Cafe Normandie

Today's groundbreaking ceremony for the Main Street reconstruction project is expected to be colorful and loud with its singing fifth-graders and historians snapping photographs. The mayor will even get a commemorative brick.But many downtown workers and residents say they have no reason to celebrate the rebricking project in the heart of the city's historic district."This will kill us," said Monica Nader, manager of Cafe Normandie at 185 Main St. "We are definitely going to lose business."

Until a few months ago, Cafe Normandie was Brasserie de Paris, but the word "brasserie" doesn't fit very well in American mouths, so the brasserie isn't a brasserie anymore (and maybe never was, brasseries tending toward Alsatian wines, beers and choucroutes). Also, under the old regime, the brasserie offered some fairly fancy, pricey entrees like rack of lamb in truffles sauce. Under the new regime, fancy is out.The departed brasserie's menu read "Restaurant Francais"; the cafe's says, "Your Neighborhood Cafe."

Health inspectors temporarily closed two Annapolis restaurants and one in Pasadena during routine inspections from April 1 to 15.The three restaurants did not meet county codes because of emergency conditions. They were:* Morrison's Cafeteria, 900 block of Jennifer Road, Annapolis. Closed for lack of hot water.* Roy Rogers, Annapolis Mall, Annapolis. Closed because of fire.* Beefalo Bob's, 100 block of Mountain Road, Pasadena. Closed because of fire.All three establishments have re-opened.

UNDER A DRIZZLY sky the color of an oil spill, Annapolis residents gathered on Main Street early yesterday morning to see what the previous night's fire had done, and to stare at the twisted metal and the charred timber and the blackened Christmas decorations left behind, and to stand in simple awe.John Patmore was there. The city's director of public works, who grew up in wartime Britain, turned to Annapolis Fire Chief Edward Sherlock and said, "Now you know what London was like in '41."No bombs were dropped on Annapolis Tuesday evening, but the chilly night air was filled with smoke and flame, and 75 firefighters were clambering all over the place to keep the damage from spreading beyond three century-old buildings on Main Street and three more on State Circle behind it."

The owners of a French restaurant on Annapolis' Main Street, an Irish pub on Maryland Avenue and a small market in Eastport all share the same environmental zeal. Jean-Louis Evennou was so thrilled when his staffers designed a green T-shirt to advertise their eco-friendly policies that he drove them to New York City and treated them to a pricey French meal. Now he has proudly mounted the shirt on Cafe Normandie's wall. Fintan Galway instructs his waiters to discuss sustainability every time they hand patrons a straw.

Monday, Sept. 26 'Oktoberfest' Visitors can enjoy authentic German food and beverages at this festival being held through Monday, Sept. 26, at Fort Meade. There will be live music, children's activities and more. Admission is free. For directions and information, call 301-677-7785. Photo club The Digital Photography Club of Annapolis meets at 7 p.m. at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St. Meeting features a member's showcase spotlight. Information: 410-267-0461 or digitalphotoclub.net.

In a scene reminiscent of "Where the Wild Things Are," the top floor of the Rouse Building in downtown Columbia will be transformed into a garden tomorrow night.Baskets of pink ivy geraniums and red and white fuchsia will hang from a trellis over the banquet room doors.Twelve weeping cherry trees and red azalea will anchor the corners of a dance floor. Four southern magnolias, measuring 6- to 8-feet high, will serve as a room divider.The occasion for this vegetation is the 11th annual Columbia Foundation fund-raiser, which begins at 6 p.m. tomorrow.

In honor of Bastille Day last Tuesday, my Top 10 list celebrated French restaurants. My editor asked me if there were even 10 French restaurants in Maryland, top or not, and asked if I was including IHOP for its French toast. Here's the list I came up with, in alphabetical order: 1 Bonaparte Breads in Fells Point. A casual French coffee shop with sandwiches and good French pastries and breads. 2 Bonjour Bakery & Cafe in Mount Washington. Authentic French pastries and a few savories like quiche and meat and cheese croissants.

Names in the newsMartin "Chip" Doordan and the Anne Arundel Medical Center received the Anne Arundel Trade Council's president's award. Doordan is chief executive officer and president of the hospital's Anne Arundel Health System. He has served two consecutive terms on the Trade Council's board of directors. The medical center was cited for its partnership with the Trade Council for the first 55+ Expo.Kimberly B. Gomoljak has joined Design Teams of Annapolis as chief accountant. She will supervise all client accounting functions for the operating companies of McCrone Inc. in Maryland and Florida.

Valerie J. Williams named directorValerie J. Williams has been named director of health services by the Vantage House Life Care Retirement Community in Columbia.She will be responsible for the management of health care services for Vantage House residents in assisted living and skilled nursing care and those in the home's 220 independent living units.She was director of nursing for the Complex Case Management Unit at Meridian Multi-Medical Nursing Center in Towson and unit manager for the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center in Baltimore.