Wine lovers gather at Belvedere for love of St. Vince de Paul

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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Any function at the Belvedere Hotel is great, but the recent For the Love of Wine event to benefit St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore was especially memorable.

Hundreds of guests gathered at this historic beauty and sipped the night away. Committee members Laura Spada, who is the director at the St. Ambrose Center, Ed Spada of L’Amore di Vino, Elizabeth Labruto of Wine World, attorney Pam Custer and John Frank Jr. of Associates Funding were delighted with the turnout. “They worked so hard to make this event happen,” said Teresa Ernst, who is St. Vincent de Paul’s director of communications. Laurie Forster — “The Wine Coach” — led a seminar on how to taste wine, rather than just drink it, while others bid on auction items. Socially Speaking got a blast from the past when a young man, serving wonderful wines hosted by Chris Lombardi, introduced himself as Alfredo Pecora. I worked for his family at Pecora’s Restaurant in Towson a very long time ago.

PRESIDENTS DAY CELEBRATION

Under the tutelage of former Baltimore City State’s Attorney William Swisher, many a successful judge and attorney came to be. On this past Presidents Day, a crowd of them gathered at Sabatino’s in Little Italy for an annual luncheon in his honor. Court of Appeals Judge Joseph Murphy chaired the event.

A BALTIMOREAN AT HEART

Former Ravens coach Brian Billick is making the media rounds these days and shared a little about his recent trip to Iraq. “Maryland has the largest deployment [of soldiers] in Iraq, and I think I met all of them,” he said. “They were wonderful, and the trip came at a great time for me. How could I feel down about what happened with my job when I see what these young men and women are doing for us?” When asked why he and his family are staying put in the Land of Pleasant Living, Billick quickly answered: “We are Baltimoreans. Maryland is our home.”

PSSST!

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

» If you’re in Naples, Fla., Saturday, keep your eyes open for Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, who will be a guest speaker for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Collier County. The Roaring 20s-themed party at the Ritz Carlton will cost guests $750 to hobnob with the Iron Man and the evening’s other featured guest, “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh.

» Seen dining in Little Italy recently was funny man Bill Murray of “Saturday Night Live,” “Caddyshack” and “Ghostbusters” fame.

He was with actress Linda Cardellini (”Scooby-Doo” and “Brokeback Mountain”) at Da Mimmo’s Restaurant. Rumor has it they might be doing a project together — hopefully here in Maryland.

Anne Boone-Simanski is the social columnist for The Examiner and can be reached at absss@baltimoreexaminer.com or 410-878-6131.

SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY

EMAIL STORY

PRINT STORY

67 days ago: Wetzlers honored for a job well done

74 days ago: Picture-perfect event for House of Ruth

81 days ago: Perfect weather charms annual Zoomerang

88 days ago: A worthwhile feast to end childhood hunger

95 days ago: ‘Super Ball’ gets super treatment

102 days ago: This tasty fundraiser was a sweet success

109 days ago: Black tie and blue jeans turn to green for food bank

116 days ago: Harbor Hospital hosts grand gala

123 days ago: Anne Talbot Brennan’s courage honored at fundraiser

130 days ago: ‘Mealtime’ at Family Tree packs them in