Guests

THE ROLAND PARK Second Presbyterian Church looked absolutely stunning last Saturday for the wedding of Natalia Pia Melanie Sommer and Richard Matthew Dohler. Thousands of wildflowers, miles of lace ribbons and tulle, and window sills decorated with Singapore orchids set the stage for the nuptials of the daughter of pop music star Donna Summer and her first husband, Helmut Sommer,and the son of Dick and Bonna Dohler, he's an Ellicott City builder.The church was filled with the music of German trumpeteer Langston Fitzgerald and selections of Bach, Beethoven and Vivaldi, played by the church's music director Margaret Budd on the organ.

In an effort to make guests' experiences more "distinctive," the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J., is undergoing a $51 million face-lift that includes refurbishing poker and guest rooms. The Borgata opened in 2003, but hotel officials said it was time to freshen up. "Having such high customer volumes and almost 50 percent of the poker market share in Atlantic City, it was simply time," said Joe Lupo, the hotel's senior vice president of operations. Renovations to the poker room, which opened in 2006, include new carpeting throughout the 21,500-square-foot area and installation of 23 flat-screen TVs. The hotel also introduced The Boardroom, a high-limit poker lounge that requires a minimum buy-in of $10,000.

Albert Lord doesn't like to wait - not in business or on the golf course. The colorful chairman of student loan behemoth Sallie Mae, who's embroiled in a nasty fight over the failed sale of the company, has spent 40 years in the accounting and banking industries. He said that experience should have instilled in him a measure of patience, but it hasn't. Whether in traffic, at the office or on the links, Lord said, he just doesn't like to wait. He can't do much about the first two, but he's got a sure-fire solution for the last one: He's building his own, an 18-hole golf course on land he's acquired amid shuttered tobacco farms and grazing horses in southern Anne Arundel County.

Wedding Day: December 1, 2012 Her story: Faith Deutschle, 28, grew up in Dublin, Ohio, and now lives in Federal Hill. Her father, Jean Deutschle, is senior sales manager at Abbott Laboratories. Her mother, Marianne Deutschle is a pre-kindergarten teacher in Dublin. Deutschle is senior marketing consultant for LivingSocial. His story: Jason Albert, 35, grew up in Manchester, Maryland, and now lives in Federal Hill. He is general manager at the Delia Foley's pub in Federal Hill.

William Kennedy Smith married girlfriend Anne Henry Saturday in a picturesque white chapel on Tilghman Island, then treated busloads of wedding guests to a reception and fireworks display at the $1.1 million waterfront farmhouse he bought in September. That's according to a real estate agent and inn keeper who, like many people on the 3-mile island, were aware of the goings-on. Smith, a nephew of President John F. Kennedy who was acquitted of rape and battery in 1991 by a Florida jury, did not respond to an e-mail message seeking comment.

Late July is the height of vacation season, but instead of a week at the beach or a trip to Europe this year, many Americans are still opting for the staycation or choosing to visit friends or relatives for a long weekend. Whether you find yourself bunking at your sister's place in San Francisco or are in the position of hosting out-of-town guests yourself, one thing is for sure: You'll soon understand the importance of a well-appointed guest room. An uncomfortable guest room sets the stage for a memorable visit — for all the wrong reasons.

One of the city's largest hotels was forced to evacuate some 900 guests Monday night after a water pipe burst in a stairwell. According to a spokesman for the Fire Department and an official from the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, a standpipe in the stairwell between the fourth and fifth floors ruptured about 5:30 p.m. The standpipe is used to connect to a hose in case of a fire. Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright said that there were no injuries, and guests were allowed to use two working elevators to retrieve their belongings before being moved to other hotels in the city and surrounding area.

Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards today announced that additional guests have been added to the "Gary Williams Hall of Legends Induction. " The University of Maryland basketball coach will be honored on Sept. 30 at The Hippodrome in Baltimore. Joining the event are former Georgia Tech and current College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins; St. John's University coach Steve Lavin; former Terps Tahj Holden (2002 NCAA Championship team), Rodney Elliott, Evers Burns, Duane Simpkins, Dave Neal and Cedric Lewis; co-host of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," Tony Kornheiser; and former player and assistant coach under Williams, Matt Kovarich Williams will be inducted into the museum's new Hall of Legends.

Men's college basketball Francis, Massenburg among guests added to Williams gala Maryland men's basketball head coach Gary Williams will be joined by a few more special guests when he is inducted into the Sports Legends Museum's Hall of Legends on Sept. 30 at the Hippodrome in Baltimore. Guests added to the event include former Terps guard and NBA first-round pick Steve Francis , ex-Maryland and NBA forward-center Tony Massenburg , University of Minnesota men's basketball coach Tubby Smith and Loyola men's basketball coach and former Terps assistant Jimmy Patsos . The event will include tributes to Williams from former players, Hall of Fame coaches and other special guests, including Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim , Villanova coach Jay Wright and former Maryland players Len Elmore and Walt Williams . Gary Williams will join previous gala honorees Babe Ruth , Johnny Unitas , Art Modell , Jim McKay and Brooks Robinson in an area reserved for those individuals who have contributed at the top echelon of state and national athletics.

The Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards today announced the addition of several special guests for the event honoring University of Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams on Sept. 30 at the Hippodrome Theater. Among the guests added: ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas; best-selling author and journalist John Feinstein; play-by-play voice of the Terrapins Johnny Holliday; Maryland basketball color analyst Chris Knoche; Williams' Maryland teammate Billy Jones; and former Maryland basketball coach Frank Fellows.

This getaway provides guests with gaming, hotel accommodations, live entertainment and greyhound racing. Hours: 24 hours a day. Games to play: Guests can choose to play craps, roulette, blackjack or poker. Wheeling Island provides over 1,800 slot machines. Racing: Guests over 18 can wager on the greyhound races, and simulcasting of races around the country are available. Wheeling Island provides 120 individual carrels with televisions to simulcast not only horse racing, but also dog racing and harness racing.

Bill Bateman's in Havre de Grace presents The Battle of the Guest Bartenders to benefit the Susquehanna Hose Company Saturday, May 19, at 8 p.m. Come support the local fire company as members show off their stuff behind the Bateman's bar. See which house is fastest. There will be a DJ and dancing as well as raffles and auctions. The fire company has some of the best raffle and live and silent auction stuff it has ever offered, including golf packages, concert packages, fishing packages and sports memorabilia including a 16-by-20 Pete Rose autographed framed photo, a 16-by-20 Eddie Murray autographed framed photo, Joe Flacco autographed, framed Delaware jersey, a Ray Lewis autographed helmet, a Super Bowl XXXXVI Giants team autographed football, a Ben Roethlisberger autographed football and Adam Jones autographed bat. Bill Bateman's is at 2021 Pulaski Highway in Havre de Grace.

From the moment you get engaged, immediately after showering you with excitement and congratulations, everyone wants to know where and when the wedding will be. The dust hasn't even settled in your brain but you quickly realize that this wedding isn't going to plan itself. Before you can even consider the pretty little details, you must settle on a date. And you certainly can't set a date until you know where this massive event is going to take place. Fortunately, being as familiar with our fair city as we are, my fiancé I had a pretty short list of potential wedding venues.

Atlantic City, N.J. Revel Guests can make reservations for overnight stays at the new Revel beachfront destination on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The 20-acre, $2.4 billion casino resort is open for an eight-week preview through May 24. Guests can enjoy restaurant openings, gaming, performance spaces, a spa and amenities in a place that was designed to embrace its beachfront surroundings. Views of the Atlantic Ocean are available in each of the 1,800 rooms at the resort.

Not the greatest quirk for a bride-to-be who needs to squeeze into a white dress in five short months, but my fiancé and I are both self-described foodies. From indulgent dinners at Woodberry Kitchen to Soju-soaked meals at Jong Kak with friends, our social lives seem to revolve pretty heavily around eating. Even a quiet night in is often made special by the addition of a great new recipe that we have been jonesing to try. When the topic of food came up for the wedding, it was an obvious decision.

When Interim State Superintendent Bernard Sadusky decided to waive the state law to allow Baltimore County to hire S. Dallas Dance to be the next school superintendent, he gave it on the condition that Dance be a guest teacher in a middle and high school this coming school year. State law requires superintendents to have three years of teaching experience, but Dance has only two, in a high school near Richmond. In addition, he did not take teacher preparation courses in college.

Phil Donahue's guests will bare all on a show airing locally Monday, but viewers at home will see less than the whole story.Six persons, participants in an art exhibit called "LOVE-SPIT-LOVE" who say they are protesting art censorship, were taped in the buff before a studio audience Thursday."

Duff "Ace of Cakes"Goldman joins Guy Fieri on Monday's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" episode featuring Baltimore's Joe Squared restaurants.  Here's the listing from the Food Network website : "This trip, Guy's cruisin' down the path less traveled. In Dallas, Texas, Guy turns tex-mex into mex-tex, with savory soups. In Baltimore, Maryland, local rock star baker Duff Goldman stops by to seek out the secrets of the square pizza. And in Santa Barbara, California, a restaurant turnin' turkey into fritters and a business into a family affair.

Side By Side's breakfast celebration and fundraiser will be held Saturday, March 3 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Community Church, 15720 Riding Stable Road. Guest speaker is Prince George's CountyExecutive Rushern Baker. A free breakfast will be provided by IHOP Laurel and a silent auction will be held during breakfast. Reservations are required by Feb. 27. Contact sidebyside@sidebysidelaurel.com or 202-710-5555. Auction proceeds and cash donations will help sustain and expand programs including Family Academy, an apartment homework club, community-wide tutoring, Spanish translation services in schools, a computer loan program and a new initiative, Great Start.