225. Call 410-494-8545.
Feb. 9 / / "15th Annual Chocolate Affair." Benefits Health Care for the Homeless. Wine, beer, cash bar, chocolate specialty food stations from local restaurants and caterers, live steel drum band, local celebrity judges. M&T Bank Stadium, North Club Level Lounge. 6 p.m. Tickets $60 in advance, $70 at door. Call 410-837-5533, ext. 336.
Feb. 9 / / "Aspire: A Tribute to Life's Coaches." Benefits Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. Open bar, heavy hors d'oeuvres, honorees - including American League MVP Alex Rodriguez and Cleveland Cavaliers president Danny Ferry - salute their life coaches. Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St. 6 p.m. Tickets $150. Call 410-823-0808.
Feb. 18 / / "Baltimore Heart Ball - Hearts In Motion." Benefits American Heart Association. Open bar, hors d'oeuvres, seated dinner, live music, dancing. Renaissance Inner Harbor Hotel, 202 E. Pratt St. 6 p.m. Tickets $300. Call 410-637-4527.
Feb. 23 / / Hunt Valley Antiques Show Preview Party. Benefits Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland. Open bar, hors d'oeuvres, dinner buffet, live music, preview antiques show, talk to dealers, meet guest lecturer Vladimir Kagan. Holiday Inn Select, 2004 Greenspring Drive, Timonium. 6 p.m. Tickets $100. Call 410-366-1980, ext. 245.
Feb. 25 / / "2006 Winter Carnivale - Viva Espana!" Benefits NAMI - Metropolitan Baltimore. Wine, beer, hors d'oeuvres, Spanish cuisine dinner buffet, flamenco dance performance, mask exhibit, live music, dancing. Jim Rouse Visionary Center, American Visionary Arts Museum, 820 Key Highway. 6:30 p.m. Tickets $100. Call 410-435-2600.
To list an social event, e-mail sloane@sloanebrown.com or fax to 410-675-3451 at least three weeks ahead. Include name and number.
