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A trend in baby showers appears to be emerging where the co-ed guests have access to an open bar and the mother-to-be remains a tea-toteler. Or maybe it's just the company I keep.

Saturday night the Aning family of Morgan Hill showered Maureen Aning with love, good wishes and plenty of advice for their later-in-life baby. Mike Aning, the father-to-be, was presented with a dad's gift consisting of a Harley Davidson bag full of wipes, earplugs, goggles, a rain poncho, industrial strength rubber gloves, a box of sleep aid and a nipple sterilizing agent (a baby bottle filled with Bourbon). Roars of laughter erupted from the raucous baby shower guests while the father-to-be paraded his outfit around the room.

Apple Computer iPod division manager Philip Kearney won the beer-sucking contest with his wife, Pallavi, feeding him the bottle baby-style. Trail Dust BBQ of Morgan Hill catered the event with all the dripping good meats and sides. It was a sort of last hurrah before the all-encompassing days of baby tending enveloped; they really have no idea. Blessings on the birth!

The birth of a new business in South County has shopping mavens stopping in and cooing over Magpie in downtown Morgan Hill. Store owner Michelle Matz bills the shop as everything from soaps to sofas, adding the newly coined phrase, "Paris apartment-style." The name Magpie fits Michelle's propensity to collect odds and ends and shiny things, arranging them in a chic, welcoming boudoir setting.

Matz previously owned a Fremont store named Lavender Bay, but she loves her new hometown of 2 1/2 years. The display of chandeliers has me saving my pennies for the one hanging over the couch near the rear of the store (Christmas, honey?). Such a fun place! Magpie has their grand opening from 10am-5pm this Saturday. They are located at 17400 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill.

The countdown begins to Leadership Morgan Hill's Leadership Excellence Award afternoon at the Fountain Oaks, the historic Chiala Estate. The Great Gatsby Garden Party begins at 1pm Sept. 16, and tickets for the event are available by calling (408) 778-7211. Check out the costume suggestions on their Web site at www.leadershipmorganhill.org.

Ciao for now.

Have an event coming up or a hot tip for Mary Anne? E-mail it to highsociety@gilroydispatch.com.