THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604230170
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: On the Town
SOURCE: Sam Martinette
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Three events of note take place this week.
Tonight, celebrities from the arenas of sports, media, politics and entertainment will serve the public at a number of area restaurants, working for tips to help raise money and community awareness during the 14th annual Celebrity Night.
Sunday night, the sixth annual Bartenders Ball will take place at the Omni Waterside Hotel, a giant party held each year to raise money for charities and to give those hard-working restaurant people a chance to kick up their heels alongside the patrons they serve when on duty.
If that isn't enough to satisfy your sensory appetites, consider this: on Tuesday at La Galleria, there will be a wine, cigar and cognac tasting that will include hors d'oeuvres, a five-course dinner, wines and a number of fine cigars.
According to information provided by the Hampton Roads Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, sponsors of the annual Celebrity Night affair, 27 children died in Virginia last year as a result of child abuse and neglect. The group hopes to raise $17,000 this year to provide programming, advocacy resources and public education in an attempt to lower that distressing statistic.
Area celebrities will wait tables, mix drinks and greet the public at eight Southside restaurants, including Darryl's, La Galleria, Phillips' Waterside and Uncle Louie's in Norfolk. Pasta e Pani and Worrell Brothers in Virginia Beach also will participate, as will Amory's Wharf in Portsmouth and Pargo's in Chesapeake.
Between the hours of 6 and 9:30 p.m., all tips, a percentage of gross sales and the proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets, T-shirts and aprons will go directly toward the prevention of child abuse, according to the sponsors. Participating restaurant owners and celebrities deserve a round of applause (and big tips), as do the unsung heroes of the event, the professional wait staff and bartenders who are surrendering their tips for the three-plus hours of the event. For information, call 440-2749.
The Bartenders Ball is a great party, set for 7 p.m. Sunday at the downtown Omni Waterside Hotel. Tickets for the event at $65 per person, and include hors d'oeuvres and food to graze on, an open bar all evening, and music by Johnny O and The Classic Dogs of Love, Divine Thing, and the R&B All-Stars.
Started a few years back as a way to allow the people who are always working to have some fun for a change, the event is open to the public and raises money for charity. This year's proceeds will go to Seton House, the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity. Organizers hope to raise more than $50,000 this year.
Tickets may be purchased at these Norfolk locations: Alexander's at Omni Waterside, the Bait Shack, Bobbywood, Garry's, Hooters, Il Porto, JB's Gallery of Girls, Kelley's Tavern, Legends of Norfolk, Mitchell's Formal Wear, O'Sullivan's Wharf, San Antonio Sam's, Schooner's and the Taphouse Grill. Omni Waterside is offering special room rates in conjunction with the party. For information, call 498-2546.
As for La Galleria, they will be smoking in the side room on Tuesday, thanks to Alvin Remp of Davidoof Cigars and D.E. Chadbourn of Emerson's Fine Tobacco, who will be on hand for a wine, cigar and cognac tasting.
Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres begin at 6:30, with assorted pizzas and finger food, and a cash bar. Dinner begins at 7:30, with the first course consisting of Oysters Oreganto, Oysters Riveria, Clams Casino, Clams al Forno and Gamberi Scampi. The second course will be Penne Bolognese Arrostiti (penne with a meat sauce - Bolognese-style - and crushed red peppers), followed by a third course of Braciole, or rolled steak stuffed with raisins, pine nuts, parsley and homemade mozzarella in a red sauce, served with vegetables and roasted potatoes. The fourth course will be Italian mixed greens to clear the palate for the final course of Napoleon Brandy, Hennessy V.S. Cognac and coffee.
Wines for the tasting will include a Berlucci Bianco, Vignamaggio Mona Lisa Riserva (1990) and a 1991 Valferi Barolo. Among the cigars destined to be puffed that evening are Avo Uvezian Fine Cigars and Petit Belicoso's (NU)2 and (NU)5. Admission to the tasting and dinner is $85 per person. For more information, or to make reservations, call La Galleria, 623-3939. For information on the cigars, call Chad Chadbourn, 624-1520. by CNB