Vantage House Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary

Vantage House retirement community in Downtown Columbia transformed itself into a casino, piano bar and dinner club in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Beautiful flowers, lavish draping and strategic lighting added to the lustre of the event.

Residents and their guests and elected officials gathered first in what is typically the community living room to hear proclamations recognizing the contributions of the residents to the larger community. County Executive Allan Kittleman and County Council Chair Mary Kay Sigaty made special mention of the forward thinking community‘s contribution to new ways of imagining a different kind of aging, in which creativity flourishes. Board of Directors Chair Virginia Thomas was the MC, and Executive Director Meriann Ritacco honored long time employees.

There were two seatings for the anniversary meal, so some partygoers moved on to a Champagne Dinner with music by cellist Maxim Kozlov. Executive Chef Niles Sara had prepared stuffed lobster tail and Steak Chesapeake, among other specialties.

Others moved on to the “Casino,” formerly the community’s Wintergarden, to play blackjack, craps and other games of chance. Professional dealers and tuxedo clad members of the Rotary Club of Columbia Patuxent added to the ambiance.

In the nearby ”piano bar,” local favorite Patricia Hammer entertained. She was later joined by performer and Pixel Workshop owner Dave Bittner, a member of the Patuxent Rotary. The duo sang songs from the golden age of stage musicals -- Music Man, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, The King and I -- and lounge standards. By the end of the evening, the piano bar was filled with residents and guests singing along with the entertainers.

It was an evening to remember.