Suck-Ups make my skin crawl.

To be fair, the writer added a a self-deprecatory phrase that I omitted: "(Yes, I'm sucking up just a little)" so don't be too hard on the e-mailer. :-) EL

Yellow Dog Tavern would be a safe place. The menu is upscale but also features tavern staples like burgers for picky eaters. Not sure if she will want to brave the horrid Canton parking situation right now though. Petit Louis or the Mt. Washington Tavern are solid options as well.

EL, since Denny refers to "my baby shower" and has a hubby, should reference be properly made to "her e-mail", rather than "his"? (And isn't a baby shower usually set up as a surprise event, at least for the mother-to-be?)

Give me a moment and I'll fix everything. :-) EL

Oh, hmpstd, that Surprise! stuff was the old days. Within the past few years, I've been invited to showers by the honoree. I feign un-shock-edness.

I hate to point out the obvious, but Denny is a man's name, and (encouragingly) growing numbers of men are having hubbies while, at the same time, growing numbers of babies have two fathers. Both of which I support fully. As for places to eat ... I love Birches. I know that place has become controversial on this blog for reasons that escape me, but especially in this snowy weather it's a snug place to curl up with some amazing crab-and-artichoke dip and a hot cider with rum. And they take reservations and can certainly accomodate all of you. I've always found Yellow Dog to be disappointing. It just seems like I always spend a lot of money there, even if I get an app, a sandwich and a glass of wine, and I'm not sure it's worth it.

Good point about the name. And I think the Birches thing has come and gone. EL

Try Birches Restaurant near Patterson Park. In December, my niece and her brand-new fiance hosted an engagement celebration at Birches. We were about 16 total, and the restaurant put us all in the private room upstairs. The food and service were outstanding. The waitress matched our celebratory mood and stayed cool and unflustered the whole night. Give them a try. (And get the warm blueberry pie for dessert. I'm going back just for that.) Congratulations on the little-one-to-come.

KB, Denny can be a woman's name as well as a man's name. (Denny Dillon, a former SNL cast member, exemplifies the former.) Also, as same-sex marriage has yet to be adopted in Maryland, I think it's not unreasonable to assume Denny is a woman in this instance. Once Maryland decides to approve same-sex marriage (or, at the least, to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states), the assumption will be harder to sustain.

Wow, Eve really woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, didn't he?

Maybe there are circumstances (like aforementioned family traveling from out of state) that may require a pregnant chic to be aware of date of shower. No need to feign un-shock-edness, just a little open-mindedness and friendliness...

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I knew there were some great places that I was forgetting in my pregnancy-induced idiocy.

wildly appropriate captcha - tonnages

Enough about the politics of name. The POINT is where to take these people. I would suggest Pappas' in Parkville. It's fairly old school and I've found the food always delicious. Of course you could also call Alan at Regi's and see about using the back room as well. It was always conducive to parties when I worked there under the last regime

I would suggest Claddagh Pub in Canton or Regi's in Fed Hill. Claddagh is a little bigger, so they might be able to accomodate a large table a little better. Both have menus that are large enough that everyone should find something they like. Neither is upscale, but both are nice. I always enjoy my meal at each.

Hmmmm... Ya know, I hear you about the nothing-too-ethnic thing, but I still have to recommend the Helmand. We went there for our pre-wedding dinner (there wasn't really a rehearsal, so...) and everyone loved it, including the folks who made snide comments about "twigs and bugs for dinner." I've found that even the most meat-n-potatoes red-blooded Murican enjoys the lamb there.

I agree that the Helmand would be a safe choice. There's nothing simpler than a kabob with veggies and rice, and theirs are sooo good. And I know gay marriage isn't legal in Maryland, but that certainly hasn't stopped any of my friends from having commitment ceremonies and referring to one another as each other's husbands, though they're denied the legal benefits of that status.

I third the recommendation of Birches, mainly because the upstairs room is lovely, and the menu would probably best suit your needs. The only drawback is that the parking sucks in normal situations, and is probably even worse with the SnOMG still everywhere.

Since the parking situation would probably be better, how about Crush in Belvedere Square? The menu is a nice mix of sandwiches and dinner fare, and I think the food is consistently good.

couple more possible options:
-marie louise bistro (pretty big, and not usually super busy)
-iggies (i know it's usually packed...but i've heard people being able to reserve the large middle table for parties)

I was going to mention Iggie's as well. The only potential downside, if you have a large party, is they don't take reservations. But it's fun fun fun.

EL wrote: I think the Birches thing has come and gone. I don't know--some of us have long memories (not just hmpstd). I would never go there--unless someone else was hosting and we all tried to pay separately.

I know it's not a foodie-fave, but Sabatino's can handle a large-group and is perfectly decent.

(on the other hand, the captcha say "to dumpy")

Crush has a great menu and is very affordable. You can choose between lighter fare items or entrees. They also have plenty of room and could easily accomadate a party of that size.

I keep hesitating, but I'm not sure why...I'd recommend the B&O Brasserie. Not weird, but definitely classy. Not horribly expensive. The desserts are really good, and this kind of event needs good desserts. It is a pretty room in a beautiful building.

Denny has a pretty amusing blog. Its very obvious she's female.

You all know that I am obligated to remind Denny of all of Little Itay, and to also remind her of the parking garage on Central Ave.

However, as my own taste runs more toward meat than pasta, I also recommend Lebanse Taverna. The menu works for both the adventerous and non-adventerous. They would have no problem with your party size. Its a beautiful place. And you get to show off Harbor East.

Captcha: Mr. crumbed in honor of the Baltimorean who invented the crumber, no doubt ;)

If it isn't too deep into the 'burbs, how about Patrick's in Cockeysville? Plenty of room, a varied menu and -- especially here in the blizzard belt -- ample parking.

What about:
Red Star in Fells - the middle section can be reserved, or they have an upstiars.
Mama's on the Halfshell in Canton - if you get their early enough you can snag a table big enough for your party upstairs.
Blue Hill in Brewers Hill - their menu has a bit of everything and chic atmosphere.
Gecko's - Canton can handle a larger party just call first.
Birches in Canton
Would Pazo be an option in their lounge area with couches and small plates menu?

Ryan's Daughter in Belvedere Square and Ocean Pride in Lutherville can both handle large parties, their menu selections are good, and their prices are reasonable.