Socially Speaking
A MONUMENTAL GAME PLAN
This Thursday will mark the 38th lighting of the Washington Monument in Baltimore. Now we might not know who will be doing the official lighting usually done by the Mayor, but what we do know is pre-event activities will commence at 5.30pm in Mt. Vernon with the ceremony beginning at 7pm.
My suggestion for the adult crowd is to head over to the B&O American Brasserie for some pre-game monument lighting libations and try out some of the seasonal cocktails that Head Bartender Brendan Dorr has created. All the cocktails appropriately have railroad theme names including Boxcar Beer, Orient Express, Smokestack, Engineer’s Coffee, Caboose Cocktail, Cable Car and my personal favorite Scotch Cobbler. B & O American Brasserie is located at 2 North Charles Street next to the beautiful Monaco Hotel where Bruce Springsteen recently stayed while here in Charm City, a really smart magazine editor I know also pointed out that the Brasserie’s bar is the perfect viewing location for the St. Patty’s Day parade too.
Speaking of the monument lighting a very special performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee, Darlene Love will help kick off the festivities. Darlene is well known for her annual appearance on the David Letterman Show to help kick off the holidays with her performance of “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home.)” A little elf told me she will be performing White Christmas and Winter Wonderland at this evening’s celebration. This same blond elf also told me that REEL Good Productions, LLC of Baltimore recently purchased the film rights to Darlene Love’s book My Name is Love; The Darlene Love story. No doubt her longevity and contributions to the music industry are worthy of a film and place on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
FANTABULOUS
When I come across either a wonderful dining restaurant or something added to a menu that really knocks my socks off, it’s my duty to share. From now on these moments will be listed under my new favorite word, “Fantabulous.”
~ Recently, Nate Beachler the General Manager of Oceanaire Seafood Room, in Harbor East invited me to dindin, which was my first ever visit to his establishment. When I walked in, I was graciously greeted and was happy to see that even on a midweek evening the place was hopping. Our table was covered with house seafood specialties, paired with wonderful wines. No doubt it was fantastic and, believe it or not, Oceanaire serves one heck of a steak, seasoned to perfection. A must visit over the next few weeks and make sure to check out the great “Prix Fixe” deal.
~ Just before Thanksgiving, my girl, Downtown Diane, and I met up with PR maven, Amy Burke Friedman at RA Sushi in Baltimore for a sampling of the new items added to the menu. My favorite, which I will be hiding on credit cards was the “RA Chip & Salsa” which was spicy tuna tartare mixed with cucumber, avocado and fresh salsa and served with wonton chips.
~Seems a bit of Hollywood also was in RA over the Thanksgiving holiday. Baltimore girl and “Dancing With The Stars” contestant, Staci Keibler, and her rumored boyfriend, Geoff Stults, from the movie “The Break Up” and “Wedding Crashers” enjoyed RA’s Viva Las Vegas roll, as well as Tootsy Maki, Lobster & Shrimp roll to name a few of the items ordered.
CONDOLENCES
A wonderful friend and dear man to our community lost his battle with congestive heart failure. Below is a small glimpse, provided by the family into the wonderful Chuck Sudina…
On November 29, 2009 Chuck Sudina lost his battle with congestive heart failure as a result of Amyloidosys. He was diagnosed with the disease in April and was being treated at the University of Maryland Medical System. He had been on the heart transplant list awaiting a heart since June. He is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia and daughter Kristin, his mother, Helen Sudina Heil, and a brother, Jim. The family requests that donations be made to Archbishop Curley High School and to recognize the importance of organ donor registry.
On August 25, 1948 Chuck Sudina was born in Baltimore City. He attended the Shrine of the Little Flower and graduated from Archbishop Curley High School where he excelled in soccer and baseball and basketball. After graduating from Curley, he attended the University of Baltimore where he played soccer and majored in Business. He served as a reserve for the Army, and worked in sales for companies such as: Hallmark, Great Bear, and Johnson & Johnson.
But; it wasn’t until he discovered the excitement and synergy of the recruiting business that he knew he had found his calling within the business sector. The first day the doors of Sudina Search opened, his staff consisted of himself, one other recruiter and a receptionist. However, it wasn’t too long before he had to find larger facilities as the staff continued to grow.
Talking with some of his recruiters that have been with the firm from the beginning; they praised Chuck for his teaching capabilities, his sensitivity, level-headedness, his fairness, and work ethic. That included the corniness he would display like giving new recruiters bogus telephone messages to return for him. Acting the prankster he would hand the recruiter a telephone message from Mr. Lyon and the phone number on the message would be that of the Zoo. Another example of his fun loving tricks was to hand the new person a phone message from Mr. Warren Peace with the National Defense telephone number attached. That was one reason he was such a great manager, he thoroughly believed some levity would spice up the office as well as break in the new recruiters; putting them at ease.
Apparently his ability to combine down time with production may have been a part of what made Sudina Search so successful. Sudina Search, Inc., is an executive recruiter source; handling permanent placement for individuals and companies that specialize in Accounting/Finance and Information Technology. The company has been in the top five rankings of the Baltimore Business Journal’s Book of Lists for over twenty years. Many members of his loyal staff have been with the company since its inception or for 15 years or longer.
Chuck was also an avid collector of sports memorabilia. That was clear the moment anyone entered his office. The walls of the foyer and some of the conference rooms are almost totally covered with items from the Baltimore Ravens, the Baltimore Colts, and the Baltimore Orioles (as well as other local sports). An avid reader of all sports articles, Chuck enjoyed reading various sports columns and loved the continual updates from ESPN. He became so well versed that recalling stats from years back as well as lesser known players would be no problem for the sports trivia contests he enjoyed.
On a personal note, Chuck was very involved in the community and is a major philanthropic donor to endless causes and charities. His community activities and business affiliations included: The Archbishop Curley High School, Knights of Columbus, Greater Baltimore Committee, Maryland Business Council, Greater Baltimore Technology Council, the Maryland Recruitment Association, and was on the board of the American Association of Finance and Accounting (AAFA).
A perfect example of Chuck’s secret to success was a portion of the speech he gave to the 42nd graduating class of Archbishop Curley. He emphasized the importance of family, the necessity of finding balance in your life, to not let a career totally encompass one’s existence. And also to always do the right thing. Taking a line from his commencement speech sums it all up, “Always do the right thing; you can’t believe how good it feels. If you can’t trust or respect yourself…you will never trust or respect anyone else. You are on the forefront of building your personal and professional reputations. When it is all said and done it is about reputation. Honor, Trust, Truth is all about doing the right thing”. Chuck lived by those words; it is that philosophy that helped his firm to grow. He was member and golfer at Hillendale Country Club.
Rest In Peace…
Please give the gift of life by signing up this holiday season to be an organ donor.
** Catch me every Monday morning from 8am-noon on Fox Sports Am-1370 “Rob Long Show” or listen live on http://www.roblongshow.com.
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/02/09 at 09:43 PM
