Downtown businesses raise $15,000 for autism

"What's going on here?" a passer-by asked the towering doorman outside Osteria 177, a restaurant on Main Street. He eyeballed the Hollywood red carpet and velvet ropes. Through the windows, he could see the jam-packed place was jumping as loud music poured onto the street. Not a typical scene in Annapolis on a Thursday night.

"It's the second annual Strut & Sip for Autism, a fundraiser - it's sold out," was the reply.

Five downtown businesses - Capital Teas, Diva, La Belle Cezanne, Osteria 177 and Liu Liu Salon - organized the six-hour event, selling out all 115 available tickets for $100 apiece. Dozens of other area businesses donated items for the evening's live and silent auctions. Proceeds from the ticket sales and auctions raised an estimated $15,000, which is dedicated to reach out to more children and teens with autism at Maryland Therapeutic Riding in Crownsville and to provide scholarship support.

Last year's event, the first, raised $10,000.

"We had to turn away 50 people," Michele Deckman, owner of Diva, said over the din. "It's a testament to the times we're living in. This shows how important Maryland Therapeutic Riding is to this community."

Deckman is also the mother of Lydia, 11, a student at Central Elementary School who has been diagnosed with low-functioning, nonverbal autism.

"A lot of the national autism groups are political," Deckman said. "This fundraiser is not about politics. It's to help a local organization. People know the good things they do at Maryland Therapeutic Riding."

Another organizer, Manelle Martino, owner of Capital Teas, added: "We wanted a fundraiser that combined fashion and tea. We brainstormed last year and I thought, 'Oh, I can do tea-infused cocktails. We went to other businesses downtown and came up with this."

Inside Osteria 177, a chic, elegantly clad crowd drank those tea-infused cocktails garnished with skinny hot peppers. They also nibbled on miniature crab cakes, beef kabobs, oysters Rockefeller, arancini (rice balls), smoked salmon tarts and skewered fruit.

Balancing martini glasses filled with colorful cocktails or quaffing flutes of champagne, the fashionistas swirled around a long T-shaped catwalk that divided the room. They were eagerly awaiting the big event - a live fashion show featuring several Maryland pageant titlists.

Weaving through the crowd in their sparkling tiaras were Miss Maryland USA 2010, Simone Feldman, 23, of Potomac; Miss Maryland Teen USA 2010 Kamie Crawford, 17, of Potomac; Miss Maryland Teen USA 2009 Kasey Staniszewski, 18, of La Plata; and Ginny Meerman of Edgewater, Mrs. Maryland United States 2009.

"I'm here to support a good cause," Crawford said. "A good friend is autistic. I've known him since we were in elementary school. He's come a long way."

"This is one of my first fashion shows," Staniszewski said. "I've been involved with community service this past year."

Ron Bieberich of Chesapeake Dock Outfitters served as the auctioneer. "I don't say 'no' to Maryland Therapeutic Riding," he explained. Gesturing toward the crowd, he added, "And, there's a roomful of gorgeous women! How can I say no to that?"

Downstairs, in Osteria 177's basement, the stockrooms had been transformed into a models' suite. The space was jammed with clothing-filled racks, and the scent of hair spray perfumed the air. Models perched on wine crates, awaiting their turn to be transformed by a team of hairstylists from Liu Liu and Nordstrom makeup artist Roxanne Farias.

"We're keeping it downtown," said John Baghdadlian, an owner of La Belle Cezanne Jewelers and a "Strut & Sips" organizer. His company donated a floating diamond necklace with a retail value of $3,500 and a pair of $350 earrings to be auctioned during the evening. More jewelry was loaned to accessorize the runway models.

"This is a downtown venue for downtown people," Baghdadlian added.

Severna Park residents Adrian Preston and Roberta Pardo were sipping their ruby-colored cocktails as the event got under way.

"I'm here to support a great cause," Preston said as she fished a pepper out of her drink. Pardo agreed: "MTR does such a great job with kids and wounded members of the military."

Naomi Parry, founder of Maryland Therapeutic Riding, was awestruck by the turnout. Usually dressed in mucking boots and jeans, she wore a Nanette Lepore charmeuse leopard print cocktail dress.

"This is so amazing!" she said. "Riding horseback is phenomenal for people with autism. A lot of them have limited resources. These folks are so generous."

The fashion show started fashionably late. As the first model came into view, the audience applauded loudly and kept the applause going throughout the show as one designer outfit after another hit the runway. On the leggy models, the heels were sky high and the hemlines were higher still.

While the models strutted, the ladies in attendance marked their selections on a runway guide. Everything on display would be available for sale the next day. The applause grew to a roar as Deckman and her daughter Lydia walked the runway for the finale. Lydia waved shyly.

"I want to do something positive and give back to those who need it the most," said Arturo Ottaviano, owner of Osteria 177. "We're blessed, we're healthy and we have to take care of each other. This cause is worth shutting down my restaurant for the night."

"It's fun for us," Martino said. "We're all social people. We enjoy doing this."

Wendi Winters is a freelance writer who lives on the Broadneck Peninsula.