
DATE: Thursday, October 16, 1997            TAG: 9710140130

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: ON THE TOWN 
                                            LENGTH:   83 lines

FRIENDS OF DEPAUL'S CHARITY BALL TO FUND PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY

The charity ball season is in full swing. The ZooToDo and the St. Jude Gourmet Gala are in the memory book for this year, while the Holly Ball looms large in December.

This weekend, however, the Friends of DePaul will host their 32nd Annual DePaul Charity Ball at the Omni Waterside Hotel on Saturday, and this year it's called ``The Black and White Masque Ball.''

New York lounge singer Consuelo Hill will entertain, and I'm told she will change outfits to match the era of dance songs she'll croon from the 1930s through the '90s. The evening will begin with cocktails and before-dinner entertainment from Sonny and Helen Morgan at 7 p.m. Dinner will be at 8 p.m. The festivities will be held in a ballroom decorated by artists Janet and Mike Bell.

Omni's executive chef - and one of the area's most underrated - David Lapinski has worked with Friend's board member Mary Florestano to craft a menu of Montreal spiced petite filet mignon; a Caribbean-seared, crispy salmon filet with fruit chutney; au gratin potato and broccoli Parmesan with pine nuts; and a dessert of pumpkin mousse with caramel sauce and a ginger snap crumble.

Tickets for the event are $250 a couple at tables of eight. The ball dates back to 1965, when Jimmy and Mildred Albano gathered a group of volunteers to raise money for charitable work done by what was then called Depaul Hospital. Today Eloise Myers is the president of the Friends of DePaul, and the facility at Kingsley Lane and Granby Street is the DePaul Medical Center, administered by the Bon Secours DePaul Health Foundation.

``This year's proceeds from the ball will benefit Senior Services,'' said Myers, president and owner of Moore Travel. ``With a growing community of older adults, the sisters of Bon Secours have made a commitment to provide health care services and programs to the elderly.''

To that end, DePaul has developed a Gerontology Resource Center, a Senior Health Center, an Acute Care Unit specifically for the elderly, transportations services for the elderly, and other programs. Proceeds from the ball are earmarked for those programs. For information or tickets to the DePaul Ball, call 889-5900.

Brownstone's opened last week with a flourish. It's the so-called mystery restaurant I wrote about a few weeks back, located on the corner of 20th Street and Debree Avenue, in the former location of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coffee and Tea Company. The opening party gave a hint of excellent food coming from Chef Mark Hammond, including Cilantro Crab Cakes, tempura-crusted lamb chops that melt in your mouth, oak-roasted salmon with a cinnamon beurre blanc, crab-smashed potatoes and more.

Jim Newsome and the Porch Rockers were on hand to christen the place musically, and owners Donna and Dennis Fenley have done a great job of redesigning the space so that it should operate more efficiently.

I'll go back to dine when things have quieted down some, but for now I can tell you that lunch entrees, such as a chicken and eggplant pie with a garden marinara sauce ($7.50) and Jambalaya (shellfish, sausage, chicken, ham and vegetables served in a sourdough bowl - $9.50), are offered, with prices ranging from $6.95 to $9.50. Dinner entrees include Maple and Mango Glaced Duck Breast with Pressed Sweet Potato and a vegetable melange ($14.50) and a filet mignon stuffed with roasted peppers, Boursin cheese and spinach with crabmashed potatoes and a sweet onion marmalade ($17.50). Prices range from $13.95 to $26 for a 2-pound Porterhouse steak.

As for the name Brownstone's, I'll tell you the story behind that when I do the full column, or you can ask the management if you dine there first. Meanwhile, Brownstone's is open for business. Call 622-7779.

Shoney's on 21st Street in Ghent has closed, with no plans to reopen. The building is for rent. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by SAM MARTINETTE

James Albano, first president of the Friends of DePaul, staged the

first charity ball, and Eloise Myers, current president, will host

the 32nd.

Graphic

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: The 32nd Annual DePaul Charity Ball, to benefit programs

for the aging

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Omni Waterside Hotel, downtown

TICKETS: $250 a couple

FOR INFORMATION: Call the Bon Secours DePaul Health Foundation,

889-5900.